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The History of The Reign of Henry IV and Marie de Médicis 1861 - Volume I
The History of The Reign of Henry IV and Marie de Médicis 1861 - Volume I
THE
REIGN
KING
OF
FROM
INCLUDING
THE
DU
ROYAUME
OF
LIFE
AND
THE
"
DE
ELIZABETH
"
FREER,
OF
"
coeur
IN
d'impossible."legende
"
TWO
JEANNE
OF
FRANCE,"
OF
III, KING
vaillant rien
"
COURT
THE
AND
VALOIS
HENRY
ETC.
LEAGUE.
ANGOULEME,
MARGUERITE
FRANCE,
I.
AUTHOR
THE
DE
WALKER
MARTHA
IMPERIALE,
BIBLIOTHEaUE
PART
IV.
SOURCES,
THE
IN
ARCHIVES
HENRY
NAVARRE.
UNPUBLISHED
DOCUMENTS
IV.
HENRY
AND
FRANCE
NUMEROUS
MS.
AND
OF
ALBRET,
II,"
PHILIP
ETC.
de
henki
iv.
VOLUMES.
VOL.
I.
LONDON:
HURST
AND
BLACKETT,
SUCCESSORS
13,
GREAT
TO
HENRY
MAELBOROUGH
PUBLISHERS,
COLBURN,
STREET.
1860.
The right of Translation
is reserved.
:
LONDON
Printed
by
A.
Poland
Schulze,
13,
Street,
J/U
V.I
CONTENTS
THE
FIRST
VOLUME.
BOOK
I.
CHAPTER
I.
15S9.
MenryIII.,kingof France."
Death of
Henri
on
"
"
conduct of the
Henry
acknowledged
by the
of
deputation
"
the
"
"
"
and the
king. Paris
"
The
duchess de
Montpensier.
Combat
The duke d'Epernon
retiresfrom the
of Marivaux.
defections. Resources of kingHenry.
Numerous
royal
army.
the
Harangueshis army at Poissy.Refuses to abjure
with the League. M. de
Protestant creed. Negotiates
of Paris,
The kingraises the siege
divides his army,
Villeroy.
and retiresinto Normandy. Views of the various factions of
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
the
realm.
Proclamation
"
Parliaments of the
Charles
kingdom. Army of
of
processions.
Progress
"
of
"
the
X.
"
the
Attitude of the
League. Public
"
11
CONTENTS.
"
The
Mission
"
"
"
madame
de
Guiche.
"
Battle
"
of
from
Arques. Succours
the League. Madame
"
de
"
of
"
"
Retreat
of
towards
Mayenne
Elizabeth to Henri
Quatre.
Amiens.
1589"
Henry
"
the
citizens.
"
Beauvilliers."
and
Mayenne
Successful
She
11.
] 590.
Gamaches.
of the soldiers.
marches
is visited
"
Eaubourgs of
Paris.'
Montraartre.
Executions
Gaetano
"
in
the
of
faubourgs. Marie
de
dukes
de
"
"
The
king.
"
Paris.
Their
"
Paris.
Sixtus
Pope
"
in France.
cardinal-legate
as
de
ception
rapturous re-
withdraws
Abduction
"
nominated
by
siasm
Enthu-
"
Panic
Paris.
upon
the
on
enter
his army.
Reviews
"
assault
de Kemours
queen
......
CHAPTER
to
King Henry repairs
of
Letter
"
"
Luxembourg in Rome.
"
"
V.
"
Progressof
Incredulity
of the supreme
pontiff.Debates at the Hotel de Ville. The
aid to their titular king Charles X.
Seize refuse pecuniary
"
"
"
"
"
famous
Council
of
Forty.
"
Affairs of
king
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
of
the
nobles.
"
Siec;eof Dreux.
"
Battle of Ivry.
"
Ill
CONTENTS.
Victoryof
duke
de
the
of
Eliglit
"
"
"
into the
the
of
town
72
Mantes
III.
CHAPTER
1590.
Effect
of
the
Battle
of
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Historyof
mademoiselle
Betrothed
to
M.
d'Estrees.
de Villars.
"
The
"
Her
suitors.
numerous
king
Conferences
"
of
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
husband.
137
CHAPTER
IV.
1590.
Siege
of
Debates
announces
Paris.
Conferences
"
in the
"
"
The
"
mademoiselle
de
Guise.
"
the
Interview
Palais.
his ultimatum.
at
abbey
of St. Antoine.
v/ith tlie
"
king. Henry
"
Return
to Paris.
"
"
IV
CONTENTS.
the duchess
de
"
"
visit M.
de
Mayeune
Meaux.
at
the
They return to
Mayenne. The king refuses
"
into Prance
a
of the duke
council of
march
to
"
raises the
King Henry
"
battle.
"
Treacheryof
religion.Entry
"
Henry holds
"
siegeof Paris,and
Pecuniary annoyances of the
"
at Chelles.
encamps
avoid
d'O.
bassadors.
am-
"
His march.
"
tlie
raise the
to
invaders.
the
his
change
of Parma.
Resolves
"
meet
M.
king.
war.
royalcamp.
to
"
Negotiationof
"
of Parma.
Advance
His
"
stratagem to
Parma
"
"
"
d'Estrees.
union
Violent
"
the
king.
He
exiles
the
duke.
passionof
Bellegarde,and
with
mademoiselle
d'Estrees.
retires to
the
Captureof
Corbeil.
"
"
de
chateau
"
March
Coeuvres.
of the
of Parma
"
the chateau
Sojourn of
"
de Coeuvres.
"
of the interview.
"
Spaniards.The
the
Action
dukes
"
on
between
"
of Pont-Avere.
frontier.
"
Anger of
king. She
"
"
the Flemish
to
to
of Parma
Skirmish
"
He
"
d'Estrees.-
and
"
Defeat of the
Mayenne
Triumphalentry of Henry
visits
Incidents
"
of I'Arbre de Guise.
"
of
deputation
Spanisharmy.
king at La Pere.
Mademoiselle
"
"
tier.
fron-
dukes.
the
the
the
her
visits Paris.
Parma
"
duke
dissatisfaction. Discord
His
forbids
Her
"
"
take
IV.
leave
into St.
Queutin,
210
BOOK
11.
CHAPTER
I.
1590-1591.
Condition
Sixtus
of the
V.
"
The
country. Anxieties
"
conclave.
"
of the
Election
of
"
king.
Urban
"
Demise
of
VII.-r-His
Attempt to surprise
CONTENTS.
St. Denis.
death
and
Uepiilse
"
Gabrielle d'Estrees.
Her
"
on
king Enterprise
"
made
marriage.Promise
"
Paris.
of madame
Arrival
"
"
the
by
de Liancour
Position of parties.
Chauny. Exile of M. de Liancour.
Siegeof Chartres. Negotiationsof Tureuue iu England and
Germany. The count de Soissons and Madame.
ence
Correspondof the king with madame
de Guiche.
of the
Overtures
Seize to pope Gregory. Nomination, of Landriano as cardinalat
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
legatein
France.
with
the
of
Negotiations
"
See.
Holy
"
"
Surrender
into Paris.
His
"
Tiers-Parti.
de
bon
Bour-
Its
designsand
granted by pope Gregory to the
of Chartres.
Entry of the legate
prospects. Succours
League.
The
cardinal
the
"
"
"
mission.
"
Embarrassments
of the
duke
Mayenne
de
285
CHAPTER
II.
1591"1592.
Council
Mantes.
at
extraordinary
Bourbon.
Scene
"
de
in the council
Liancour.
Death
La
Noue.
"
Influence
"
de
of
dame
ma-
king.
The
duke
de
Guise
from
Tours.
"
Charmante
Gabrielle,
"
king at Cassine-le-Duc,and
Bouillon.
King reviews the
of the
duchesse
of
of the cardinal de
the
the duke
"
"
chamber.
Jealousyof
"
Bellegarde.Escape of
Details.
Arrival
"
"
at
Sedan.
German
"
de
"
journ
SoThe
army.
and the
Entry into France of the duke de Monte-Marciauo
papal legion.Nuptials of the viscount de Turenne.
of the president
Jeaunin to
Capture of Stenay. Mission
His interview with PhilipII.
of
Madrid.
Correspondence
the Seize with king Philip.Attitude of the Paris Leaguers.
Affair of M. Brigait.They resolve
Their furyand cabals.
de Brisson and two
the assassination of the firstpresident
on
Details of the conspiracy.
counsellors of the High Court.
to supplicate
for the
Panic in Paris. Envoys are despatched
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
return
de
of
Mayenne.
"
Montpensierand
Audience
de
of the
Nemours.
"
Seize
Don
assassins of Brisson.
"
with
mesdames
Diego
Beturu
de
of
Evora
Mayenne
yi
TENTS.
COI^
to
firmness.-Execution
Paris.-His
promulgated
makes
overtures
from
successor.
to
preserve
the
through
Paris.-Death
peace
ViUeroy
of
Gregory
of
of
assassins.
the
the
to
-Laws
capital.-Tlie
the
duke
king.-He
XIV.-Electiou
parts
de-
of
bs
HISTORY
OF
THE
REIGN
OF
HENEY
FRANCE
OF
KING
IV,
AND
NAVARRE.
I.
CHAPTER
1589.
"
Death
of
demise
the
on
nobles.
Henry
Position
"
acknowledged
of the
conduct
of
of
"
Union.
his
creed.
Protestant
The
Villeroy.
"
and
retires into
the
realm.
of the
The
cardinal
of the duke
at
Arques.
at
king
raises
Normandy.
kingdom.
de
of
the
Bourbon,
deLuxembourg
"
Details.
"
"
to
the
of Charles
X.
of
the
"
toRome.
king
"
his army,
of the
Public
Henry
entrenches
liaments
Parcessions,
pro-
Normandy.
League.
madame
of
factions
of the
Correspondence with
B
in
"
de
M.
"
divides
League.
the
abjure
Attitude
"
king. Campaign
titular
king Henry.
various
the
"
the
from
League.
siegeof Paris,
of
Principal
"
retires
Refuses
with
Montpensier.
of
"
Henry-
"
Dexterous
"
Resources
Poissy.
the
Receives
"
Holy League.
d'Eperuon
Views
Biron.
presence.
de
tion
posi-
among
army.
duke
Army
"
his
duchess
the
"
de
The
Negotiates
"
of
the
defections
army
Progress
"
"
Proclamation
"
and
The
"
Numerous
"
Harangues
"
Paris
"
marechal
princely
His
"
king.-
Marivaux.
royalarmy.
The
foreign levies
nobles.
supporters of the
Combat
"
"
His
Quatre.
Conferences
predecessor.
parties.
the
by
of
deputation
of his
Henri
"
"
de
"
Mission
himself
Guiche.
HISTORY
Battle of
"
of
army
"
"
"
"
the people
of Paris. Arrival
harangues
at Gamaches.
the duke
de Longueville
"
towards
Amiens.
Letter of queeu
"
of reinforcements
Retreat
"
Elizabeth
of
to Henri
under
Mayenne
Quatre.
morning of Tuesday,
August 2nd, 1589,
four o'clock,
Heury TIL,kingof France,expired.
the
On
at
[1589.
OF
of Paris,at
Gondy, cardinal-bishop
St. Cloud, was
throngedwith nobles and officers.
The vast army
encamped before Paris waited the
and apprehension.In
in suspense
the
event
of death, terror prevailed.The knife
chamber
of the regicide,
Jacques Clement, had partially
of madame
de Montpensatiated the animosity
sier
; and saved the Holy League and itsnominal
chief,the duke de Mayenne, from destruction.^
stood
The dukes d'Epernonand de Bellegarde
at the head of the bed upon which laythe body
held the jaw of
of the king. M. d'Entragues
The
hotel of
the deceased
monks
of the Order
Behind
the ecclesiastics,
knelt the young count
d'Auvergne,^his face hidden by his hands, and
"
sobbing
aloud.
Around, and
in the
themselves
Henry III.,His
consternation,bewailed
with
and
catastrophe,
Court
muttered
and
that
protestations
Son
adjacent
deceased king,
Henry
Touchct.
IlL
1589.]
should
consideration
no
heretic
to a
allegiance
the middle
In
OF
REIGN
THE
HENRY
induce
IV.
them
to
vow
prince.
of the
on
Quatre, gazing sorrowfully
this
of
scene
excitement.
salutations of Vive
No
fortitude of Le Bearnnois
ie
at
Roy!
sustained the
this criticalmoment.
the
d'O, Chateauvieux,and others
Entragues,
minions of the late reign
audiblyexclaimed,
That they prayed God
might doom them to
if theyrecognised
a heretic
everlastmg
perdition
Hold your tongues ! you chatter like
king!"
the more
1" abruptly
women
prudent
interposed
Epernon.
The
king at lengthbeckoned to the marshal
de Biron, and terminated the scene
by takingthe
from the apartment.
and retiring
ofthe latter,
arm
of Henry IV. after his unexpected
The position
accession to the title of king of France, was
so
of his
that the eventual recognition
precarious,
The
vincible
inroyalclaims was deemed impossible.
"
"
"
"
valour
rescued
of Le
Henry III.
isolation.'After
and
invoked
was
condition of
the
succour
See Heury
helpless
glidingfrom
Loyallywas
^
from
the
Erance
the
the
his grasp,
of the heretic
the
sceptre of
Henry
king of
III.
varre.
Na-
appealanswered.
On
the 1st
1589,
day of April,
the monarchs
[1589.
OF
HISTORY
the reconciliationof
eflfected. The
was
enthusiasm
for
the
thousand
were
Swiss
enlisted
in
cantons
reiters,and
thousand
knechts
Germany.
sixteen thousand
The
king of
five
infantry,
ten
landsNavarre
hundred
brought five thousand
and five hundred cavaliers,
the elite
arquebusiers,
of his nobles. The duke de Longueville'
gathered
under the banner of the kingtwo thousand men,
commanded
by valiant officers. By the advice
with
of the king of Navarre, in concert
the
de Biron
and
marshal
the duke
d'Epernon,
made for the governexcellent appointments
were
ment
of the provinces
of the realm.
An attack
Tours by the duke de Mayenne was
on
gallantly
and
the two
and
kings advanced
repulsed
;
encamped before Paris at the head of an army
thousand men, well equipexceedingthirty-eight
ped
with artillery,
and commanded
by the most
illustriousof the nobles of France, The rebel city
duke de Lougueville,
count de Dunois, son
d'Orleaus,
of Lconor, duke de Lougueville,
and Marie de Bourbon, ducliesse
'
Henri
d'Etoutevillc.
year
The
duke
1592, Catherine
duke de Nevers.
He
de
Longucville
espoused,about
de Gonzaga de Cleves, daughter
of
died,April,
1595, at Dourleus.
the
the
1589.]
REIGN
THE
trembled
OF
HENRY
IV.
pending
the lawless factions quailed
before im-
retribution. The
of madame
hand
de
went
condignchastisement.
During the nightof Monday, August 1st, the
kingof Navarre held secret conference with his
of Paris from
adherents in his
quartersat Meudon.
that
nobles also, perceiving
would
great,however, to admit
about
event
dox
ortho-
few
hours
king,likewise held
The consternation
The
The
to
of serious
too
deliberation.
dissolve that
must
occur
was
de
de
Guise, and
Lorraine
of Anne
d'Este.
espousedLouis, duke de
died in Paris,May G, 1597.
She
Montpensier,
August 28, 1561, and
Her dowry amounted
to 300,000 livres.
"
in
La
Ligue des
Seize
was
to
Paris,under tlie auspicesof Guise and his allies,
nominally
secure
the accession
of
council
an
orthodox
formed
king
of these
Henry III.
le couseil des
was
of
demagogues,called
Seize
de
Quartiers
la
of the rise
d'icelles." See the history
fauxbourgs
League des Seize Henry TIL, his Court and Times,
villede Paris et
of the
"
"
HISTORY
[1589.
or
supreraac}^ of
Swiss and German
and
in all amounting to
legions,
been
levied in the
Henry III.
the
crown
of the orthodox
The
marshal
de
Was
it
rightto
very
had
men,
probablethat these
would
The
apostate monarch?
an
thousand
thirty-six
name
insure
king,whose
was
jority
disputedby the maof the realm ?
parliaments
a
Biron,' meantime,
as
soon
adherence
legions. M.
"
de
of the
now
German
and
hastdy;
the stay
proclaimyourself
Biron," exclaimed
is the time to
"
Swiss
he
Swiss,and then
Annand
of
son
-
de
to
"
my
own
prevail
Sancy,""'
Nicliolas de
helpme
and
return
baron
Ilarlay,
de
de Bonncval.
Sancy,one
10
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
"
him.
had
Most
retired
in
of the
de
nobles, however,
sullen discomfiture
quarters,to consult
aff'airs.M.
chief
on
the
ominous
whom
Bellegarde\
their
to
aspect of
recommended
to the bienveillance of
particularly
his successor,
presentedhimself. The young
the son
of Charles IX. and
count
d'Auvergne,
who was so prostrated
Marie Touchet
by sorrow
for the decease of Henry III.,that he had been
"
carried back
also to
Dming
'
Roger
to his
make
quarterson
his
the afternoon
dc St.
excuses
and
of the 2nd
one
Lary Bcllegardc,
mattress
"
sent
compliments.
of August, the
of the most
and.
handsome
dcs pcrsonncs
dc
et des liommcs
Icttrcs,
d'csprit."
1589.]
REIGN
THE
HENRY
OF
IV.
11
would
successor
call upon
them
and to
past malpractices,
disgorgea portionof the publicwealth,which
to
for their
answer
The orthodox
shamelessly
appropriated.
nobles beheld with genuinehorror,and foreboding
the accession of a Huguenot king; and
feuds which
the countless ecclesiastical
anticipated
certain to distract the realm.
were
membered
Many rethe pastinsolence of their deportment
theyhad
so
towards
sneers
Le
at
Bearnnois, and
his
povertyand
their
contemptuous
at
dependentposition
of his
his want
Navarrois,on
to be
of that maudlin
devoid of which
ment,
refine-
the
of
maitres
petits
the court pronounced excruciating
ignorance."
The disdainful and lofty
airs of the duke d'Epernon,^moreover, had giventhe king deepoffence j
"
Such
as
Epernon,d'O,
St.
Luc, Chateauvieux,Du
Halde,
and others.
2
Jean Louis
duke
lette,
de
de
de la VaNogaret,duke d'Epernon,seigneur
Candale,and Captalde Buch, in rightof his con-
12
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
and
recollection
partlyeffaced Henry'sgrateful
rendered him by the duke.
of the servicesformerly
The pleasure
which Henry IH. manifested in the
of the king of Navarre after their reconciliation,
society
roused
the jealousyof the arrogant
favourite. Epernon,therefore,had audaciously
taunted
the king of Navarre, with the outrages
and insolences committed
by his Huguenots.
Monsieur ! it is a fact,more
true than pleasant,
like a freebooter and a plunthat you make war
derer."
Henry retorted,by asking the duke
whether he thought to use
he and his
him as
This
royalmaster had done the duke de Guise.
arrested by Henry HI. ; but
recrimination was
no
subsequentexplanationhad reconciled the
The nobles also liked a wealthy
disputants.
"
monarch.
very
Henri
wardrobe
Quatre
and
was
so
the
Tlie duke was
de Foix Candale.
Marguerite
and of Jeanne
of Jean dc Nogaret,
baron de la Valelte,
lie was
of the duke de Bellegarde.
aunt
Bellegarde,
sort,Catherine
second
son
deLary de
creuled
in 1581.
dukt;,with
by Henry III.,
prcccdcuceextraordinary,
1589.]
THE
OF
REIGN
HENRY
13
IV.
In
and
himself to be statesman
shown
warrior.
the lords
therefore,
great perplexity,
native,
Luxembourg. The alterto
would be too ignominious,
felt,
M. de Mayenne and the turbulent
at the abode
it
met
de
of M;
was
surrender to
future
husband
of
the
Dona
Infanta
No
royalwas
orthodox
French
for
eligible
the
princeof
succession.
bien
Henry,
on
long,I'air martial,et
eventail
^
comrae
une
Franfois1."
Elizabeth de
with
the bloodThe
old
etait
year; "II
vifs,le front grand,le nez
in his 36lh
louguebarbe grisequ'il
portaiten
Mathieu, Hist, de Henri IV.
Valois,consort of Philip
II.,kingof Spain.
14
HISTORY
maladies,was
The
de
was
Catherine
Henry
de Conti"^
IV.
was
understood
so
de Soissons
count
hand
de
wards
professedtointents most loyal.The prince
deaf that he heard little,
and
declare, That
pray for
de
would
Montpensier,
"
never,
on
the demise
of
acknowledgeother king
Beanmois
; thoughhe should earnestly
his majesty's
speedyconversion." These
Henry HI.,
Le
"
of the power
duke
de Mont-
The
pensier,
step-sonto madame
the queen of the League,had
than
then the
of the kino-'ssister,
Bourbon
observation.
to
"
common
heard
The
arms.
volatile,captious,
was
madame
infant in
an
Vendome
The
profligate.
humble
of
in
prisoner
heir of Conde
cardinal
and
[1589.
OF
he
the
The
Cardinal
youngest son
d'Alcufon. His
Henry IV.
-
Tlic
Vendome
brother
was
dc Conti, the
prince
were
sons
dc
3589.]
OF
REIGN
THE
HENRY
15
IV.
Dampierre,and by M.
agreedthat England was
d'Entragues.They
notable example,
a
infected
later a heretic sovereign
that sooner
or
that it
his peoplewith heresy
; and, therefore,
than to
better to endure years of anarchy,
were
de
the realm
sever
Church.
The
of France
duke
Biron,the duke de
d'Epernon,the
Piney,and other
de
marshal
chief nobles,
"
"
articles: 1. That
would
Holy
duringthis
cause
Catholic
six months, he
within
Faith.
Apostolic
2. That
to
nominate
no
to
cause
and German
men
duke
Epernonand
"
De
Decade
"
le Navarrois
"
of the
Swiss
thousand
levies,in all twenty-five
of the
loyalty
appreciated
Montpensieralone could have induced
and
de
of
the
well
others to
acceptthis alternative;
"
uov.
or
Perefixe. Le Grain-
16
HISTORY
touch the
to
under
sceptreof
[1589.
OF
an
excommunicated
The
any conditions.
narch
mo-
opinionof
the
diate
therefore,
beingin favour of the immemajority,
of the king,it was
resolved
proclamation
that, the same
evening,a deputationof two
his majesty
nobles should wait on
to advertise
him
and
of their deliberation,
the
on
morrow
council of the
and
gueville
M.
late
d'O
The
ask
audience
composingthe privy
king.
were
to
duke
The
the personages
duke
was
de
Lon-
selected
directed to
This d'O'
had
himself liarly
peculate reign,by his
rendered
obnoxious,during the
finance,as
of
who
upon
M.
d'O
equalamusement
'
had
and
benefit from
the
and governor
finance,
of Paris.
18
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
his
"
"
him
how
great would
be the shock
to
of the magnificent
Epernon,
loyalfeelings
of the punctilious
Biron,to find himself jostled
or
in the royalcabinet by some
needyand facetious
tion
evening,Henry'sresoluHuguenot. The same
was
put to the test. At the royalcoucher,
the usher refused the entree, according
to his
the
to
instructions,
one
Le
Bonniere,
to
whom,
in
former times,Henry
permitted
greatfamiliarity.
Bonniere, in a fitof rage, seized the usher by
the collar,
and was
proceedingto inflictcastigation, when the uproar brought his majestyin
of conflict. Henry rebuked
person to the scene
the violence of Le Bonniere,and dismissed him,
15S9.]
THE
OF
REIGN
HENRY
there is
19
IV.
nate
discrimi-
notable difFereucebetween
the
The
following
morning,Wednesday, August
of nobles gathered
in
3rd, a great assemblage
the hotel de Gondy. They first visited the
chamber
in which the remains
of Henry HI.
the
lay in state ; when each noble sprinkled
bier with holywater.
gether,
They then conferred tobefore proceeding
to the hotel de Tillet
to pay homage to the sovereign
whom
necessity
alone compelledthem
to acknowledge.The
that the duke de Montpensier"
had that
news
^
Menioires tres
Charles IX.
'
du due d'Angouleme,
fils de
particulieres
Paris,1G62.
third
Francois,
and
d'Anjou,
duke
de
died in 1593.
Montpensier.He
The
duke
was
faithfulof the
espoused Eenee
amongst the
most
and bitterly
censured the violent
adherents,
king's
of his step-mother,
the duchess-dowager
de Montpensier,
proceedings
Catherine de Lorraine.
c
20
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
morning
The
king
and reserve.
He
dignity
attended by two
was
princesof the blood, the
princede Conti and the duke de Montpensier.
the count d'Auvergne,
The duke de Longueville,
and also many
Huguenot chieftains surrounded
the articles presented
the king. Henry accepted
for his ratification,
rejecting
onlythe clause which
him
not
bound
to nominate
any Huguenot to
state office. His
a
majesty,however, frankly
in lieu,to toleratethe Romish
worship
promised,
throughoutthose districts where such had been
suppressedby his authority.The nobles then
knelt, and offered to Henry their lives,their
estates
his lawful
to vindicate
recognition
was
"
over
The
patent of the
every peer
of
duke
d'Epcniongave
Prance,exceptingthe duke
him
de
precedence
Joycuse,and
1589.]
UEIGN
THE
HENRY
OF
21
IV.
and
Loiigueville
by the dukes de Montpensier,
de Conti,
the prince
Piney,the count d'Auvergne,
the duke de Montbazon, M. d'O, Richeheu grand
the lords of Chateauvieux, d'Angennes,
provost,
amidst
in camp,
made
then
king was
new
and orthodox/
Huguenot
In
of the
Proclamation
titles of the
and
style,
name,
both
Dinteville.
and
Manou,
of the
Paris, meanwhile, the intelligence
decease
"
embraced
rushed
the man,
to
vengeance
had been
exclaimed
she
true?
Are
of
scavenger
the
Paris,who
news
satiated.
Ah,
"
you
very
sure
ami !"
mon
! Is it indeed
welcome, welcome
"
first
of the
fact?
That
perfidious
tyrant! can he be dead. Mon
what joy! what triumph! The onlydrawback
wicked,
Dieu !
to my
the dukes
des
knew
not
before
de Guise, de
royalextraction.
1
is that he
content
Sennent
du
princesdu
Roy
sang
de
et
Navarre,
autrcs
dues
avec
et
un
reciproque
serment
pairs,le
Aout, 1589
22
HISTORY
he
died, that it
came!"
The
from
my hand
duchess, her brother
was
the blow
Mayeime,
and
in
[1589.
OF
theygirtthemselves
Guise
scarfs/
when
The
de
assumed
black
taken
were
draperies
down
from the churches,the bells pealed,
bonfires
made readyin
blazed,and agents of the princes
the principal
squares for a midnight carouse.
The same
afternoon,madam e de Montpensier,
and her mother, the duchess de Nemours,^ traversed
green
by
six horses. At
in
an
car
open
drawn
intervals,
duringher progress,
madame
de
duchesse
de Nemours
Montpensierharanguedthe mob.
The princesses
at the great Franciscan
alighted
monastery. This convent was a favourite resort
of Henry IIL, who had holden many
of
chapters
his order of St. Espritin its lofty
chnpel. The
ascended
the
stepsof the
"
Anne
de Prance.
on
wards,
espousedrran9ois,duke de fiuise,and aftertlieassassination of tiie duke, Jacquesde Savoye,duke
de Nemours,
governor
She
by whom
sons,
League, and
the
the duke
de.Nemours,
marquisde
St. Sorliu.
1589.]
REIGN
THE
OF
JacquesClement,
regicide,
received
Paris,was
of
priest
with acclamation.
of the
mother
23
IV.
announced
was
subscription
the
HENRY
martyr,
pubhc
of
turbulent
Paris
rival
hailed,on her arblasphemously
in the capital,
with the ejaculation
of the
Israelitish woman,
recorded by the Evangelist
St. Luke.^
Throughoutthe night,wild revelry
The
convulsed
the capital.
of Mapartisans
yenne^ held counsel in the saloons of madarae
de Montpensier,
at the hotel de Montmorency.
de
democrats,with madame
Ste. Beuve, and others,assembled
at the Hotel
de Ville.
to
The
in obedience
to
hid themselves
the mandate
of the Seize
and
in
The
tremblingapprehension.
hotel of the Spanishambassador, Don Bernardino
de Mendoza, was
thronged with excited guests.
The goldenpistoles
of the ambassador, his plausible
demeanour, had
promisesand insinuating
for Philip
in the
11. an ascendancy
alreadywon
capital,
equalto that of Mayenne. Within the
walls of Paris, therefore,
of old, raged the
as
'
chap.xi. verse
Luke,
Charles
the duke
de
de
Lorraine
27.
Guise, duke
de
Mayenne,
brother
slain at
of
Blois,
24
HISTORY
faction of
[1589.
OP
Lorraine, nominallysupported by
the
the
combat
MM.
between
"
"
de Marivaux
and
Marolles,
took
place on
royalcamp
"
The
combat
commenced, when
adversarypenetratedthe aperture,and
entered
26
[1589.
OP
HISTORY
his friends,
Epernon owned
To
scruplesin
servinga heretic king; and althoughHenry's
had been a matter
of expediency,
proclamation
until after his majesty's
yet it was not desirable,
reconciliation with
the
to
coldness of
the
king,aware
contribution
on
loan
It
was
also
Epernon,arose
of his immense
propose to levya
the vast heritage
of the duchess
;
or
the
duke
to
He
'
Amongst
the marshal
Gclais and de
'"'
these
de
Boullayc.
Georgede iJraucas,count
and
marquisdc
Villars. 'He
es-
1589.]
also
his
REIGN
THE
OF
HENRY
27
IV.
of
placedin Henry'shands liis resignation
and the adjacent
office of governor ofPoissy
retired to his estates in
district ; and
followed
by
two
hundred
horse.
Provence,
Henry
diately
imme-
de
government to Philibert,
the son
of his mistress,
the
Grammont,
fair Corisandre.^
Undaunted
these
by
desertions,Henry,confident in his
and
inured
own
flagrant
ces,
resour-
lifeof
and disaphardship
pointment
decided to raise the siege
of Paris and
retire into Normandy, to meet the succour
mised
prohim by his faithful ally,
Elizabeth,queen of
the placesreduced by
England,and to secure
temptuous
Montpensier. The king keenly felt the conbearingof the insolent and pampered
nobles of the late reign. He, therefore,
resolved
that mighty victories,
and the renown
of heroic
deeds, should bringthese recusant lords to his
to
ridicule
licence led
of
court
memory
of his
salage
vas-
the sent
prethe lifeof shameless
accruingfrom
by his consort,
queen
of
Marguerite.
Gabrielle
d'Es-
trees.
1
Madame
de
Guiche
the
displayed
yet, governedthe kingmore
"
who
most
intractable
and, as
completelythan
disposition,
written to Henry while king of
any other lady. In a letter,
le voulait pas du
Navarre, she calmlytells him,
ne
qu'elle
mal; mais qu'elle
ne
pouvaits'assurer d'une chose si mobile que
"
lui !"
Lettres de Henri
IV.
Paris,1814.
28
HISTORY
interment
The
[1589.
OF
a
king was
dnty which Henry had also to
perform. The League held St. Denis ; and the
of the deceased
for the memory
hate displayed
at Paris rendered it inexpedient
by his subjects
the body in the church of St. Cloud.
to deposit
During the afternoon of Thursday,August 4th.,
to
king Henry assembled the nobles at Poissy,
his resolves.^ First,his majestyconfirmed
announce
of the old privy counsellors of
many
internal administration
be
deemed
of the
the
to
permanence
en
realm,
until the
render
sur-
Louvre.
chief members
The
council were,
Lenoncourt, Montholon
keeper of
secretaries of state
the
of the
Beaulieu
of this
and
de
the seal,and
and
Re vol.
The
king wrote
to M.
de
de Poyanne),
Poyaiine(archives
coiiseil
do ine gouvcnicr, pour le bon et prudei.t
])roiiiis
la religion
de nion
cad'uu prince
sang, et ue rieu imiover en
ensemble Ics
de tout mon
ains la conserver
pouvoir,
tholiquc,
Lettrcs missives de Henri IV., Bibl. Imp. Fccclcsiastiqucs."
do I'outctle,
0.
portef.
"J'ai
"
1589.]
THE
OE
REIGN
HENRY
29
IV.
assembled
parliament
mitted
the kingalso subassembly,
to the
sented for registration
To
in Tours.
address to the
an
about
the
to issue.
Its tone
nation, which
was
firm and
on
the
commented
condition of aff'airs. He
present
was
dignified.
oration
majestythen pronouncedan
His
he
on
the shallow
on
account
the camp.
"
however,
realm
assure
of France,
nor
even
the
whole world,sufficiently
to renounce
nor
will I
ever
the
empire of the
;
my religion
not
in
lieu,
proposedby
and
I have been
that I have
sincere and
true
heart.
30
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
to
bless my
endeavours."
his intention
to
Henry
withdraw
next
proclaimed
and
performthe obsequiesof his predecessor;
of Norof the province
mandy.
to reinforce the garrisons
The
therefore,
great besieging
army,
defections yet maintained
which despite
numerous
divided into three sections,
an
imposingarray, was
to be commanded
respectively
by the king,
and by the marshal
by the dake de Longueville,
rected
did'Aumont.
The
duke
de Longueville
was
and
to enter Picardy
to d'Aumont
; and
his division was
assignedthe task of checking
the generals
of the League in Champagne and
districts. The duke d'Epernon,
at
the adjacent
the head of his four thousand
announced
and
mercenaries,graciously
establish his
gouleme.
Henry, meantime,
at
head-quarters
before he
withdrew
An-
from
Paris,made
'
de
De
overtures
Harangue et
t. 4. Mem
to
sa
du due d'Anaoulenic.
"
1589.J
THE
de Ville.
Excessive resentment
REIGN
OF
HENRY
IV.
31
at his dismissal
by
the late
"
as
he wished to make
him
of peace to M. de
Mayenne." Villeroy,
overjoyedat this communication, and being
likewise apprizedof the departurefrom
the
of M.
foe,
d'Epernon,his implacable
camp
waited upon the duke de Mayenne and requested
permissionto seek audience of the new
king.
leroy,
refused the request.VilMayenne preremptorily
in the present
of affairs,
therefore,
juncture
it inexpedient
his connection
to renounce
thinking
with the Union, temporized.He sent an envoy
to Henry,stating
his embarrassment,and praying
overtures
32
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
"
idea
one
Hard
was
endow
he
fresh
inspiration
; but
difficultstillwas
it to procure the expulsion
more
of such idea, when
once
comprehended and
digested.Mayenne therefore replied That
he declined to enter into relations with the king
to
"
"
of Navarre.
him
compelled
That
his inclination
M. le cardinal dc
acknowledge
his king. That M. de Guise, his
Bourbon
as
brother,had taken arms
duriug the late reign
from falling
into the hands
to preventthe sceptre
to
34
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
Duplessis
Montmorency, the provost-marshal
M.M. de Bellegarcle,
Richelieu,
d'O, Cheraerault,
to ComGivry. Henry marched straight
piegne,where he resolved to depositthe body
dral
of Henry IH., pending its transfer to the cathe-
and
Clermont, and
which
the
Gisors.
precededthe
funeral
of Creil-sur-Oise,
Meulant,
During
surrender
the
combat
of these
places,
of halberdiers.
guarded by a company
one
day in Compiegne,and
Henry remained
w^as
presentat the obsequiesof Henry HI. at
the abbey of St. Corneille. The following
day he
visited the duchesse
de Montmorency at her
the 24th day of
chateau of Marlon ; and
on
August the kingencampedat Darnetal,a village
in the vicinity
of Rouen
a
city,one of the
bulwarks of the League.
Whilst Henry was
at Darnetal he received
from his consort, queen Marguerite.
a missive
then
The queen, who
occupiedthe castle of
Usson, in Auvergne,where her scandalous liaison
was
"
Antoinette de la Marck,
marslial duke
of niadame
duke
de
de
de
Valentiuois.
She
espousedHenry, afterwards
of France, January,1558.
Montmorency, marshal
The eldest daughterof the duchesse, Madeleine
Charlotte de
Montmorency, was affianced to the young count d'Auvergne.
The duke gave his daughterthe enormous
dowry of 150,000
gold crowns.
1580,]
THK
OF
REIGN
I"V.
HENRY
35
with the
influence
an
gave her over the minds of most men
exercised during
Avhich the queen had recklessly
"
ance
precedingreign wrote to promisecompliwhen the conwith her pecuniary
demand
dition
of his finances permitted.The king,
will that the queen
however, intimated his royal
of Usson ; and
should not quither presentrefuge
of this desire
hinted that her majesty's
disregard
might be followed by incarceration in one of
the strongholds
of Guyenne. In Paris,meantime,
of counsel and clamour of party
diversity
continued without respite.
From
the moment
of the decease of Henry HI., Mayenne found
in the
himself opposed
by a powerful
competitor
Mendoza
person of the Spanish ambassador.
band
claimed the crown
for PhihpH. as the husopenly
the
"
of Ehzabeth
deceased
king;
de
or, at
The male
our
highness
the undoubted
representative
of the augustlineof Valois [ Away with
the barbarous
Saliquelaw
!
D
Avray with
2
tlia
3(j
HISTORY
[1589,
OF
remote
words
and
attitude of Meiidoza
of the duke
ambassador
of
time,
Savoy,meanto the crown
pretensions
of France
The
Marguerite,
daughter
was
dofia Catalina,
est
young-
was
of Claude, duchesse
in the mind
far
'
kened
king,awaMontpensier
jealousapprehension.The
more
The
de
of madame
of
partisans
tlirone for
them,
as
the
of
princes
Lorraine-Guise
de Lorraine,
of the
claims of
claimed the
Carlovingian
niunarchs,traitorously
supersededby IluguesCapetand his
It
was
overlooked
of Lorraine
were
onlycadets
of their house
linea":e.
race.
tain
apper-
15S9.]
her
RF.IGN
THE
grandsonhad
been
Medici.
de
Catherine
OF
HENRY
37
IV.
recognizedby
duke
The
he
the
was
at the
was
queen
head of
disciphned
body of troops ; and his arrival in the
bulent
was
dailyexpected.Several of the turcapital
cures
proposedthat the young duke de
in the citadel
Guise/ who was then a prisoner
of Tours, should be proclaimed
king! Affairs
val,
rendered stillmore
were
complicated
by the arrithe eveningof the 6th of August,of letters
on
from the nuncio
Morosini,dated from I^yons,
in which
the council of
Union
suspendits
the
to
whom
legate-extraordinary
accredit.
to
his
important
The
duke
his hohness
de
tended
in-
Mayenne and
of the
proclamation
The
of France,
the
on
on
matters
the
decision
by
manual
demise
the
cardinal de Bourbon
of the
reco2;nition
of
Henry III.,had
been
under
treatyof Joinville,^
of the
infirmities were
of
princes
Lorraine.
as
king
cardinal,
teed
guaranthe
sign-
reigncould be one
of transition only while the proclamation
of the
cardinal would giverespite
to the factions,
and
enable the princesof Lorraine to organize
their
:
Henri
de Guise, son
of the
lienrjIII
his Court
,
and
Times,vol. ii.p.
335.
38
HISTORY
schemes
[1589.
OF
of the
disposal
crown.
of the entire
army
Navarrois
and
junctionwith
his
the
succour
Enp;lish
which
was
the 7th of
August, therefore,after
five
"
of the
"
"
De
97.
Thou, li\r.
de 1'Hotel
Cayet. lldgistres
de Ville.
1589.]
The
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
39
IV.
to the parpresented
liament
of Paris by its firstpresident,
Brisson,
and immediately
its registration
accepted
; though
The duke de Mayenne,as lieutenantwas
delayed.
of the realm, then announced
that the
general
three hundred Huguenot citizens and gentlemen
incarcerated duringthe nightof the 30th of July
same
day the
edict
was
in the Bastille,
at the suit of madarae
de Mont-
the
evening,
duke de
"
"
cannot, therefore,doubt
that now,
in this
our
and necessity,
his Catholic majesty,
peril
the most potent and religious
of raonarchs,will
yenne.
cause," wrote Maopenly favour our righteous
"During the reign of the late king
swayedby the most
Henry, his Catholic majesty,
hour of
40
HISTORY
delicate and
send
our
and
us
of
generous
succours.
[1589.
OF
The
hesitated to
scruples,
case
is
now
reversed
"
legitimate
king, Charles X., is in durance,
the kingdom convulsed by the audacious
rebellion
of Le
Navarrois."
The
duke,
as
son
of Jeanne
faith. The
of Bordeaux,
parliament
under the able prompting
of the marshal de Mamoderate
and
tignon,adopteda more
course,
issued an edict denouncingpainsand penalties
of the late king; but scrupulously
againstthe slayers
refrained from making mention of Henry
TV.
Tours, Rennes, Dieppe,Langres,Chalons,
the onlytowns
Compiegnc,and Clermont were
to
abjurehis
42
HISTORY
of the
Spanishambassador,
fivehundred
soldiers.
horse
The
and
duke
[1589.
OF
succour
battalion of
de
sent
Nemours
Lyonnais;
and
of
Walloon
brought the
Balagnythe
soldiers,ardent
themselves in the
distinguish
de Montpensierand her associates,
eyes of madame
the heroines of the League. At the same
arrived of the invasion of Provence by
time,news
the troops of the duke of Savoye. The duke
the ground that the
excused his enterprise
on
late king and the states of Blois havingdeclared
war
againstSavoy on the matter of the marin making
quisateof Saluzzo,he was justified
all
By the firstdayof September,
reprisals.
timely
was
ready to pursue and annihilate the heretic
of the rue St. Antoine,
The windows
usurper."
zeal to
common
no
"
even
of the army,
were
let at
the
pricesto individuals who anticipated
of Mayenne leading
in triumphhis captive,
fabulous
return
Henri
'
en
le Bearnnois
Mutkunc
qu'on ammencroit
garotte." Decade .du Roy
Montpensierannounced,
de
i\ Paris
liioniplic
lleuri le Grand
"
Le
Ic Bearnnois
Grain,liv.v.
"
1589.]
THE
REIGN
OF
of
Before tliedeparture
HENRY
43
IV.
Parisian
Mayenne,the
cathedral of Notre
to the
which
processions,
to
duringthe
the demise
favour, on
of the
individuals
from
exposure
death
to
quent
subse-
de Guise
fallensomewhat
had
account
few months
of the duke
of daily
occurrence,
These
Dame.
of
the
in
were
public
numerous
cold.
At
dirgesand
sier walked
de
Montpen-
in the
sackcloth, her
shoulders.
litanies. Madame
ing
Dame, chant-
barefoot,clad in
procession
hair streaming
her naked
over
Madame
d'Aumale
de Ste. Beuve
followed.
and
Afterwards
the chevalier
came
44
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
Dies
irse" whenever
drowned.^
"
"
make
to
reconnoissance,with
the intent
of
The entire
formingan entrenched camp.
of the king consisted of six thousand
army
horse.
and a body of fourteen hundred
infantry,
there
'
Journal
Tcinps.
dc Ilcnri III"
L'Etoilc.
Dc
Thou, Hist, dc
son
1859.]
THE
OF
REIGN
Ell snrrcndered
the 4tli of
on
45
IV.
HENRY
September;
and
the
mulcted.
severely
While Henry was
ing
stillbefore Eu, the alarm-
mation
royalcainp of the proclaof Charles X. as king of France ; and of
the march of Mayenne at the head of twenty-eight
The
in pursuit
of the royal
thousand men
army.
yenne,
of the kingappeared
desperate.Maextremity
and his usual caution,
contraryto probability
assembled his army, issued his proclamation,
had preand by the rapidity
of his march
vented
his army
the king from reinforcing
by
with the divisions under Longueville
a
junction
news
and
reached
Aumont.
the
pays
de
Caux,
of the
resource
heroic mother,Jeanne
lien
his
was
/"
d'impossible
d'Albret
He
"
cosur
vaillant,
for extrication
cause,
good sword and righteous
from perilapparently
overwhelming. It
first
to
resolved,therefore,
remove
the
old
46
HISTORY
cardinal de Bourbon
the fortressof
[15S9.
OF
in Poitou.
Fontenoy,
of
commandant
Chavigiiy,
faithfuladherent,was
The
to
sieur de
Chinon, though
blind and
infirm.
It
Avas
deemed
necessary,
the subtle
competent, and capableof penetrating
de Montpensier.
of madame
intrigues
M. Duplessis
Mornay,governor of Saumur, was
to Chinon, to conduct the
therefore,despatched
cardinal to Fontenoy; he beingespecially
charged
the venerable prelateevery possible
to show
and to deliver a consolatory
indulgence,
message
of the
from the king/ After the departiu-e
dowager queen Louise from Chinon, the life of
the cardinal had
From
the summit
"
"
Uist.
de la Vie
de
Messire
du Plessis,redig6e
par dc
dc Moruay, seigneur
Philippe
de Cliarlotte
1589.]
made
war
THE
on
RETGN
OF
HENRY
house,even
my
the
responded
rowfully
hadlnot
cardinah
47
IV.
"
At
joined?"sorwhilst
least,
theless,
theyacknowledge.Neverthe king, my
nephew, will eventually
onlytemporary guardianof his
prevail.I am
!"
The following
crown
day, under the escort
of Mornay,Charles X.^ arrived atFontenoy
; and
delivered to the custodyof the sieur de
was
a sturdy
Huguenot soldier. The king,
Boulaye,
live,it is a Bourbon
moreover,
sent
and
gueville,
to his
to the marshal
likewise
He
succour.
le Node
an
to
d'Aumont,
de Lonto hasten
Beauvais
despatched
queen
his precarious
concerning
majesty
position
;
and
aid of men,
and of
request the immediate
vessels of war
to transporthim, if requisite,
to
to
Rochelle.
La
also resolved
At
this important
council,Henry
sending an embassage to
Sixtus V.,
E-ome, in the hope of conciliating
of Charles X.
and of preventing
the recognition
bourg
by the Holy See. The duke de Piney Luxembeinga personage in favour,both with the
of the council,
king and the orthodox members
upon
nominated
was
"
lui
pouvoitdonuer
of the duke
with
duke
M. le cardinal voulut
pret; mais M. du
ne
The
madame
Chavigny for
the
surrender
of the
cardinal
48
HISTORY
commissioned
was
Christian
to express
in
desirous of
"
was
issue between
the Roman
his
intended
to
left him
greatermental
majestyvery diligently
he made
at heart
was
Catholicsand Reformed
studywhen
Henry, when
the reformed
pontifical
token of which, king Henry
the matters at
reconsidering
majestyto
censures
[1589.
OF
war
personalliberty.''
second time
faith.
readyto abjure
but his
was
religion
His
him
his maternal
of Beam,
heritage
and for the maintainance of his eventual right
to the throne of the jieursde lis. The nasal
his
of
liberty,
drawl
and
sanctimonious
reverence
was
seen
when,
at
Nerac,he
the
and throwing
by eatingcherries,
preche
stones into
!' It
was
meet
at
Tours
when
of November
three estates
would
'
IlcnryIII.
month
during the following
the united counsel of the
enable his
majestyto
take
[1589.
OF
HISTORY
was
by its castle,
to the chief
a circuitous road leading straight
a
plain,upon
gate of Dieppe. Beyond was
of Martineglise,
which
stood the largevillage
for lepers,
called by the peopleof
and a hospital
the districtLa Maladrerie. The king established
his head quartersin the castle Arques and fortified
himself by digginga trench eightfeet wide,
encircle the castle with its adjacentsuburb.
to
the soldiers,
Peasants from the neighbourhood,
the king himself,dihgently
officers,and even
Arques,which
worked
were
at
commanded
was
the trenches.
constructed
and
Within, earth-works
fortifiedwith
cannon
"
all
with extraordinary
activity.
being accomplished
his French infantry
in the castle ;
The king posted
wdiile he stationed
of
the
and one
thousand musketeers,
regiments,
of Arques. Thus
in the village
fied
Henry fortithe two chief approaches
to the port of
Dieppe. A second path,however, on the brow
led to a populousfauof the hill to the right,
bourg
of Dieppe,
called Pollet,
which was divided
from
the town
by a movable bridge across
the harbour.
AVjthin this faubourg,the king
posteda powerfulbody of troops,and environed
it on
three sides by a trench extenchngin the
form of a triangle,
which he fortifiedby eight
Swiss
1589.1
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
Across
piecesof artillery.
51
IV.
the
so
valley,
to
as
trench,which he defended
barricaded
the
with
three
hundred
placeda body
Galati.
colonel,
hundred
Henry and
his officers
of the hill,
at
the brow
king'scamp
the
at
the base
of which
was
Arques.
Deville
great stores
"
taire de Henri
2
Charles
d'Aumale
Guise
"
"
and
1555, and
d'Arques.Yalori,Journal
IV. p. 54.
de Lorraine, due
d'Aumale,
fourth
of Claude
son
of Louise
de Breze
de
of
sou
Mili-
Claude, due
Lorraine,first duke
Maulevrier.
He
was
de
born
in
died in
to
France
Hist, du Chateau
daughterof
Anne,
daughter,
a
of ammunition.
and
Leaguer,
The
never
would
Henry IV.
E
duke
d'Aumale
make
was
submission
52
HISTORY
watched
its progress
[15S9.
OF
with
trembhng anxiety
:
well
of the Bearnnois seemed
royalcareer
tarried. Lonnigh extinct. The Englishsuccour
in Champagne. Nothing apparently
was
gueville
interposedto save
Henry and his handful of
Huguenots from being swept into the ocean.
Already the League triumphed. Farnese prepared
his legions
to march upon Paris in support
of the rightof the Infanta.
The cardinal-king
was
forgotten.
On
the 7th of September, Mayenne retook
Gournay. On the 10th, the Huguenot garrisons
of Eu and Neufchatel
capitulated.Throughout
the provinceof Normandy, every placewas
now
by the League onlyDiepperemained
garrisoned
to be vanquished
by Mayenne.
On the eveningof the 12th, a solemn service
celebrated in the royal
was
camp, and the minister
address.
Des Amours
pronounced an inspirithig
the
"
With
steadfast hearts
graspedtheir
The
die.
same
madame
"
Mon
coeiir,
under
me
well; my
By
this
and vowed
swords
night,Henry
de Guiclie
it is
"
of Coutras
to
conquer or to
miswrote
to his tress,
la belle Corisandre
marvel
that I have
life in
nevertheless
present toils! I am
my
affairsgo also well.
I wait for them !
helpof God, my
their enterprise
is a
the
soldiers
the
enemies
bad
bargain.I
embrace
1589.]
million of times.
you
OF
REIGN
THE
the
From
"
53
IV.
HENRY
trench
at
Arques."'
At daybreak,
Wednesday,September13th,Mawith his army in battle array. The
yenne appeared
pation
duke's planof campaign,contraryto the anticiof the
king, was
to seize the
commanded
Pollet,which
Faubourg
harbour.
the
This
vent
precapture,Mayenne foresaw,woidd effectually
and cut
of the Englishtroops,
the junction
off the
The
draw
duke
made
Henry
from
the
royalcamp.
stand of three hours,hopingto
of his trenches ;
the protection
from
supplyof provisions
de Nemours, with
detachment
ensued.
The duke de
the
captureof
in the
the suburb
was
not
the facileenterprise
his
imagined,quartered
in order to
of Martineglise,
village
which
army
that
Mayenne,meanwhile, finding
he
had
to ride
were
1
MS.
postto Paris,to
Bibl. de 1'Arsenal"
MSS
announce
the
54
HISTORY
overthrow
of
[1589.
OF
le Navarrois
to
the
expectant
Leaguers.
For three
other.
On
daysthe
the
16th,Mayenne silently
dislodged,
Bearnnois
within his
own
trenches,
ing
and not havMayenne,foiled by Henry'stactics,
made up his mind to offer battle,
previously
The
retired againto Martineglise.
of the
spirit
soldiers rose ; whereas, in the camp of
royalist
the League,the duke's officersmanifested great
theless,
Never-
Jeaa
dc Faudoas, scigucur
dc Scrillac,
Fniiu;ois
ou
the
re-
'15S9.]
to
THE
REIGN
HENRY
OF
composed of
and of two
and
court
Collato
German
Belin's division
levies mider
count
was
Collato ;
infantry
regimentsunder TrembleM. de la Chasteigneraye/
and the German
sorted
however, relegion,
to the most
and
55
IV.
treacherous
stratagem to
prise
sur-
The
cause.
ing
discontent of these mercenaries hav-
the
bruited
previous
day been purposely
fell into
abroad, Galati and the Swiss regiments
the snare, and, with cheers,actually
aided the
on
traitors to
The
such
duke
and
pikes;
the Swiss
their posts,and
of the
assailed
and
turned
instantly
Germans
the
the outer
mount
de Nemours,
governor
and
doned
abansignation
con-
League.
Ligue.The admirable detailsof
the battle of Arques, by the duke d'Angoulerae,
who then bore
the title of count
d'Auvergue.Cayet Chron. Nov. Le Grain
Perefixe. Sully.
M. de Nevers. Vie et Moeurs de Henry soi-disant
Numberless
Des Hayes, 15S9
roy de France et de Navarre.
1
De
Thou.
Davila. Hist, de la
"
"
MSS.
Bibl.
Imp.,F.
de Bethune.
"
56
HISTORY
fusion
to the
on
[1589.
OF
plain. Tremblecourt
and Chas-
also
driven from
soon
Maladrerie,and ignominiously
soughtsafety
in flight.The marshal de Biron, in attempting
the
to
and
rallythe fugitives,
wounded
attack,was
The
duke
de
body of
then
the
who,
teigneraye,
hundred
foot, and
the
]\Iontpensier
;
count
de
to attack
First,he
Collato and
d'Aumale
duke
royalarmy.
determined
to reinforce
detachment
thrown
Mayenne,elated
commencement,
main
and
to
advance
de
La
the
sent
Chasr
entrenched
then ordered
He
attack the
duke
to the
to lead them
with
twelve
division under
Nemours
and
the
the column
of
lighthorse commanded
by the
count
d'Auvergne,and which defended the
bridgesover the river Betliune. Mayenne then
placedhimself at the head of the remainder of
the army of the League,and bore down straight
on
Henry'strenches. The conflictwas hot and
bloody; the soldiers on both sides foughtwith
vergne
the utmost animosity.The young count. d'Auengagedwith
singledout, and personally
58
HISTORY
their king?"
nois ! raeantime
The
and
charge;
renewed.
to hasten
the
commanded
conflict
an
sent
"
plain;
within his
the
immediate
was
Leaguers.
again vigorously
Aumale
despatchedan aide-de-camp
the advance of Mayenne and the main
He
armv.
rose
d'Aumale
duke
[1589.
OF
was
assurance
to
driven
from
and there
own
!"
victory
peril.Had
The moment
one
of exceeding
"
the
was
15
S9.]
battle-chant of the
famed
of the
notes
norous
59
IV,
HENRY
OF
llEIGN
THE
"
Dieu
Que
Et I'on
verra
en
Abandonner
Le
camp
seulemeut,
montre
se
momeut
uii
la
place.
des ennemis
Epouvante de
verra
Comme
epars
toutes
Euira devant
On
tout
ta face !
ce
camp
I'ou voit s'cvauouir
la cire fond
Comme
Dieu
Tu
force est
La
cieux fondirent
terre trembla
Le
Mont
de
!" exclaimed
all sides,and
Mem.
Clement
du due
mourrons
nous
Coligny,as
rear,
edit, de
sueur
frayeur.
voila !
nous
Les Pseaumes
en
ta voix
aspectterrible
Dieu
on
consumee
le desert horrible
A ton
vous
Dieu
devant
Les
Sire !
feu,
au
Dans
"
parts
fumee.
epaisse
TJue
La
"
he
with
avec
chargedAusuch impetuosity
few minutes
gave way
the marquis
retreated leaving
de David
mis
en
Marot, Pseaume
vers
68.
d'Angouleme. Mathieu.
franpais.Amsterdam,
"
De
Thou.
Davila
"
60
HISTORY
de
[1589.
OF
war.
driven
were
from
the
which was
by the royal
position,
againoccupied
which it
troops. Henry,duringthis operation,
is stated was
in the space of half
accomplished
an
hour, again vigorously
charged the duke
d'Aumale ; and after an obstinate fight,
which
lasted three
of
quarters
an
tory
Victovv'ardsthe village
of Martineglise,
plain
from this period
crowned the valiant arms
of the League was
of le Bearnnois,
The cavalry
and
broken and routed by the count d'Auvergne,
his maitre-de-camp
the sieur de Larchant,leaving
the king's
troopsmasters of the field. The battle
the whole day.the duke de Mayenne
ragedduring
the
at dusk, sounded
therefore,
to his entrenchments
retreat,and retired
Such was
Martineglise,
the glorious
resultofthe famous Journee d'Arques.
The duke de Mayenne had six hundred slain;
severalhundred
1
The
marquisde
at
men
besides were
Bclin
was
so
he afterwards
either wounded,
feeble
allyof
the
1589.]
remained
or
REIGN
THE
OF
HENRY
The
of war.
prisoners
men,
"'
kinglost two
M. de Baque-
hundred
ville,
61
IV.
principal
personages amongst king Henry's
the baron de St. Andre, the sieur
were
prisoners
Louis de Beauvau, sieur de Tremblede Serilly,
court, the marquisde Belin, and others. The
triumph in the royalarmy was great for this
importantvictory.The king,however, openly
at Mayenne's defeat.
his amazement
expressed
tically,
sarcasMy lord of Mayenne,"said his majesty,
The
"
"is
believes :
not
respectshis king,and
he
or
every
one
reserves
better and
more
king immediately
and council
notified his victory
to his parliament
lettersto Madame
at Tours ; he also despatched
de Guiche,^and to his loyal
servant, Louis de
Berthon, sieur de Crillon."^
1
The
pas
Du
'
wrote
Henry to
La
Journee
d'Arques.
mes
madame
de Guiche.
"'
Dieu
benisse
mon
retour,
comme
3
acheve
of
history
The
of
original
the
letter,said to have
been
written
by
aime
tort et
extant,and is found
62
HISTORY
The
[1589.
OF
however, never
king'svigilance,
he had, it was
but
Mayenne and
and
Martineglisc,
to
laxed
re-
once
possiblyon
the
renew
combat.
tended
in-
morrow
The
greatest
in the royalcamp.
No public
prevailed
as
were
rejoicings
yet permittedby the king.
the royalfinances were
At this period,
hausted
exso
table ;
that Henry maintained no private
energy
welcome.'
ever
society
the brother of M.
one
officer
dering
renvivacity
M.
de Menou
made
now
mon
com-
with
meantime, hastened
to
relation of Beauvais
book,
priuted
send
him
le Node
before it
had
appearediu
The
succour.
so
the
moved
the notes
appendedby
Voltaire to his Henriade.
There is,however, extant Bibl. Imp.
MS. Suppl.
F., a letter addressed by Henry IV. to Crillon,just
into Amiens, dated ce xx.
before his entrance
Septembreau
iu
no
camp
devant
words,
pres
"
Brave
de moi
which
Lundi
dernier
commences
de
n'avoir pas
with
et^
the
icy
qui se soit
plusbelle rencontre
This letter
etc."
verra
se
jamais,
la
Mem.
on
the throne.
de Charles dc
Valois,duke d'Augoulcme.
15S9.J
REIGN
THE
OF
HENRY
of the
king.
earl of Essex
She
to
63
IV.
thirteen
despatched
presentsand
also sent
nition
ammu-
the brother
the immediate
announce
tember,
saihngof Englishtroops. On the 23rd of Septwo days after the battle of Arques,the
Enghsh flotillaarrived in port. Elizabeth's
queenlypresent consisted of 200,000 livres in
specie,
seventythousand poundsof powder,three
thousand
cannon
balls,seven
hundred
sacks of
of dry proviquantities
sions
of various kinds.
EiftyEnglishgentlemen
also were
on
board,who had sailed from England
offer their services to the valiant king for
to
the maintainance of his rights,
and to learn the
under so great a captain."Henry
art of war
received this gallant
band, and gave
graciously
them
honourable postsin his body giiard.^
of the arrival of English
The intelhgence
ships
in the port of Dieppe created consternation
The greatestdiscord,
in Mayenne's
moreover,
camp.
amid the generals
of the Union.
prevailed
The duke de Bar" openlyexpressed
disgustthat
the supreme command,
Mayenne ventured to assume
which he averred belonged
to himself,as
"
Mem.
"
The
of the duke
duke
Mousson,
he is best
de Bar
De Thou,
d'Angouleme,
then bore the title of
known, has
been
his
given.
Mathieu.
marquis de
Pont-a-
title,
subsequent
by which
64
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
duke
d'Aiimale
criminations
indulgedin mutual rethe defeat at Arques; and both
on
joinedin censuringthe timid tacticsof Mayenne.
The duke, therefore,afteran intervalof four days,
suddenly withdrew by nightfrom Martineglise,
and takinga circuitous march of twelve miles,
of D'Oissual,between
encamped in the village
pating
Arques and Dieppe. Henry, however, antici-
this movement,
had
established himself
the
storm
by
same
M.
d'Aumale
advanced
to
the castle of
combat
hours,Aumale,
never
successful
warrior,was
These
He
an
in which
army
command.
chief of
preme
every noble aspiredto suHis cousin, the chevaher
d'Aumale, had
openlyto
'
Davila, liv.10.
"
Mes
amis,"said Heury
to the citizens
on
his
"
"
pour servir
la villede
Dieppe.
que vos
Chron.
6Q
HISTORY
exhibited
licly
banners,which
adding to
at this
Montpensier
wit, beauty,her riches,and
allrendered
eleven
their number
cated
fabriprivately
de
of Madame
The activity
Her
periodwas unflagging.
she caused
hotel
at her
[1589.
OF
to
be
illustriousbirth
were
she
to the
fiats,
meanest
subordinate
of the Seize.
"
with
shield.
At
other
and
1589.]
and
OF
REIGN
THE
HENRY
G7
IV.
fact
mortifying
realized the
already
and the exhibition
processions,
that
of La
Sainte Cha-
whose
treacherous deeds
of violence had
so
many
fearful acts
been
dead ;
was
perpetrated,
the new
king,settingaside his heresy,was
revered and admired.
The citywas
purged of
of its most ferocious demagogues,
who
many
followed the army of Mayenne. Madame
de
Ste Beuve languidly
mourned the absence of the
chevalier d'Aumale.
de Guise
Madame
bered
remem-
alleged
rightsof
*'
duke ;"
martyred
upon
the
throne.
claim
The
of his uncle
Mayenne
coldly
to the
Seize,
of the cardinal
by the proclamation
de Bourbon; and ignorant
whether the aged
in his election,
issued edicts,
prelate
acquiesced
of the phanin doubt and suspense, in the name
tom
king. Mendoza fomented the distrust and
evoked
uneasiness.
He
the shield
perpetually
of Spain; and hinted that Paris could alone be
embarrassed
deemed
safe from
the
68
HISTORY
when
usurper
the
Farnese
garrisoned
by
Spaniards
; while
the virtues
[1589.
OF
to Madame
of the
his
de Guise he lauded
Infanta,and
name
and
joined
skilfully
that of the heir
The
Pope
aspidem et
Arques exclaimed:
designated
Mayenne as the
Savoye the lion,PhilipII. ;
nem."
Sixtus
duke
do
ho meant
drairoii
"
himself.
asp
"
and
the
"Super
et draco-
the
cockatrice,
under
the term
of
1589.]
drew
his army,
and
Somrae, marched
the
following
in the
69
IV,
HENRY
OF
KEIGN
THE
banks
of the
direction of Amiens,
that he
proclaimed
about to confer with an emissaryfrom the
was
sallied
Farnese.
The king immediately
viceroy
and continued
to
forth from Dieppe in pursuit,
His majesty
follow the enemy
mitil nightfall.
then returned to Dieppeand despatched
the count
d'Auvergneand a small body of horse to the
him of the retreat
to warn
duke de Longueville,
credence in
of Mayenne ; for Henry placed
no
the flimsy
pretextthat the duke had liberated the
royalarmy solelyto confer with the Flemish
where
he
viceroy.
caused
Auvergne
it to
be
from
at the
to await him
king for his generals
of Gamaches, where he intended to repair
village
after the arrival of the English
iliaries.
auximmediately
the
much
These
thousand
entered
desired
of four
allies,
consisting
Englishtroopsand
the
port
about
Their commander
the
one
thousand
Scots,
day of September.
lord
was
Peregrine,
notified
immediately
29th
who
Willoughbyd'Eresby,
disembarkation
his arrival to the king. The
effected the following
was
day; after which
paida
king Henry, accompanied
by his officers,
The
visit to the admiral on board the flag-ship.
king was rowed to the shipin a state bargeof
twelve
oars.
The
chief officerswere
then pre-
70
HISTORY
sented
[1589.
OF
leave, and
barge by
aided
was
the admiral
crowns,
from
and
the
lord
into his
deck
Willoughby; to
his
majestygave a donation
distribute amongst the sailors
to
to
and
boisterous,
The
kinglanded.
the
sea
rough
so
weather
that
was
many
cavaliers of his
"
own
The
ELIZABETH,
TO
FRANCE
AND
"
de Charles dc
as
follows :
HENRY
IV.,
I have
divined
corps d'armec
OF
that your
with
tardya junction
shown
lor the
myselfmore
diligent
send you.
These troops,truly,
now
so
The
KING
of the English
admiral.
g'lests
MS. Bibl. Imp. Dupuy, 279, 80, 81, p. 23.
^
"
NAVARRE.-
Could
very dear Brother :
reinforcements^ woukl have made
My
your
'
wrote
queen
under
and
Longuevillc
Aumont.
of the
15S9.]
THE
might
already
eli'ect
brother,
good
doubt
contending
given
this
is
he
renders
soldiers
you
of
and
you,
to
pray
serve
supplicate
have,
battalion,
religion
noble
render
to
intimated
molest
send
brother,
my
neither
of
servant
any
him
yours
them
count
in
your
to
"
have
in
my
service;
conduct.
discreet
will
my
he,
as
that
the
nor
under
to
grant
Erom
upon
need
you
your
as
me
for
victory
very
one
who
deems
herself
God
is
witness,
that
over
trusty
your
the
fight
sister
foes.
and
cousin,
"Elizabeth."
true
always
one
to
that
him
and
"
were
valiant
you
valour
gentleman
also,
if
as
they
heart.
of
act
his
witness
for,
to
find
my
for
preach.
you,
Him
this
noble
my
the
for
will
you
arrives
obedience
his
you
charge
to
these
if
as
As
and
moreover,
perfect
to
strict
service,
that
queen,
that
them,
you
possible
been
Nevertheless,
honour.
assert
personally
you
not
his
trust
may
I
of
pretext
to
it
Lave
do
and
opportunity
that
valiant,
dare
baron
the
believe
Therefore,
"
loyal
when
he
life
I
had
you
to
eager
own
worthy
presence
to
prove
my
God,
that
71
IV.
promptly.
more
now
lieutenant,'
my
of
will
for
servant
and
not,
HENRY
service,
you
victualling
soldiers,
baron,
done
liave
IJieir
OF
REIGN
Peregrine,
lord
Willoughby
d'Eresby.
happy
daily
72
HISTORY
[15S9.
OF
CHAPTER
II.
1589"1590.
Garaaclies.
to
King Heury repairs
Eutliu-
"
the citizens.
"
of
"
de
"
is visited
Bcauvilliers. She
"
and
de Nemours
"
Executions
"
Qiaetanonominated
in
Their
"
withdraws
Abduction
Paris.
his army
Sixtus
in Prance.
cardinal-legate
as
de
Luxembourg
the
from
of
coadjutress
Pope
"
de
ception
rapturousre-
of the abbess
Paris.
dukes
king."The
Paris.
enter
"
Paubourgs of
the
by
Lis army.
Henry
"
Mayenue
Reviews
"
"
Progressof
"
iu Rome.
V.
"
Incredulity
of the supreme
pontiff.Debates at the Hotel de Ville. The
aid to their titular king Charles X.
Seize refuse pecuniary
"
"
"
Embassage from
hostile
"
PhilipIL--The
duke
de
Mayenne
attitude
of
his
independence
Porty.
king
Henry at foreignCourts. Arrival of the king in Tours.
Madame
His harangueto the Parliament
His popularity.
de Bcauvilliers.- The duke de Bellegarde.
Plenry chooses a
of his council.
Campaignin Normandy.
ministry.Members
Gaetano.
Arrival of the cardinal-legate
Siegeof Meulan.
Orations pronounced.Negotiations
of the League with Spain,
Advance
and with the duke of Parma, viceroy
of Flanders.
and dissolves the famous
Council
asserts
of
Affairs of
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Processions in
Egmoiitinto France.
The marquisede Guerchevillc." Attitude
of
"
of Dreux.
Ltantes.
"
"
Battle of
Flight of
town
Ivry.
"
the
"
of the nobles.
of the
Victory
duke
of Mantes,
dc
Charles X.
Paris.
"
"
Siege
king. 'Surrender of
"
74
HISTORY
waved
peatedly
down
his
his cheeks
[1589.
OF
plumedhat
as
with
difficulty
preventedfrom breakingtheir ranks, so great
their impatience
was
to greettheir chief. Henry
to salute his nobles.
Messieurs ! it
alighted
were
"
is rather for
you, whose
"
me
to
nie
receive yon
noble
they soughtto
thanks !"
do
enemies
my
the
Thanks, my
Until
dusk, the
us
arms,
open
enable
promptitudewill now
retaliate upon
to
with
damage
brave
diers,
sol-
king
was
of his troops;
occupiedin making inspection
beingreceived with acclamations as he passed
from regimentto regiment the men
pressing
"
forward
proudlyto repeat to
bon-mot
uttered
night,the
to
count
by
de
"
ce
brave
Bearnnois."
At
the duke
Soissons and
de
"
"
morrow
for
after
which,
to
to return
to Diep})C,
Henry was
preparatory
the junctionof liis army of Arques with that
1500.]
llEIGN
THE
HENRY
OF
75
IV,
at Gamaches.
Longueville
of the officersfrom Longueville's
camp
the king back to Dieppe; who, on
of the duke
retook
thither,assaulted and
The
the
attended
his
way
of Eu.
town
edict,meanwhile, emanated
virulent
most
Many
de
the
of Rouen, confiscating
parliament
propertyof all individuals within its jurisdiction
all
who acknowledged
le Navarrois ; and annulhng
mandates
adverse to the obedience owing to
Charles X., his lieutenant Mayenne, and
La
from
the
Sainte Union.
the
royalcamp
Bretagne by
service of the
the
At
levies
of the vast
the
due
reached
time,news
same
de
making
Mercoeur
for
in
the
Leao;ue/
meanwhile, of unparalleled
design,
audacity
inspired
king Henry. On the 21st of October,^
the king leaving
in Dieppe,
a
strong garrison
placedhimself at the head of his army, which
numbered
thousand men.
now
nearlytwenty-four
Vernon opened its gates,and the army crossed
the Seine at Meulan, and encampedonlytwentysix miles from the capital.
The following
day,
the outpostsof the royal
at the village
army were
A
"
De
Thou"
On
this
Hist, de
day, Henry
sou
to Madame
wrote
of "u.
Dieu
placeque j'ai
soninie,
je suis
dans la
He
says
"
Imp. Suppl.Franfais.
Guicbe,
Par la grace
mes
sa
et
to
iuforni
de
spe'ciale
enuemis
grace."
me
MS.
rendra
Bibl.
76
HISTORY
of
[15S9.
OF
peopleof Paris
the astoundingintelligence
that the Bearnnois was
againadvancingupon
them, Henry had encamped in the neighbouring
of Mont-Ronge, Issy, Gentilly,
and
villages
Vaugirard.
duke
then
The
de Mayenne, was
making
Bagneux; and
placedcredence in
his
before the
which
he had
town
immediate
of Paris
boui'gs
assault
was
the
on
influence
the absence
over
fau-
southern
of
Mayenne,
the turbulent
had
factions.
On
little
the
who in fact,
Montpensier,
commanded
in Paris duringher
at this period,
brother's absence, an
despatched
envoy was
to advertise Mayenne of the
king's sudden
order of madame
advance.
The
to
to
the
de
duke
aid
sent
of the
follow in excessive
the
de
duke
Parisians ; and
consternation.
mours
Neprepared
The
rapid
and decisive. On
All Saint's Day, twenty-four
of Paris,
hours after Henry's
arrival in the vicinity
his dispositions
The marshal de
made.
were
Birou undertook to assault the faubourgs St.
movements
of le Bearnnois,however,
were
1590.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
Victor and
77
IV.
regimentsof
two
Swiss battahon,and
a
infantrf,
French
thousand
Enghsh troopsunder
the
four
lord
Willoughby.
d'Aumont
To the marshal
Henry committed
St. Jacquesand St.
the attack of the faubourgs
a
Michel, supportedby six regiments,and
the capture
corps of volunteers, Henry assigned
of the faubourg
St. Germain, which commanded
the most
to
importantposts of the capital,
his faithful Chatillon
Noue,
of ten
the head
at
horse,and
German
and
to
the
La
veteran
a troopof
regiments,
battalion of Swiss.
Each
reinforced
by four pieces
of ordnance.
Henry likewise divided his cavalry
into three squadrons. The king reserved for
and conferred the
himself the principal
squadron,
of these divisions
of the
command
was
two
others
on
the count
de
de
Orders
Longueville.^
also sent to M. de Thore
were
Montmorency,'
of Senlis,to break down
the bridge
governor
over
of
Mayenne to
the
so
as
rescue
pede
to imof the
Parisians.
Le dessein du roy,"says Sully,
"etait
Cayet Chrou.Nov.
de jetter
I'alarme dans Paris,et I'insulter merae
; et suivaat qu'il
reudre maitre." Matthieu, Hist,
y verrait jourde tenter de s'en
du Eegue de Henri IV.
1
"
"
Guillaume
of Madeleine
the
de
de
wealthyheiress
of Humieres.
78
[1589.
OF
HISTORY
At
of
"
the
Leao;ue
at first
foudit with
resolution : but
by
dense
thrown
entrenchments
menaced
was
by
faubourgswhen the capital
carried by the veteran
Henry HI., were speedily
troopsof the king;who found themselves opposed
only by monks, artisans,and others
of these individuals having been armed
many
de Ville,by the fair hands
of
at the Hotel
The
lowed
madame
la duchesse.
king'stroops folwith such
impetuosity,
up their victory
that the Parisians,pursued from the faubourgs
time to
had scarcely
to the gates of the city,
"
close them
in
assailants.
faubourgSt.
fiercely
pursuedthe enemy
great
was
None
de Nesle.
the
The
of the tower
was
their
on
visible.
Seine
and
was
low, and
beyond,the
Without
bed
The
carnage
Germain.
to
La
the Porte
at
the foot
of the river
La None, and
hesitation,
the
river, and
De
Tliou, Cayct.
Vie
de
DuplessisMornay Liques,
"
1590.]
REIGN
THE
of
number
The
OF
HENRY
slain
79
IV.
in
the
faubourgs
sides,
belienry,
eighthundred men.
made many prisoners,
amongst whom was
Bourgomg the priorof the great Dominican
monastery, the accomphceof Clement in the
assassination of Henry III. A hundred and fifty
of the League also,who had sought
arquebusiers
refugein the church of St. Germain, laid down
amounted
to
their arms,
and
surrendered.
So
great was
the
the attack
on
the
morrow.
The
nuns
in
1113,
The
by
80
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
at the
convent, Marie de Beauvilliers/
of
the assault
ment
commence-
the
faubourgs,sent a
; and
message to the kingprayingfor protection
round the
that a guardof soldiersmight be placed
Her
convent.
granted
requestwas courteously
by the king, who in former days had been
with Mademoiselle
de St.
acquainted
slightly
she had been
Aignan,when before her profession
enrolled amongst queen Catherine's famous band
After the
of ladies,Vescadron de la Royne mere.
assault,therefore,the king went to visit the
Abbey
Marie
of Montmartre.
young,
was
on
de Beauvilliers
and
lovely,
She
sion.
weary of monastic secluenthusiastic in her comments
on
was
; and wittily
king Henry's last gloriousexploit
visit to the
dwelt on the dismay his majesty's
would
capital
inflicton
the
abbess
youthful
The
badaud."
had
Mayenne,
termed
irreverently
king
greatlylessened
charmed
was
the
absence
influence of la belle
In the
'
de St.
Aignau, and
Marie
educated
young abbess was
of Bcaumoni-lcs-Tours,uuder her aunt, Anne
de la Bourdaisiere.
She
appearedfor
The
nomination
Montmartre,
of the convent.
on
; and
Babou
at tlicconvent
do Babou.
afterwards
took
coadjutress
born,April27, 1574.
as
83
HISTORY
witlioiit
St. Maxence
pout de
the
[1589.
OF
few hours
opposition
;
on
the enemy
The
meanwhile
doleful lamentations
most
capital.The people
their slain ; and throngedthe
mourned
publicly
churches to listento the haranguesof Lincestre,^
Boucher,^and others, who promised them glorious
vengeance
forthe
morrow
on
their assailants.
de
Spanishembassywas closed. Madame
Montpensierheld earnest conference with Bussyle-Clerc captain
of the Bastille,
Cruce, and
Neuilly,
fence.
others,and dauntlessly
organizeda planof deThe duchesses de Guise and de Mayenne
not having
kept close within their palaces,
courage
the popular
to encounter
tain
uncerfury. Villeroy,
how matters might progress ; and convinced
that Paris must surrender unless promptlysuccoured,
The
retired to
'
Cure
de St.
Leaguers. See
2
Germain,
Henri
one
of the
most
pretext
1590.]
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
joinin
refused to
of indisposition
the duke
when
the deliberations
the
was
Intense,therefore,
Seize.
of the
83
IV.
de Nemours
and
his
relief,
squadron
as
quently
subse-
it entered Paris in
by cheers.
greeted
St.
rue
Denis,and
at
troops,
disorderly
array, was
Tables were
spreadin the
refreshments provided
for the
Madame
de
march
to terminate
was
of le Bearnnois !
however, before
de
a
"
La
few
in the destruction
daysonlyelapsed
merveilleuse
course
de M.
the
to
3
was
dertaken.
unday no military
enterprize
all the faubourgs
The kingoccupied
and waited for some
south of the city,
next
Davila.
Cayet.Mem
de la
Ligue.Vie
du duo de
Sully.
G
Mayenne.
84
HISTORY
hostile demonstration.
[1589.
or
The
following
morning,
November
deemed it
3rd,thekingliowever
Friday,
and to fallback
his troops/
to withdraw
expedient
upon
Tours, where
he
had
summoned
the states
The condition
duringthe middle of the month.
of the kingdom prevented
Henry for the present
his forces before
from concentrating
and retaining
Paris
for the
menaced
of
Parma
de Henri
IV.,
M.
"
son
tout
de pouvoirforcer et la ville,
et une
I'apparence
armee
deniaiu ici pour
je suis resolu de demcurer encore
quelcfl'ortfera
*
Kogcr de
the
le dit
St.
due, et
is said
Bcllegardc,
assaulted the abbey.
Lary, due
troopwhich
me
de
sa
semble,
en-
voir
veue."
to have
manded
com-
1590.]
THE
85
IV.
HENRY
OF
KEIGN
aside
of
ornament
reignedthe brightest
her veil,and
At
progress.
he
capturedEtampes, the
The
razed.
were
of November
the commencement
duke
de
of which
fortifications
and
Longueville
his
into
Guiche
in most
affectionateterms.
"
care
"
Mon
cosur
of myself.My trust
dome
hopeto completethe captureof Venthe environs
morrow
; and intend to purify
of Tours before taking
up my abode there. You
and feuds which
cannot
imaginethe intrigues
I say that the devil
of dailyoccurrence.
are
be let loose ! Confide
must
always in my
araie !'" After receiving
Bon jour,
mon
fidelity,
under the hand of his majesty,
such assurances
of madame
and indignation
the amaze
intense was
is in God.
de Guiche
when
on
^
the
yoifngabbess
MS.
Bibl. de
of Montmartre
F.
aud Suppl.
I'Arsenal,
No.
and
of the
1009~Bibl.
Imp.
86
HISTORY
[1580.
OF
On
the
whom
the duke
had
sent
to
Rome,
pleted
com-
the
de
Nevers,
Bhmchet,
were, MM.
prisoners
Jo Blancmesnil was also
Kafclin,and Regnaiid. The president
his smilingcountenance
arrested,because several persons remarked
the daykingHenry stormed the faubourgs.
on
'
The
names
of the uufortunate
1590.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
87
IV.
courteous
and
Jesuit casuist,
Bellarmino.^
'
See
Brother
Henry III.,his
of the duke
Court
and
While
these arrange-
de Sermoueta
aud
grandchamberlain
to
the pope.
^
He
Roberto
Bellarmiuo
entered the
Societyof
made
died in
at
the
at the Jesuit's
He
soon
of Louvaine.
university
archbishopof Capua
Rome,
Monte-Pulciano, in ISiS-
of theologyat
professor
came
He
born
was
in 1601.
Clement
Cardinal
in M)21.
college,
be.
In
VIII.
miuo
Bellar-
88
HISTORY
ments
at
the
pending,
were
Mantua, and
hohness in the
to
the
wrote
which
reasons
had
duke
dc
Henry
Pineyarrived
audience of his
demand
to
of
name
[1589.
OF
IV.
recounted
In his letter
at
of France, and
induced
length the
the cogent
ness
king Henry. He exposed the true weakof the League,which, he said,
subsisted only
of Spain. The duke
related
by the intrigues
Mayenne'sdefeat at Arques,and the subsequent
fore,
triumphant
campaignof the king. Sixtus,theremodified
and
legate,
his instructions
to
the cardinal-
ledgment
longerinsisted on the acknowof the regaltitleof Charles X., whom
he called "superannuated"in the hearingof
in vague terras,
Mayenne'senvoys. His holiness,
to insure the election of
directed the legate
a
Catholic king;" and to exhort the orthodox
no
"
nobles to remain
The
the
pope.
the ambassador
less,
Sixtus,neverthe-
cordial invitation to
visitthe Vatican.
The
were
disallowed
avowed
of
royalclaims
even
by
tluMHselves his
May^nne,after
those who
subjects
his return
from
most
The
eagerly
first act
Amiens,
was
90
HISTORY
of which the
which
from
household
king had
must
been
suffice
until the
[1590.
OF
the income
deprived,
his majestyand his
of the
termination
war."'
yenne.
Juan
de Taxis,^and
of
December, don
the commendador
de Morea
arrived
"
to
"
Dc
Conde
de Villa Mediana.
Don
Juan
the treaty
negotiated
1590.]
REIGN
91
IV.
HETsRY
OF
himself.
and
knew
The
insolence of
Clerc,and others
temper of madame
not
duchess
de
rival court
de
duke
the
to
vow
victories of Henri
the
and
discontent of
Mayenne,who
of her
future ruin
of
position
the lamentations
saint
of Mendoza
enterprizes
Quatre,and
what
to
predicted
children,rendered
far
from
Guise
Catherine
in her
hotel, rue
de
enviable.
the
The
Cleves, held
de Chaune.
The
numerous
son,
head of the
legitimate
wittyand beautiful
had
dawned
the
of
person
daughterof the
Vihe
and
and
so
Moreover,another
raine
princessof Lorpublicadmiration,in
upon
Louise Margueritede Guise,
martyredduke. The Hotel de
young
its turbulent
Mayenne, the
of
Union.
council,the
hotel de
hotel de
many
^
Henry III.,liisCourt
and
pohtical
92
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
fully
skilKing Henry, tlironghVilleroy.
fomented
this distrust by demanding a
that
of mademoiselle de Guise,hinting
portrait
shade.
when
table
the princess
dissolved,
might prove a suimademoiselle de Guise
consort ! Upon this,
was
affected
enthusiastic admiration
an
of the
king,and
for the
ploits
ex-
A greatcouncil was
provost of
Paris
holden
GhapelleMarteau,
of December
commencement
the
and of instituting
these jealousies,
a
allaying
more
government ; but
compact and responsible
for the purpose of deliberating
chiefly
upon the
of the king of Spain. The personages
proposals
de Mayenne, Mendoza,
the duke
present were
of
don Juan
de Morea,
of Lyons,
the archbishop
Montpensier,
the
and
Hennequin,Villeroy,
Bussy-le-Clerc,
Mendoza
Lincestre, and Boucher.
cures
opened
the proceedings
by an oration,in which he plainly
stated that without the aid of his royal
master,
the chieftainsof the League must make prompt
madame
and
He
"
de
heretic usurper.
articles:
boldlyproposedthe following
shameful
then
submission
to
majestyshould
be
proclaimed
1590.]
REIGN
THE
OF
IIENIIY
93
IV,
his majesty
kingdom of France
still acknowledging
as
king, monseigneur de
be
Catholic prince should
That
Bourbon.
a
of
protector
elected
the
"
the
heir to
as
givehis
of Trent
of
majesty
eldest
should be
nominated
to be
the decease
on
crown
to
commands,
offices,
of France
of officesabolished.
"
Catholic
His
and
or
fices
bene-
the sale
majestyupon
the
of his protectorate
recognition
engages to
of
present the city of Paris with the sum
millions of goldcrowns,
to pay the arrears
two
of the rentes
the
to
de
VHStel
greatdis,tressof
the commencement
de
the
Ville, accumulated
peopleof
of the troubles.
Paris from
His
majesty
further promises,
in
with liisholiness
conjunction
for the
and money
to provide
men
pope Sixtus,
successful carrying
of the war
on
againstthe
heretic usurper
condition
however, on
solely,
of his prvotecof the immediate
proclamation
torate.'" Bussy-le-Clerc
and his myrmidonsof
the Seize,highlylauded
these articles. The
turbulent cure'sdeclared,
full
that propositions
so
of benignity
and zeal could alone have been
from on High. Espinac,
however, rose,
inspired
and in a speechof eloquent
fervour,exposedthe
"
'
Cayet.
liv.i.
Mem.
De
Thou.
d'Etat de
MSS.
Archives de Simancas.
Villeroy,
Mathieu,
94
HISTORY
[1^89.
OF
insidious proposals.We
Philip's
want
a
king orthodox and loyalto the Faitli.
We
design not to deliver our country bound
hand and foot to a foreign
potentate,however
!" said the archbishop. How,
luagnanimous
monsieur ! is it by such words that you show
gratitudeand the respect which you
your
to
owe
Spain?" interposedBussy, fiercely.
Espinacretorted ; and a violent battle of words
ensued
seized
during which the choleric prelate
and
shook Bussy by the collar of his habit,
Order having been at lengthrestored,
Mayenne
ordered M. de Villeroy
to give his opinionon
clever
the offers of the Spanishking. The
the power
and
ex-secretary,who appreciating
of Henri Qiiatre
regardedthe deliberation
ability
true
motives of
"
"
as
solemn
if you
Moiiseigneur,
archbishopof Lyons.
in this realm to the kingof Spain,
givea footing
"
and
war
immortal.
You
hold the
now
You
have the power of
peace.
through the devotion of this great city,
of
the
war
or
or
peace, you
of the king
"
"
that my
master
is zealous
1590]
for the
cause
OF
REIGN
THE
of God.
HENRY
95
IV^.
Reflect
on
the sublime
sure
power of the Catholic king,and meaNo
of
amount
it with what
you are !"
however, could induce Mayenne to
objurgation,
rank and
commit
himself
by
spontaneous decision/
He,
and promised
meeting,
of a few days.
to givehis decision in the course
of
The
day, the chief members
following
the sections held a tumultuous
assemblyat the
asserted
Hotel de Ville,during which it was
de Mayenne had no
that the duke
rightto
decide the important
questions
proposedby the
The Seize had invested
Spanishambassador.
therefore,broke
the duke
with
the realm
the Union
up
the
the supreme
and,therefore,
had
alone power
to reject
or
accept
protectorateof his Catholic majesty, A
the
fanatic Jesuit,named
deputedto
the duke
to
council of
Francois
to express the
Mayenne.
extreme
He
was
also instructed
distrust felt
council relative to M.
de
a devoted
now
formerly
royalist,
11
was
Pigenat,^
of the assembly
preme
by the suwho,
Villeroy,
tendered
advice
du president
voulait,"says Cayet, avoir I'opinion
de laCour; il trouva leur advis couBrisson, et des principaux
"
"
forme
2
Odon
"
Pigenat,cure
de
St.
of
This individual
Nicholas-des-Champs.
to a disastrous end, according
to Pasquier,
came
dyingat
et tombe en phrenesie."
Bourges,"i'urieux et enrage'
9Q
HISTORY
perilousto the
Pigenat,listened
duke
received
his address,and
dismissed
The
Union.
to
[1589.
OP
of demeanour.
frigidity
de Montpensierand
the archbishop
Madame
of Lyons remained
during a considerable portion
few days in earnest
of the fo]lo^ving
ference
conwith the duke.
At length,the latter
him
with
his accustomed
notified to
"
to his
holiness,
it
that he could
impossible
ever
sanction the assumptionby a monarch, howof the glorious
titleof protector
ortliodox,
Faith in France ;
of the Holy Roman
Apostolic
to the sucoffice which solely
cessor
an
appertained
This masterlyresponse
of St. Peter."
it had
was
suggestedby Espinac for a season
the factious demonstrations
effect of silencing
the
in favour of Philip's
protectorate
; especially
and the agents
the legate
was
as
expected,
sequently,
of pope Sixtus applauded. A few hours subde Mayenne, in the exthe duke
ercise
Sixtus
v., rendered
council, that
"
meeting of any of
of deliberating
on
the purpose
the Hotel de Ville.
"
The
:
vacant,"argued]\layenne
"
archical governmentdemand
its members
for
affairs at
state
throne
is
the
forms
no
longer
of
mon-
08
HISTORY
sanctioned and
however,had
executed
now
The
been
[1589,
OF
their edicts.
and
proclaimed
king,
ledged.
acknow-
government, therefore,had
to its ancient
channels
"
the
verted
re-
khig,then
presented
re-
met
to
the demands
king of Spain,and
the emperor
Maximilian, made throughthe reof these potentates,
the
ambassadors
spr-ctive
claims of the kingof Navarre should be rejected,
and the cardinal-king
bates
acknowledged. The deof the seignorywere
practical
generally
and
disim passioned.The military
repute of
king Henry, his successes, the plotsand cabals
of the League,and the friendship
of the queen
of England, and above all,
Henry'srecognition
by the great nobles of the realm, convinced
the senators
that the royal cause
ultimately
with
would triumph. Accordingly,
sagacious
the doge Pasquale Cicogna wrote
to
decision,
king Henry, givinghim the title of Christian
which letterhe delivered to the Prench
Majesty,"
"
ambassador
Hurault.
Instructions
were
next
forwarded to
ambassador
in
his
Mocenigo,the Venetian
France,to presenthimself before
majesty
1590.]
REIGN
THE
HENRY
OF
99
IV.
and
'
from
Venice
the pope,
but
refused
republic,
the
in the
same
to
see
sent
wished
not
to break
the
on
prelate
him
haste
had
who
as
word
with
his
to return
he had
quitted
Tuscany,"also,
Marseilles.
Duke
held conference
Ferdinand
on
the
havingbeen
by Henry HI.
diplomatic
mission to the minor states. The duke promised
of a treaty
the signature
if possible,
to frustrate,
H. was
which Philip
anxious to conclude with
the Swiss cantons
he also engagedto send the
cavaliere Guicciardini into Germany, with the
levies of reiters for the
for new
sum
requisite
serviceof the king; while the sole return which
he asked from his majestywas, that a marriage
sent
on
'
1.,1589.
as
Before his
100
HISTORY
be
niio;lit
de
[1589.
OF
negotiated between
Medici
Dombes.'
and
Henri
The
duke
Bourbon
de
promised
prince de
his niece
his
sum
dowry of 300,000 goldcrowns
; which
one
majestymight,he said,use, upon assigning
of his towns in Gasconyas security
for the future
payment of the money to the husband of the
princess.^
young
The
of
duke
and
obhgingassurances;
most
him
observe
to
a
retire to
greetedHenry
king was there
the duke
de Nevers,
IV.
had
matters
religious
strict neutrality
duringthe
These
contest.
on
prayedhis
majesty's
ing
pend-
communications
satisfactory
on
received
by
The
dome
by the secretaries
The citywas
Beaulieu and Revol.
illuminated ;
and the peoplehailed their gallant
monarch with
day, the king retransport. On the following
1
Henri
de Bourbon
Moutpensier,and
valiant,pious and
sister Catherine
De
'
Thou.
Moutpensier,
only son of the duke de
Reuee
d'Anjou; a young prince,wise and
honouiablc.
Henry IV. wished to givehis
to the
princede
Vie de Henri
Douibes.
de Bourbon
Montpensier.
Viceuzo
of Austria.
1590.]
101
IV.
the
met
parliament
;^
and
where
The
his
HENRY
pairedto
the
OF
REIGN
THE
meetingof
the states
must
postpone the
though,havingconvened
that august assembly
for the presentseason, he
had repaired
to Tours, beingalwaysdesirous to
The kingmodestly
alluded to
keep his word.
his late glorious
that he was
exploits
; and stated,
stillminded
between
his
thanked
the
examine
to
faith and
that of the
majority
of his subjects.
The president
de Harlayreplied
to the royal
address,and assured the kingof the
of his nobles,and of the majority
of the
loyalty
peopleof France. The kingthen congratulated
de Harlay^on his liberation from the Bastille,
and return to his faithfulparliament.
The Venetian
ambassador was
next introduced.
Mocenigo
the Seignory
a missive from
nounced
anpresented
; and
that the republic
acknowledgedhis
and prayed for his speedy
majesty's
royaltitle,
victoryover his enemies.
Henry graciously
'
In the
The
ambassador; and
desired him
demagoguesafter
Hitrh Court
15S'J.
own
See
their bold
arrest
Henry
III.,his Court
the Parisian
of certain members
by Bussy-le-Clerc,
during tlie troubles
and Times.
to
of
of the
January,
102
transmit
Venetian
the
to
and
to
that the
state,
[15S9.
OF
HISTORY
his
senate
he should
"
ledgments,
acknow-
member
always re-
republicwas
Madame
Henry
as
discoursed
apart for
longan
so
giveumbrage to several of
Next to the king,the duke
to
attracted most
fair dames,
interval
Bellegarde
the
he excelled in
courtly
grace and
handsome
accomplishments.
Bellegarde's
person
and frank and joyouscarriage
had elevated him
favour with the late king, in
to conspicuous
whose
as
household
of the
chamber.
successor
same
Cocuvres, and
the
de Beauvilliers.
cousin -germ
Many
quis
mar-
of
an
of the noblest
conquest; and
duke
wondered
how the
wittyand
some
handof
1500.]
THE
HENRY
OF
REIGN
103
IV.
ladywho
and was,
not
as
obscure.
The
the
king on
following
day held
financialmatters.
on
to the
of pay
Arrears
mercenaries,and
Swiss
many
were
council
owing
desertions
in
Henry,therefore,
this emergency, resolved to applyto the duke de
his
Nevers' for a loan of 33,000 goldcrowns
of the
majestyhavingbeen assured of the loyalty
it was
said,alone
duke, whose religious
scruples,
had
ensued.
consequently
Elizabeth, and
also wrote
He
various
to
to
Protestant
queen
powers,
The
pecuniaryaid to carry on the war.
sanctioned several proposals
king, moreover,
for the
made
by the cardinal de Vendome
more
punctualtransaction of publicbusiness ;
that the secretary
as
Henry commanded
especially
for
prepare
festoes.
manidespatchany requisite
and
The
great seal
also
was
entrusted,
of
the decease
On
to Beaulieu.
temporarily,
Henry HI., Montholon
resignedhis office of
capacity
conscious of his inbeing painfully
lordkeeper,
to
*
The
Louis
duke
riette de
de
contend
Gonzaga, uncle
of the
duke of Mantua.
reigning
in right
of his consort
Heu-
duchesse
of Charles
de Bourbon
de
de
Nevers,
Cleves
Vendome,
duke
aunt
de
of the
cue
of the
three
heiresses
co-
guerite
Nevers, and of Mar-
king.
104
HISTORY
position/The
[15S9.
or
ry's
Veiidome, since Hen-
cardinal de
ed
Henry, likewise,commandthat the trial of Etienne Bonrgoing,prior
of the Dominicans
of Paris,should be proceeded
with, and the sentence of the judgesexecuted.
desired the duke de BelHis majesty,
moreover,
legardeto escort Marie de Beauvilliers to Senlis ;
where the latter would
find
and
seclusion,
refugeduringthe pendingcampaign.
During the sojournof Henry at
Charles
baron
de
Biron
and
M.
sure
Tours,
de Chatillon
laid
of the
and
who
hei'oes of
had
Montholon
ill favour
also
of the
was
afraid of
Huguenots.
beingcalled upon
On
his retirement.
Chcverny.
to seal edicts
Moutholon
106
Henry,
HISTORY
then
[1589.
OP
pursuing his
victorious
after
invested Lisieux, v^^hich,
defence
march,
of
'
De
1590.]
THE
HENRY
OF
REIGN
107
IV.
was
compelledto capitulate.
subsequently,
in Normandy was
Henry's triumphantcareer
of the
arrested by intelligence
capitulation
had
next
of Pontoise to Mayenne, who
ceeded
proof
to lay siegeto the importanttown
The
Meulan.
king resolved to relieve Meulan,
of the League.
to otter battle to the army
or
Such was
the extraordinary
energy and vigour
displayed
by Henry at this importantcrisis,
that the royalarmy appearedbefore Meulan
mediately
the 13th
on
day of February. Mayenne imraised the siegeand encampedon the
oppositeside of the river. The kingtherefore
de
entered Meulan,' attended by the count
a
*'
As the
ball
cannon
Mes
king ascended
the
passedbetween
faits sont
of
steeple
his
legs. Mathieu,
wrote
Henry to
Guiche,
F.
Suppl.
1009.
"
Maitre."
t. ii. p. 24.
madame
Bibl.
de
Imp.
lOS
to the
to
draw
into
fresli provision
threw
He
rescue.
away
[15S9.
OF
HISTORY
and
garrison,
the
army
of
then, in
the
League,
of Dreux.
the
feared that
duke
de
miskilful hand,
some
or
wicked
some
The
soldiers,however, could
to
the
not
be
representative
"
Le
Grain
"
Ddcade
de Henri
le Grand.
Du
Breuil,Anti-
et
de
1590.]
THE
Marteau
to
REIGN
OF
pronouncedan
which
addresses
the
were
cardinal
so
HENRY
109
IV.
harangueof welcome,
shortlyreplied. The
tedious,as
corporatebodies of
each
faction and
the
capital
presented
retired completely
an
harangue,that Gaetano
exhausted to the episcopal
palace.There the
received by Gondy cardinal-bishop
cardinal was
of Paris,by the Spanishambassador, and by
madame
de Montpensier. The address of the
cardinal,meanwhile, had givengreatumbrage to
the partyof Les Politiques,
amongst whom were
and the
numbered
Jeannin, L'Huillier,
Villeroy,
Brisson and Blancsmenil. His eminence
presidents
stated: "That
followingthe example of his
his holiness had been pleased,
predecessors,
by
to nominate
the advice of the Sacred College,
in France,so that by the aid of Almighty
a legate
God he might tear up and destroy
heresy
; and
build and confirm,as he in his wisdom, aided by
the prayers of all piouscatholics,
should deem
conducive to the gloryof God and to the
most
establishment of an orthodox dynastyover
the
realm of St. Louis the canonized king." The
waited upon
same
therefore,Villeroy
evening,
the archbishopof Lyons chancellor of the
all the
Paris.
"
Paris, 1590.
pope
Boniface
VIII.
was
the
legate,
beingthe grandsonof Mathias Gaetano
generalof Manfred, king of Sicily.The Gaetani
(orCajetan),
of Spanish origin,
and established themselves in Naples
"were
ancestor
of the
Tlie famous
no
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
League, and
member
mention
had
been
oaths
Navarrois
made
the
on
Mayenne ; as no
by the cardinal-legate
as
matter
with
of his conversion.
to
duchesses
notice the
Mayenne
"
members
his courtesies
of
the
de
and
Nemours
being reserved
discomfited
ex
de
for the
-council of the
de
the hand
under
Montpensier.
of Paris were
All the officersof the parliament
presentto receive the legate.Gaetano advanced,
towards the throne,
arrayed in full pontificals,
which stood under a canopy, and was
actually
to ascend the steps of the dais,when
preparing
seized
de Brisson dexterously
the fiist president
of his
en)incnce,and
pretextof
prepared
1590.]
THE
for his
the
OF
frown
gatheredon
use.
Ill
IV.
HENRY
REIGN
the brow
of
dissimulated,
haughtyprelatehe, nevertheless,
:
commenced
and
the
tongue upon
an
and
soon
as
in
prelate
was
the
on
peoplefor
Trench
dom
pope-
Paris
issued
of treason
all persons guilty
declaring
with Gaetano, cardinal
who held correspondence
archbishopof Cnpua, until such time as his
a
decree
eminence
his
to
should
see
presenthis credentials
fit to
majesty,and
swear
to
Gallican churches.^
liberties of the
the
observe
The
legate
ding
forbidcircular letters,
respondedby publishing
with
hold communication
to
any prelate
Henri de Bourbon, or to approachthe cityof
of this manall infringers
Tours ; and declaring
date
"contumacious,and deposedfrom their dignities
and benefices." The sensation created by
died away
these mutual defiances had scarcely
when
the
lan* by Le
*
news
Navarrois,and
Kegistresdu
de
Parlement
de
of the
siegeof
la
the
du
cardinal
"
De
The
the
solicitation of
M.
112
HISTORY
of
strongliold
be
to
sung
toise
"
The
Dreux.
in honour
ceremony
[15S9.
OF
of the
liad yet
Deiim
Te
capture of
Pon-
be
duke
the
de Nemours
pubhc
of Paris, to preserve
governor
peace.
The
faction of the
tions
citysec-
raved, and
Spain.
T!ie
and
Guise
de
duchesse
with
heard
!
mere
give the
to
laughed,and
hope of
The
de
an
mere
Guise,
was
la reine
still
who
exclaimed
voulez dire
vous
Mademoiselle
nourished the
Mendoza
Isabel.
complacently, Oui
"
de la reine
regnante .'"
of
military
operations
the Union, added to the pubhc discontent,at
length compelledthe Spanish ambassador to
write to his royalmaster, that notwithstanding
the ungracious
of his offered protecrejection
torate
by Mayenne and the League,aid in money
Henry
wrote
the
cliaracteristicnote to llosnj,on
following
decidingupon this importantoperation; M. de Rosny, par
votrc ini])ortiinite
je ni'achemiue au secour de Meulan, mais s'il
m'eu
arrive inconvenient,
le reprocherai
je vous
a
jamais!
"
Henry.""Recueil
IV. t. iii.
114
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
for the
failure of
the
great Armada,
which
Catholic
"
"
united
recover
Christendom, under
the
Holy
Land
infidel." In Paris,to
our
from
banners, may
the
unhalloAved
givemore
imposingweight
to the decision taken
by the Spanishcabinet to
in the contest,another astounding
engage actively
of folly
and profanity,
called a religious
scene
Avas
procession,
organizedunder the immediate
The chief perof the cardinal-legate.
auspices
1590.]
sonages
REIGN
THE
present,and
the
througli
HENRY
OF
streets of
who
115
IV.
walked
Paris,were
bare-footed
the
legate
bishops
of Lyons; the
Gaetano,the archbishop
of Rennes, Frejus,Senlis,Placentia,Cenada,
Asti,and Glasgow;^the ambassador Mendoza ;
the duke
of Paris,the
parliament
des Comptes ; the provost Chapelle
Chambre
of the city
Marteau, the colonels and captains
members
bands, which included the most prominent
of the Seize. The route of the procession
from the Palais to the church of the Auguswas
was
tinians,quaides Augnstins. The sermon
by one ClirestienPlorat,a noted orator
preached
his discourse
of the League,who interspersed
with profane
jestsand fanatic demonstrations.
robed
When
concluded,the cardinal-legate
mass
and surrounded by his attendant
in full pontificals,
took his seat on a throne placed
on
priests,
the book of the Holy
side of the highaltar,
one
Gospelsbeing supportedbefore him by two
One by one, the personages
acolytes.
kneeling
and on their knees took oath
presentapproached,
to maintain the Holy Catholic Paith ; to defend
the cityof Paris ; and to bear true allegiance
to the Holy League,to king Charles X., and
the
'
members
Robert
to
repaired
save
of the
Beaton,
Paris to
the lifeof
Mary
116
to the
HISTORY
duke
[1589.
OF
cle
which
moved
his
Catholic
majesty to
of France" and of a
pityon the woes
privateletter statingthe same, and addressed
of Toledo,Gaspardo
to the archbishop
by Philip
de Quiroga,were
this
About
sold publicly.
time also,an
made
through the
attempt was
of
duchesse de Retz, to corruptthe loyalfidelity
M. d'Aubigne,
of Charles
the custody
to whom
"take
The
duchess
was
powered
em-
of 200,000
Aubigne the sum
crowns
; or the perpetual
governmentof Belle-Isle,
with 50,000 crowns
ration
to be paidbefore the libeof the old prelate. The
indignation
of the valiant d'Aubigne,
intense ; he ignomiwas
niouslydismissed the agent sent by madame
de Retz ; and
courier to inform
a
despatched
Dreux, of the
king Henry, who was besieging
afloat.^The liberation of the old cardinal,
intrigue
have proved of little
however, would now
benefit to the League. Worn
by suspense, and
racked by an
agonizingmalady,the cardinal
had fallen into a condition of despondency,
ing
vergHe
rarelyleft his bed ;
upon imbecility.
and passed his waking hours in tearful lamcnto offer
'
\^ic d'Aubisuc.
1590.]
REIGN
THE
tations
which
patroness,
queen Catherine
a
his old
de Medici,
reveries sometimes
chiefly
figured.These
for
117
IV.
reminiscences,in
and
friend and
HENRY
OF
tinued
con-
considerable interval,
duringwhich
imaginaryconversations
with
the queen ; and when
again roused to
convulsed
burst of grief
consciousness,
a pitiable
the helpless
captive.
Succours,meanwhile, poured into the royal
Henry was joinedby the young count
camp.
M. de Givry
and a body of cavalry.
d'Auvergne,
from the army of
broughta battahon of infantry
Champagne. The duke de Mayenne,however,
involved in almost insurmountable difficulties
by
the cardinal carried
the
on
of his allies,
insubordination
tardiness,or
to make
a
hastyjourney
compelled
that Egmont might
to Brussels,to implore
forthwith despatchedwith reinforcements.
found himself
be
of Dreux,
The kins: durins;intervals in the sie2;e
in his
himself,
amused
by paying devoirs
Nonancourt, the
de la
been
chatelaine of
the young
marquisede Guercheville et
to
count
de
marcliioness
was
after the
the
She
Rocheguyon,who
was
had
attracted
first saw
the
siegeof Falaise,
Guercheville.
Pons
she
Quatre. She
king in Normandy,
The
de
when
years,'
three
widow
Antoinette
Rocheguyon.
a
characteristicmanner,
own
the widow
died in 1586.
de
Montcheuu,
of Henri
de
heiress of
count
Silly,
de la
lis
when,
vilhers,she
dower
the
in
as
to ask
sent
castle and
lands
who
marchioness
case
was
[1589.
OF
HISTORY
dc
of madame
Beau-
for her
royalprotection
in that province. The
of
heiress
the
house
of
at the periodwhen
Guercheville,
Henry besieged
castle of Nonancourt.
Dreux, resided in her own
even
marchioness,when
marriagewith
queen
to
and
promiseto
his ill-omened
Margueriteshould
be
solved.
dis-
de Guercheville,
however, being
Madame
a
greatardour
far,it is said, as
so
the
espouse
suit with
woman
Henry'ssuit ;
and
derided
the
that,
supposition
under any circumstances,a private
gentlewoman
sort.
might aspireto the exalted rank of queen conSire,you have before given that same
de Quiche, and
promise,
report says, to madame
de Guise
to mademoiselle
though this latter
to your legitimate
indeed, might aspire
princess,
"
"
alliance."
The
onlyaugmentedthe king's
passion.He treated
the marquise,
with gallant
nevertheless,
respect;
and not only gave her a guard of soldiers to
defend the chateau of Nonancourt, but promised
to escort her in safety
to Tours, and to protect
her lands in Normandy. The star of the fair
Gabrielle d'Estr^es had not yet risen,or madame
de
about
to
be
realized which
beheld
she
that event
then
deemed
1590.]
THE
REIGN
HENRY
OF
elevation of
Ill)
IV.
woman
privategentleto the throne of tlie fleurs-de-lis.
at length
pelled
comaffairs,
urgency of military
nette
kingHenry to suspendhis suit to Antoi-
impossiblethe
"
The
of the
proceedings
the
duke
de
his attention
on
the
out
Mayenne. Through-
country,successes
arms
street
in which
sured
trea-
royaloccupantsand stately
the king.The countyof
acknowledged
pageants,
in Lanthe Blaisoiswas
also loyal.
JMontmorency
the Leagueand its canaille ; but
guedoc,abjured
its legendsof
yet
of France
did not
of a heretic monarch.
heartily
espouse the cause
and
Epernon,^jealous,
suspicious,
arrogant,
in
swayedthe districtofthe Angoumois,
nominally
The duke desired to
cause.
support of the royal
and to ruin
his suppliant,
behold the sovereign
the king had
M. d'O, his mortal enemy, whom
admitted
into his council. The duke
recently
the marshals de Biroii
also wished to supplant
and d'Aumont, in whom his majestyplacedun^
The duke
de
d'Eoeruon.
condition
"
de
sou
temps." Giraud,
"
Vie
du
due
120
to find
honest
no
rival at the
de Bethune
de Rosnv, whose
[1589.
OF
HISTORY
and
baron
sagacious counsel
this
to esteem.
period,highly
the power of his
appreciated
great wealth; while he remembered, in gloomy
the vivid admiration betrayed
by
displeasure,
than one
occasion,for his
Henry, on more
consort, Catherine de Foix
young and spirited
Henry began,at
Epernon,moreover,
Can dale.
The
duke
de Nevers
papal interdict.
In
in the south.
de
Gon-
Henry'sroyalclaims,
and the
by his heresy
Nivernois,the dnke,
the
maintained the
therefore,
Louis
same
But
morency
attitude as Montif Nevers refused to
refrained from
kingHenry,he scupulously
to his majesty's
aid or countenance
aff'ording
deaux,
enemies.
The marshal de Matignon in Bor-
serve
acted
on
the
same
the
12.3
HISTORY
[158
OF
St.
encamped at
Andre,
Ivry. The
utmost ardour for the conflictprevailed
amongst
the royal
fully
troops. Henry and his officers,
alive to the momentous
importof the conflict,
held almost ceaselesscounsel,
and adoptedevery
could suggest.
which diligent
foresight
precaution
commanded
The royalarmy was
by vaUant
a
between
village
officers
"
Nonancourt
and
men
by brilliantvictories.The marshals
science
d'Aumont, to whose military
and sustained
de Biron and
debt,acted
as
lieutenants
of
prestige
enhanced by the
The
the
royal
presence
Biron son
of
Conty,Soissons,de
la Tremouifle, Duplessis
Mornay, Givry, de
and de St. Paul,
Guiche,the counts d'Auvergne
M.M.
d'Humieres, and Mouay de St. Phale.
The gallant
Turenne alone was
by a
prevented
gun-shotwound, which obligedhim to remain
in Beam, from doingbrave serviceat this critical
period. In Picardy,the duke de Longucville
and La None gathered
their troopsto reinforce
the royalarmy in case of need.
Henry,meauwhilc, with his own hand, drew out the plan of
he
which, on the eveningof the 1:2th,
battle,
submitted to Biron, Aumont, and Montpensier.
and adopted
It was unanimously
; and
approved
the marshal
de Biron, of
-
]590.]
by
the
THE
REIGN
HENRY
OF
orders,Charles
king's
123
IV.
de Biron assembled
and
communicated
manded
design. The king afterwards commajesty's
that public
prayers should be recited by
and
orthodox.
He
terrupted
inpronouncedan harangue,which was
by vociferous plaudits. The king
then,kneeling,
solemnlycommitted his army,
his cause, and his people,
of the Lord
to the care
next
God
of Battles.
The
army
followingmorning Henry
in
battle array.
drew
divided
He
his
up
his
cavalry
seven
"
"
124
HISTORY
[1589.
OF
formed
mandant,
by the German reitersunder their comSchoraberg.
The duke de Mayenne advanced
and
timidly,
with manifest foreboding,
to risk his reputation
and the fortunes of the League upon the chances
of a second pitchedbattle with Le Navarrois.
The
outcry in Paris, however, and the rapid
of the king left him no alternative.
successes
The victory
at Arques had demonstrated
Henry's
in the field; and, though ninnerically
prowess
the fresh levies of the Union could ill
superior,
withstand,it was feared,the shock of the king's
disciphnedbattalions. The duke postedhis
of Ivry. The rightand
to the village
army near
the leftwing of the army was
composed of Swiss
battalions and French
regiments,under MM.
of which
in the midst
de Terrail,
League'was borne by
postedhis German levies
the
'
Tlic banner
de-lis.
of the
League
strong,under M.
was
an
on
the banner
officer. The
a
hill to
of
duke
the left.
1590.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
125
IV.
flanked on
tlie left by
regimentswere
Tontaine-Martel ; and
the
on
cavalryunder
right,by a squadronof two hundred Spanish
lancers.
were
By the time these dispositions
had set ; the troops,therefore,
made, the sun
the greater part of the
remained under arms
decided to defer the combat
night,as it was
until the morrow.
The kingtook a brief
repose
These
in the open
air
on
mattress
night,
accompanied
by the
marshals
d'Aumont, he reconnoitred
At
enemy.
camp
raised
the
by
dawn
all
of
spirit
the
the rest
the
de Biron and
the
arrival of
of the
camp
in
activity
was
of the
soldiers
the
royal
further
was
reinforcements
under
M.
reviewed
carefully
brilliant staff,
the
his array.
king went
everywhere received
marshal
de
Biron
with
rode
Surrounded
from
rank
to
acclamations.
by
rank,
The
his
majesty's
right
;
the grand Prior,INIouayde
Duplessis-Mornay,
St. Phale, Givry,Rosny, and
the duke
de
followed ; allburning
to demonstrate
Montpensier
who
had
their zeal againstthe rebel subjects,
soughtthe aid and the sword of Spain. Tlie
on
summoned
mandy
king had previously
Fervaquesfrom Nornote ;
by the following
Fervaques! a cheval ! car je
voir a ce coup-cy, de quel poilsent les oisons de Norveux
mandie. Venes
droit a Alenpon! Henry." Kecueil de Lettres
1
The
'"
"
Missives
126
helmet
kuig was
phime,and
of fine chain
The
soldiersof the
Thou,
"
scarf
suit
armed
were
ering
tow-
royal
to
the
tion,
decora-
nor
their accoutrements
The
terror.
army
contrary,was
officers
The
majestywore
neither
theydisplayed
but
the
De
])ya
his
"
armour.
army,"writes
teeth
surmounted
of the
white
[15S9.
or
HISTORY
wore
grim
ins})ired
of the duke de Mayenne,on
magnificentin equipment.
scarfs,while
bright-coloured
gold glittered
upon their helmets and lances."
Henry reined in his chargerbeneath the white
of France, and
banner
again haranguedhis
the crime of the
on
troops. He expatiated
rebels,in havingconcluded leagueoffensive and
defensive with
Spain. They take as their
a
designto exterminate
pretext and excuse,
heresy; but. Messieurs, have we not seen them
arm
againsttheir late Catholic and orthodox
monarch, and cut short the thread of his life by
? It is to avenge
the most execrable of parricides
crime that we
this enormous
to fight.
are
now
Upon the fortune of this day your lives,your
honour, and your estates depend. You are
'
about
with
to
contend,
not
Spaniards. To
crown.
my
hitherto had
If,
cause
as
to
your
valour
loyal
you
love and
to
venerate
have
my
kinglyrule,by
"
1590.]
in
THE
arras
the
as
pathof
ended
REIGN
OF
you
have
honour
to
his oration
HENRY
127
IV.
shown
yourselvesalong
!"
When
the king
victory
mighty shout rent the air.
"
which
upon
"
"
he
hastened
to
the support of M.
le marechal
of
regiments
have givenway
duke
de Mayenne,
before the enemy." The
ordered a generalattack; and adthereupon,
1
"
Sauvez
the
of the
les
Francais,et main
king.
"
Perefixe.
The
of St. Andre
existingvillages
seven
basse
action
was
sur
!" exclaimed
I'etranger
foughton the
and Foucrainville.
site
128
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
of the
royal
forces,
enemy, followed by the elite of his own
and by a regimentof Spanishcarabiniers. He
the duke
by
supported
was
de Nemours
The
shock
was
and
of their
the
ive
respect-
The
rude.
king
with devotion
squadronsof the
and the soldiers,
broken and dispersed;
their generals.
confusion,abandoned
half
less than
enemy
were
flyingin
Success
In
in other
the
hour
an
partsof
both
The cavalryon
sides
royalists.
had yet only engaged in conflict. The Swiss
unbroken ; while the
levies of the League were
valiant
Biron, with
marshal
de
hundred
horse
had remained
'
ment
"
Le
and
a
of
reserve
three
regimentsof infantry,
of the fight.
spectator
two
et hardiraeut autaiit
d'Armand
his
de
Gontaut
M. Duhaillon, contenant
baron
de
Biron, marechal
de
Lettre
France
"
Thou, liv.98.
130
HISTORY
Biroii,who
had
[1589.
OF
the
stirred from
never
post
disdainino- to follow in
they lowered
manders,
token
in
resolved
first,
bnt
after
of
to
their surrender.
his
king,at
them
to rout ;
with Biron,he
Biron
exclaimed
part of
the marshal
the
gloriousand
fled!
Vive
king.
de Biron
To
noble
you
from
de
has taken
the
alone
!
victory
le roy T
accepted
dismounted
then
to-dayperformedthe charge of
Biron, and
ners
ban-
The
"Sire!"
horse,
and
arms
submission.
conference
their
com-
we
Your
"Marechal,
this
owe
foes have
mni !"
mon
to
respondedHenry, give thanks and praises
Almighty God ! Victoryand glory are alone
attributes of the Lord of Hosts !"
Then,"
writes Biron,^
"two
rendered
largebattalions of Swiss surto me
; the which I posted in the rear
of ours.
Twenty detached bands likewise laid
down
Moreover, there were eighthundred
arms.
horsemen
posted between these said battalions
and our
ranks,who, perceiving
my advance,tried
to escape. But our
king sent after these in pursuit,
and chased them to the town of Ivry,with
great slaughter.The enemy throngedin this
"
"
Duhailloii datee de
ce
camp
1590.]
of
town
UEIGN
THE
broke
down
first of the
The
Ivry.
131
IV.
HENRY
OF
bands
fugitive
the
which were
of the
the cansc
threw up barricades,
destruction of the enemy/ The king,
complete
river at Anet, and
passedthe
thereupon,
me
of
town
believe
enemy
Ivry,which
more
there
thousand
send
to
promptlyexecuted.
we
is
as
horsemen
of the
battle. We
in open
men
manded
com-
of their baggagein
piecesof artillery
; most
besides the
which were
things,
precious
many
Our
treasure.
king crossed the Eure at Anet,
His majesty
and pursued
the enemy to Mantes.
of Rosny." The
passedthe nightin the village
soldiers
of Spanishand Walloon
detachment
the
under Egmont was
cut to pieces
; such was
animosityof the royalsoldiers againstthese
of
man
foreign troops, that scarcelyone
received quarter. Fifteen hundred were
slain; some
the fieldof battle ; others at the
on
them
ford close to
mont^
1
The
found
was
conduct
bridgeover
Ivry. The
young
amongst the
of the duke
the Eure
de
after he
count
slain.
d'EgHenry
"
Traite de la
hundreds,-who,
132
HISTORY
commanded
mont
honourable
to
cousin-german
was
Louise
the
him
de Lorraine,widow
banners
and
[1589.
OF
dowager
of
flagsof
Henry IIL
the League
All
were
Amongst
MM.
de la
were
king's
prisoners
de Vivonne, and de Bois-Dauphin
Chateigneraye,
the noted Leaguer,the bastard of Brunswick
;
the
of
count
the
reiters,
trumph of
Friesland
commandant
M.
the
of
of
the counts
were
Clermont
cavaliers
de Lude
and de
and
de
severely
Choisy,
king,and
M.
He
left no
children
by
de
Hoonie.
When
"
! c'etoitun
rebellc!"
"
1590]
OF
REIGN
THE
at last induced
were
seen
time which
The
the duke
admit
givenby
assurance
positive
that he had
to
one
le Bearnnois
133
IV.
HENllY
on
tiie
of liis officers
dead
on
the field.
an
vantage,
ad-
self.
availed himslowly
the capHad
Heniy followed in pursuit,
ture
have consumof Mayenne would, probably,
mated
this glorious
triumph over the League
The king remained for the
and its adherents.
league from
night at Rosny, a villageone
the following
on
morning to
Mantes, "intending
he had
of which
the Mantois
summon
to
not
surrender
their town.
;
Rosny,Henry lodged in miserable quarters
rendered the
but the magnitudeof his success
kingcareless of discomfort. As his majestywas
down
officer entered and anto sup, an
nounced
sitting
At
the
arrival of the
marshal
d'Aumont,
De
Thou
d'xiumont
edited
Heuri
"
de
son
Temps,
liv. 98.
Vie du raarcchal
etc.
de
"
Du
Hist,
le Grand.
134
[1589.
OF
HISTORY
and made
merry
discomfiture of madame
the anticipated
;
on
jests
in Paris.
and her colleagues
de Montpensier,
the king despatched
the vidame
At daybreak,
liorseto reconnoitre,and
de Chartres with forty
of the peopleof Mantes.
ascertain the disposition
ance
Mayenne had been there received with reluctlike many
other subjects
of the Union,
; for,
the inhabitants were
venient
waitingfor the firstconto cast off allegiance
to the
opportunity
bourhood,
League. So greatwas the panic in the neighthat the vidanie approachedclose to
the
gates
of
the
sino-leindividual.
town
At
without
meetina;
wards
toperceivedtwo men
creepingstealthily
of the gates,througha vineyard
close
one
The
the principal
suburb.
men,
finding
escort
to
themselves
followed
gave
an
discovered, rushed
to
the
gate,
by several of the royalsoldiers,and
alarm.
hundred
Two
men
appeared on
arquebusesimmediately
and
and
armed
with
the
his
parts,
ram-
escort.
The
vidame
"
1590.}
THE
REIGN
the
gatheredon
HENRY
IV.
The
ramparts.
acclamations
vociferous
has la
OF
135
menced
peoplecom-
of Vive le roy !
his
"Assure
majesty,"
replied
that we
the commandant,
ask nothingbetter
than to acknowledgeso puissantand vahant a
that we
resolved to live and die
are
prince
; and
his faithful subjects."
A deputation
of inhabitants
nominated on tlie spot to carry to Henry
was
the keys of the city,
and to pray his majesty
to
A
Ligue!
"
the
garrison,
followed by the
fled towards
de Chartres
duke
remounted
miserable
harano-uino-
was
his horse,and,
residue
of his army,
St. Denis.
the
the
same
walls of Issoire,
and
slain in
an
sequently
action sub-
celebrated by queen
fought a victory
of artillery
Marguerite by a great discharge
:
from
the
ramparts of
her
strong fortress of
Usson.
'
Novenuaire.
Cayet,Chrouologie
136
the
On
ICtb
welcome
tlie
of
the
to
Tours
of
a
offered
district
Mantes
loyal and
wealthy,and
distant
the
council
from
of Mantes."^
of
brother
M.
de
benefaction
family of
bestowed
his future
the
on
cessible
ac-
Loire.
intends
to
send
of
centre
Biron,
after
"
for
it in this his
his
good
Rosny,
in Mantes
to
place more
towns
nominated
Henry
town
de
The
from
transaction
the
w^as
to establish
Tours
mined
deter-
state
the marshal
consideration,
King
he
the
the
facilities for
many
king," Avrites
mature
of
vicinityof
business.
public
town
pealed
loyalgreeting
council
The
Mantes.
to
The
The
king.
his
translate
than
"
valiant
cannon
churches
the
of
bells
tended
at-
solemn
The
Mantes.
Paris
of
town
the
saluted, and
made
principalnobles,
the
into
entry
King Henry,
of March,
day
his
by
[1589.
OF
HISTORY
his
de
and
governor
wdiich
was
by
Henri
the
Bethune,
mandant
com-
first notable
Quatre
the
on
duke
de
Sully.^
'
)attle of
^
de
Lettre
Biron
Duhaillon,
Memoires
de due
de
containing a
la Monarchic
Sully,liv. 3.
relation
of
franfaise.
tlie
138
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
by the
duke
The
Parisians
daily
expectedto
by
the
king
to
established his
not
quarters,
daringto
confront
the taunts
the Seize,whom
abased.
recently
he had
the wrath
duchess
of the fiercedemagoguesof
of his sister,
the
"
He
precated
de-
termagant
the ambassador
Mendoza.
deputationof
the
citizens waited
upon
more
the
The
day,a
following
disposed
peacefully
duke
to
tender
him
1590.]
mander
REIGN
THE
OF
Morea, and
de
HENRY
the
by
139
IV.
of
archbishop
to
reiters; and
the
cowardice
German
of the
of the
spokepositively
zealous
affairs.^ Above
re-establishing
admonished
at his
to enter
council,as usual.
"
Madame
de
que le Bearnnois
tellement blesse
siegede
Paris
"
Montpensieret
aid in
all,she urgently
Paris,and preside
was
Such, nevertheless,
that
populardespondency,
the
'
the duke
operation
co-
son
there is
no
doubt
un
bruit
le roy)estoit ou mort,
(aiusiappellerent-ils
n'eu pouvaiteschapper."Discours
qu'il
parmi les Mcmoires de la Ligue.
Tmprirae
sur
ou
la
140
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
Ivry,had
advanced
in his
pubhclycelebrated mass
would have
camp, that the gates of the capital
been opened in the cordial joy of the peopleto
salute,and be reconciled to so valiant a prince.
Madame
de Montpensier,
lost
however, totally
faith in the
militaryor diplomaticability
of her brother Mayenne ; and, consequently,
she still more
espoused the party
resolutely
upon
of
Paris,and
the
overtures
young
for a
madame
in
de
Guise, and
made
de
accord
duke
with
views
of
political
mademoiselle de Guise,the latter subsequently
contrived by applyingdirectly
self,
to the king himto obtain permissionfor her mother
to
absent herselffor
the
then
season
from
Paris.
after
Mayenne, immediately
Paris, addressed
the
king
his
return
to
letters to
disaster. He
stated to
PhilipH. that,against
his judgment,he had been compelledto offer
battle to the Bearnnois,by the mutinous
titude
atof the Swiss legions,
who
clamorously
demanded
mencement
com-
have
undoubtedly
1590.]
THE
OF
REIGN
HENRY
141
IV.
and
liis
arms.
his fervour to
League.
prayed that
He
in terms
of the
the
Spanishcabinet.
had httle faith in the ultimate triumph
Union
.The duke de Piney constantly
affirmed
were
might
cause.
it is beheved, of
instigation,
Sixtus
aid
be afforded to the
wrote
immediate
not
his holiness
to
French
that
comprehendedin
Rome
affairs
for that
that his
from
hostile demonstrations,
majestymight with
honour
the
crown
of France;
destined
besides, were
that
andoitious
on
treasures
for the
promotion of
projectwhich, throughouthis
was
never
pontificate,
annexation
his hoarded
finite
in-
of the
kingdom
of
"
the
Naples to the
patrimonyof St. Peter. The duke de Mayenne,
confident of the support of Spain,
therefore,
sumed
preof severe
to indite a despatch
reproofto
the subtle old pontiff,
his avarice,
on
inconstancy
142
HISTORY
of purpose, and
of the Union.
[1590.
OF
"During
Mayenne,
cause
the
holiness was
king," wrote
your
pleasedto approve the taking up of arms,
althoughthe said king made outward profession
of the true
faith.
Your
"
is
holiness,therefore,
vast treasure?^
or
how
such be better
can
for the
of the realm,
preservation
to which
your holiness and the popedom oAve
The
benefits ?"
such
Spanish
extraordinary
expendedthan
in Rome,
ambassador
the conde
de
was
Olivarez,
of the Union
and to
"
election of
an
orthodox
successor
St.
would
to
the throne
take time
on
and
AdkcIo.
1590.]
THE
REIGN
HENRY
OF
sanctioned
he
as
143
IV.
any
fresh
Enriquede Guzman
remarks
to forget
the
Don
his
respectdue
be
to
Sixtus doggedly
refused
superseded."
to
Olivarez
hold
with
the
count
of
the latter
and, after a farther wrangle,
recalled.
was
conference
quently
subse-
The
positions
pope, whose favourable disHenry Avould probablyhave
king
facilitateda speedypacification,
stricken by
was
his mortal malady before the arrivalof the duke
de
sent
to
Sessa, the ambassador
replace
to
Olivarez.
A
it
on
which, however,
Rome, it
conference with
de
Noisy
"
the
Le
was
his intention
Navarrois,
abode
magnificent
144
HISTORY
of the duke
foundation
de
many
Retz
ascertain upon
wliat
declared that Henri
to
"
[1590.
OF
persons
Bourbon
of
members
Several
declared,that
rUnion
usurper was
and that
rank
no
the
to
Conseil
parleywith
treason
accord
late
towards
could
be
de
the heretic
Charles X.
with
made
Le
Navarrois.
was
was
holiness,who
had
already
IV.
state
was
an
in the town
of Mantes.
of
daughters
and
council of
The
wives and
of the
many
with alacrityto
Nevertheless,to the
cavaliers responded
royalist
Henry'ssummons.
great regretof the king's
madam e de Beauvilliers
trustycounsellors,
and took up her abode in Mantes.
quittedSenlis,
The kingalso invited madamc
de Guercheville,
most
to whom
suit.
his
"
in making
majestystill persisted
majesty,but
not
dishonour !"
was
from your
the resolute
146
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
heretic king,lived
acknowledgea
de
ever,
lifeof retirement
Noirmoutiers,
wearied
herself
in vain
The
Bretagnea
madame
duchesse
de Mercoeur
enacted in
playedby
reckless treason
praying with
Chenonceau
her
and
to the
epistles
to
Louise
of her kindred
the
duke
in
sisterthe widowed
queen at
sentimental love
in
de
writmg
bassador
amPiney,his majesty's
Holy See.
maintained
of Lorraine
At
Chenonceau, queen
lugubrioussolitude.
Her majesty
inhabited two apartmentshung with
in
black serge and
contiguousto the chapel,
which
mass
was
most
by nightand day.^The
'
Vic
wail of
mourningand
the
d'Avignon.
1590.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
147
IV.
now
harmony of dirgesand antipliones
in
echoed throughthe gorgeous saloons,
solemn
alone
held revel.
Marguerite
and profligate
defied fate beautiful,
as
alluring,
pursuedthe even tenour of her
ever, Marguerite
vicious pleasures
by the issue of
; occasionally,
able manifesto or epistle,
some
demonstrating
of mind, which, in
that tact and accomplishment
rendered her
addition to her personal
gifts,
bon,
enmityformidable. Madame Catherine de Bourthe sisterof the king,resided in retirement
in a fanciful palacein the park of Pau, constructed
by queen Jeanne d'Albret,and named
had
by her Castelbeziat. The young princess
a
strong will and a passionate
temper. She
strict in her religious
observancies ; and
was
devoted to the austerities practised
by her
in the discourse and
She
mother.
delighted
the writings
of her Calvinist ministers; and
with Theodore
maintained constant
correspondence
de Beze.
The princess,
tained
entermoreover,
for the count
de
a
strong preference
Soissons
attachment greatly
an
disapproved
lected
by the king,her brother. Catherine,had se:
"
the
countess
de
Guiche
as
it is
first
she lived on
; with whom
confidente
de Guiche,
of easy familiarity.
Madame
said,revengedherself for Henry'sincon-
lady and
terms
her
143
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
The
of his sister.
duchesse
the
which, of
fortunes
perilous
numbered
course,
barked
em-
League ;
amongst
of the
princesses^
the
lady in
learned
most
had
Eetz, who
de
house
its adherents
of Lorraine.
to allthe
meantime, gallant
Bellegarde,
ration
admiladies assembled at Mantes, shewed peculiar
When
rallied by the kingon
for no one.
the duke
this insensibihty,
replied,"that no
ladypresent at Mantes could approachin peerless
de
M.
la
charms
dame
Gabrielle
de
his
moiselle
made-
pensees,
d'Estrees !"
incredulous response
some
ses
The
when
king made
requested
Bellegarde
him to the
accompany
chateau de Coeuvres,and judgefor himself. Henry
majestyto
acceded
jestingly
1
"
Corisandre
I'infidelilede
de
marriage
de
Vie de
la
Corisandre
de
la vengeance qu'clle
pritde
amant, fut de favoriser malgrc lui Ics projets
pritson
son
"
Toutc
parti.
Catherine
princesse
ou
Diane,
avec
conitesse
le comte
de
Guiche
de Soissons."
"
Dreux
dc
Kadier.
-
'J'liediicliesses de
Mnycnne, Montpcnsier,Guise,Mercoeur,
1590.J
THE
Guise in her
unfortunate
"
that fatal
to
misfortunes
own
he
sight,
close
hazarded
The
king."
Soissons.
to
Her
for,
his fortunes,
chateau
sided,
re-
father,An_
d'Estrees,
was
marquisde Coeuvres,^
toine
d'Estrees
mademoiselle
de Cceuvres, where
was
149
IV.
the
memoirs/
Bellegarde,
lively
quest
lover,became by this imprudentre-
artificerof his
the
owing
HENRY
OF
REIGN
deputy-
of
grandmaster
Her
mother
Francoise
was
Babou
de
la Bour-
and
life,
virtually
rated
sepafrom her husband, who, duringthe wars
inhabited the castleof Coeuvres with his daughters.^
most
Gabrielle d'Estrees
'
Hist,
Lorraine
-
His
The
des
born
was
de Henri
amours
was
Guise.
marquis de
ancestor
Raoul
Coeuvres
had
Bourbon
St.
Catherine
de
Madame
IV.
d'Estrees
and
her sisters
were
150
and
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
consequently
eighteen
years
was
old when
the
her.
The chroniclers and
king first saw
poets of the age exhaust every term of admit
ration in lauding the exquisite
beauty,which
beamed on the sightof Henry.
GaMadame
bnelle was
the most lovely
without dispute
woman
"
in
France
her
hair
was
of
beautiful
cendree
first
then
saw
appearedat
Mile. d'Estrees,who
the court
of la belle Gabrielle
the
upon
had
never
to
duke, who
he
seen
had
never
then affianced
however, was
d'Estrees,
Andre de Brancas sieur de Villars,brother of
the
'
Ureux
de lladier,
1. 1.
Aubigiic,
Mathieu, t. 2.
1590.]
REIGN
THE
Rouen
for the
repute and
League,was
honour,
but
HENRY
151
IV.
cavalier of
great
possessedonly
It does not
wealth.
moderate
OF
appear,
of
that
the suit of
The
her
on
who
honourablyasked her hand in
Bellegarde,
the advantage
feeling
marriage. M. d'Estrees,
induced to
of so puissant
an
was
alliance,
easily
consent
and
garde
de Belle-
exchangedrings.The duke,
his pictureto his betrothed
after presenting
bride,returned to court ; where breakingoff the
relations which he had formerly
entertained with
devoted himself
madame
d'Humieres, he faithfully
and
to
Gabrielle
Meanwhile,
Montmartre
amongst the
the
to
at
as
orthodox
rigidly
determined
kingspeedily
more
of Henry's
jects,
subto
sendherback
to
Senlis;and desired the duke de Bellegarde
asked
Bellegarde
the
permission
royal
upon
some
152
HISTORY
that
entreaties,
him
thither.
abode of M.
the
The
[1590.
OF
king
would
accompany
to the
visit of his majesty
d'Estrees
was
an
event
Kkelyto
not
affairs demanded
wdiere
that
his presence.
From
sent to compliment
period,the king constantly
and
to
inquireafter the health of
mademoiselle
d'Estrees
M.
selecting
The
de
admiration
never,
it
was
served,
ob-
senger.
Bellegardeas his mesdemonstrated
so vividly
old
Au
"
says of Gabrielle :
qui baiser peut sa bouclie ceuabrine
rhymingchronicle
llcurcux
Scs ievrcs dc
"
"
Muse
Chasscresse.
154
de
HISTORY
Paris
Mayenne quitted
duke
de Nemours
[1590.
OF
after
the
nominating
command
to supreme
the
over
in Soishead-quarters
time the legate,
attended by
At the same
sons.
his coadjutors
the Italian bishopsand Bellarmine,
five leagues
from
to the castle of Noisy,
repaired
and
capital,
established his
on
the
condition of
affairs.
All
the
Marne, between
and
the
the
bridgesover
and
Rouen
conference,
therefore,
was
Paris, and
Lagny
Henry'spossession
; a
in
were
capital,
and
rivers Seine
The
League,
gave
offence to
Gaetano
then
spoke.
His
of
applaudedby the
the royal deputies.
eminence
dwelt
on
exposed; and
the unholywar
on
waged by king Henry against
the orthodox.
He commented
on
pathetically
articles
"
the realm
was
his oration
which, the
and
the following
by proposing
cardinal said might be re-
1590.]
ceived
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
as
states
mutual
1st. That
consent
and
155
IV.
the
the
convoked
by
decision of
the
will not
can
propose
the
recognises
which
royaltitle of
our
august
I"
sovereign
A
debate
warm
cardinal
confounded
was
by the
M.
ensued
nobles
at
duringwhich
the enthusiasm
presentfor
the
cause
the
played
dis-
of the
de
honoured by
Givrywas especially
the notice and by the discourse of the prelate.
His easiness in having permitted
boats laden
with provision
to pass the pont de Charenton,
unknown
for the victualling
to the king,
of the
recommendation
of macapital
; and the secret
dame
de Guise,whose
cavalier Givry entitled
himself,raised the hope that he, at least,
might
be detached from the royal
cause.
Findingthat
his flattering
appealsto the honour and patriotism
of Givrywere
the legate
useless,
said, But,
M. de Givry,repent and confess your
at least,
king.
"
156
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
sin in
licly,
upholdingheresy. Ask absolution puband I the representative
of his holiness will
dicted
addeclare you absolved !"
Givry,who was
fell
to jestsand to immoderate
laughter,
his knees at the feet of the cardinal ;
on
instantly
and with piteous
face,asked absolution for the
ills which
had
he
inflicted
the
on
orthodox
solemnly pronouncedthe
formula.
Observingthat Givry retained his
attitude, the legate asked what
penitential
he required. Holy father ! you have
more
I
absolution for the ills which
given me
Parisians.
Gaetano
"
have
inflicted
grant
me
intend to do
on
these
against
me
again!"
said Parisians.
They
of permajority
sonages
present could not restrain their laughter
in great
the legate,
at this sally;
however, rose
his absolution rebuked
the
wrath, and recalling
impious and daring blasphemer,as he now
termed Givry; and predictedthat ere longthe
of the Most
High would smite
vengeance
him.' A splendid
banquetgivenby the cardinal
restored harmony,
de Gondy to the plenipotentiaries,
and his
in some
the legate
measure
; but
will hear
De
Thou
denude
"
Hist, dc
sou
qu'uneheure devaut
entrevue
cours
of
Temps
The
liv. 98.
diner et deux
"Ne
heures
dura
cette
apres." Dis-
de
ce
"
1590.]
suite
soon
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
157
IV.
withdrew,and returned
to Paris
highly
fifteen thousand
men,
well
armed, furnished
with
"
overtures
declared
himself
eminence
also sent
to hasten
the advance
The
of
which
the
His
willingto promote.
his nephew,Peter Gaetano,
of the
duke
the
of Parma.'
archbishop
tranquillize
in order to
presided,
and restrain
the people, submitted
to the Sorbonne, to the
propositions
"wdiether the Parisians might, in case
Lyons now
open
marshal
certain
eff'ect:
of
tremity,
ex-
de
said
The
Plenri,even
sightof God,
to
death?
and
to oppose
whether
to
following
day Don Juan de Morea, was despatched
givegreaterweightto the entreaties of the legate's
nephew Don
1
Pietro.
158
such
in
perished
as
have
to
the
won
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
the
mightbe esteemed
martyrdom?" The
cause
of
crown
theologians
acceptedthe discussion ; and, after
A
solemn
debate ensued.
a
celebrating
mass,
course,
interdecree was then rendered,which prohibited
Bourbon, under painof anathema
de
death
and
faith,
to
and
claimed
pro-
unto
persisted
earned
gloriously
have
defenders
to be deemed
were
who
all persons
that
Henri
with
accommodation
or
collusion,
of the true
the
palm of
martyrdom.'
Whilst
Henry
duke
from the
who
spatches
at Corbeil he received de-
was
de
PineyLuxembourg,
positions
majestythe favourable dis-
notified to his
Sixtus
of the pope.
to the Catholic nobles of the
same
messenger
in
which
addressed
brief
royalarmy by
he
gave
the
his
them
the faith.
The
remain
moreover,
pope,
constant
wrote
to
to the
that
his displeasure
cardinal-legate,
expressing
had
Gaetano
and
cardinals de Vendome
old
1
the
when urgedby
pontiff,
Verbal
Journal
du Sorbonne"
de llcuri IV.
primccchez
Jcuu
cu
Baptisie,
Spanishambassa-
Ce 7cme
Mcmoirc
The
des
1717.
Evoques,imviugt-huit
1590.]
THE
de
granted him
Infanta,flew
OF
REIGN
Sessa
in the
"
159
IV.
onlyaudience
the
sanction
to
"
HENRY
claims
of
he
the
if
and
the
he,
to
father
these threats
accelerated the
supposed to have
the malady with
smitten
Christendom, should
countenance
publicly
which
of
which
he
progress
at this
was
of
period
ultimately
provedfatal. Some
contemporary writers,however, do not scruple
to declare their belief that poisonwas
resorted
whose
approval
disto, in order to remove
a
pontiff,
of the measures
contemplated
by Spain
and her Gallic alliesmust speedily
have brought
the
and that
to
war
conclusion.
advanced, and
kingrapidly
the submission of the towns
of Lagny,
receiving
Melan, and Provins, encamped on the ISth
From
Corbeil the
Cayet"
"
Quaud
d'excommunier
tous
le pape
les
"
ii'eu feraitrieu.'
qu'il
de Piney:
M'iucresce
'
"
tai costumi
: me
fut
somme
par
le due
de Sesse,
iSixte repoudit,
Catholiques
royaux,
The pope also said publicly
to the duke
d'aver
scommuuicato
il rey, esseudo di
percheI'era I'ato."
160
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
of Cenada
amounted
majestywould
months'
to
grant
duration
an
his
request"that
armistice
of
several
spatched
might be deand IMadrid to negotiate
to Rome
a
peace." Monseigneur,"
repliedBiron, what
! The king is not indisposed
you ask is impossible
for peace ;
but his majesty entirely
dechnes the intervention of foreignpotentates."
Before the bishopdeparted,
he celebrated high
;
"
"
mass
and
d'Auvergne,
tense
inof these personages the bishopexpressed
an
vention
the king. By the interto see
curiosity
of the abbe
d'Elbene,an interview
owed
arranged. Henry
'
Marco
Antonio
de
great
Moceuigo,brother
debt
to
of the Venetian
was
the
bassador
am-
resident at Tours,
-
his
The
bishopinformed
but could
benedieiioii,
of
menacingproximity
the
not
quit Paris,on
royalarmy.
sent
legate
account
them
of the
162
cle
duke
The
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
Nemours
governor
tliis interval,
continued
during
exertions
fate
to
Fifteen
doomed.
Collato
make
ordinary
extra-
evitable
provide againstthe inwhich
the
capitalseemed
to
hundred
the
and
to
of Paris,
landsknechts, under
troop commanded
by
Louis
sieur de Vitry,
entered
the city.
I'Hupital,
Many blocks of houses in the faubourgs and
the walls of the citywere
pulleddown,
upon
that platfoi'ms
tions
might be built and the fortificachains
double
also
were
strengthened
;
de
stretched
the
across
river.
made
be
The
duke
caused
of the
quantityof provisions
the public stores
in
comprehending
wine, barley,and dry vegetables the result
corn,
accumulated
showed that food enough was
hundred
thousand
to feed two
persons during
reckoning to
"
of
the space
one
month.
close to
Pontoise, of which
Angeiique d'Estrees,
d'Estrees, was
:
for
proved no
derided.
abbess.
sister
convent
of
madame
mademoiselle
Incredible scandals
sued
en-
the cloister
this lawless period,
dui'ing
refuge,ecclesiastical authoritybeing
trict
the cityand disBy the 14th of I\Iay,
of Paris
were
isolated from
the rest
of
1590.]
rrance/
marshal
The
St.
pont de
guarded by M. de Givry.
d'Aumont
kept watch over the
Cloud.
Strong garrisons
keptthe
short,"says
hands."
majesty's
The
the
burn
to
Troyes,Paris
and Montereau,
Sens
between
the
bridgeson
Oise
encamped
windmills
the
in his
were
royalarmy
Montmartre.
eye-witness,
an
Paris and
bridgebetween
every
and
was
"In
Honorine.
"
of the
of
towns
163
IV.
at the confluence
bricl2;e
The
and Seine
Marne
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
to
was
proceeding
district.
On
skirmish ensued
May, a warm
of Paris and the outposts
between the garrison
of the royal
array, in which La None w^as severely
the
of
10th
wounded.
The
daythat
same
the
reached the
Paris,news
kingencampedbefore
of the death of
capital
"
The
river Yonne
stoppedup
held le
the
the
Seine from
Poissy and
Conflans
were
and Beaumont
defended by a garrison,
reustrongly
garrisoned;
dered it impossible
for boats to navigate
the river Oise." Davila
"
liv.xi.
M
164
HISTORY
from
Chinon.
[1590.
OF
Moreover, he had
subrecently
mitted to a painful
and dangerous
from
operation,
the effects of which he never
ralhed. By the
permissionof the king,the duke de Nevers paid
the cardinal a visit. Subdued
by illness,and by
the dreary
isolationin which he had lived since
his arrest at Blois,the cardinal
wept bitterly
duringhis interview with the duke. He exhorted
the latter to reconcile himself with "le
neveu
never
;"
"
for,"said he,
will
set !"
the
star
Sorrowful,also,
reminiscences of the
Medici,whom
"
roy son
of Bourbon
the
late queen
Catherine
cardinal termed
a
genius,
queen, a glorious
resources." He, moreover,
"
of
woman
his
were
de
great
thousand
to intercede with
might be
Chartreuse of Gaillon.^
the duke
cardinal,
de Nevers
laid this
petition
before the
assented. The
king,who immediately
body was embalmed, and conveyedunder escort
by night to Tours. There the cardinal de
Vendome, the
the
count
princede Conti,nephews of
T)ie Cliartrcuse
is about, three
the
quartersof
deceased
leaguefrom
Bourbon, and
de Soissons
most
The
within
it
Bourbon.
The
of the
maftuificcut
cardinal dc Bourbon
many
died
castle of
Gaillon
was
residences
splendid
May 8, 1590.
one
of the
in France.
1590.]
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
165
IV.
cardinal,
joinedthe cortege,and accompaniedit
interred
bodywas privately
in a vault before the highaltar of the monastery.
The
decease of the cardinal augmented the
II. instantly
of the League. Philip
per[)lexities
him
de Mayenne, exhorting
to the duke
wrote
indicated
another king; and plainly
to proclaim
the sovereign
who
the young duke de Guise
as
cabinet.
would be most acceptable
to the Spanish
for the present,
But all serious negotiation
was,
postponed,in the dismay occasioned by the
Paris.
yenne,
Mamarch
of the king upon
sudden
in order to conciliatehis Catholic majesty,
issued an
edict,convoking the states of the
to the election
realm to meet in Paris,to proceed
of a Catholic and orthodox king. Meantime,
his resolve,despite
the
announced
the duke
the
to Gaillon ; where
conduct
vacancy of the throne,to continue to
form and titlesas of yore.
affairsunder the same
to confer with the
He then proceeded
to Conde
duke
of Parma
had
who
received instructions
from
looked upon
to
Prance
as
Parnese, in which
his own,
his
sent
"
majesty
missive
bade
him
his
166
HISTORY
[1590
OF
the
gave
him
immediate
succour
of
commanded
Spanish regiment,
by don Antonio
de Zuniga; of a regimentof Italian soldiers,
and a body of Plemish cavalry.Moreover, the
duke promisedto follow in ])erson at the head of
his army, and compel Le Navarrois to raise the
turned
siegeof Paris. Thus reinforced,Mayenne reAs he passedthrough Camto Prance.
induced
M. de
bray,his promisesand menaces
with the garrison
of the Cambresis, to
Balagny,^
joinhis standard. The king,informed of the
his
duke's march, boldly
determined to intercept
Prom
therefore,Henry
Argenteuil,
progress.
advanced
Crepy, accomplishingin one
upon
day a march of eighteen
leagues. The duke,
however, hearing of the king's intention,
fended
promptlyentrenched his army in Laon ; and dehimself with such vigour,that Biron,
after two
ineffectual
attempts to
storm
the town,
withdrew.
compelthe enemy to offer battle,
in thus harassing
Henry took malicious pleasure
the movements
of the duke de Mayenne ; whose
to
or
'
and
his
sicur dc
marquis de Cocuvrcs.
1590.]
OF
REIGN
THE
167
IV.
HENRY
ing
stand-
mental
The
maintained,and
strictly
dailyensued
was
bloodyskirmishes
in the faubourgs,
between
the besiegedand the
the 10th of May, the chevalier
On
besiegers.
d'Aumale
made
successful
sortie
and
captured
re-
the
convent.
of successive
church, the gifts
carried away
and
the
even
monarchs,
oratoryof
were
the abbess
The
despoiledof its rich ornaments.
directed
assaults of the besiegers
were
chiefly
and
its opulent
upon the faubourgSt. Germain
and populous
district. The intention of the
king was to starve his rebellious Parisians into a
was
surrender; and
the
known
reluctance
to
have
and give
expressedby tienryto bombard
contributed much
the cityup to pillage,
to the
obstinate resistance offered by the besieged.
Por the better government of the beleaguered
established between
city,the closest relations were
been
the
governor
the
duke
de
Nemours,' the
Eldest
son
of Aune
d'Este, duchess
dowajjerof Guise,bj
due de Nemours.
husband, Jacquesde Savoye,
duke died unmarried,1593.
her second
and
The
168
HISTORY
madame
[1590.
OF
retire from
to
Paris,announced
that, as the
presentative
re-
of the
and
spirit,
greatestalacrity,
were
perseverance
demonstrated
to
suit the
rendered
the
were
themselves
Lc
who
most
conspicuous,
Pranciscan
monk
called
gaillard,
'
cures,
le
Petit rcuillaut
this
at
Linccstre,Hamilton, Pierre
famous
Cristin,Boucher,
nicknamed
The
petitPeuillant'
"
was
wdio
de
was
Mont-
likewise
Acaiie,
170
HISTORY
elevation of her
throne
and
Isabel.
the
Madame
de Guise,at
vohitile,
prided herself on
but was,
[1590.
or
devout
once
and
title of la reine
her
in
reality,
swayed by the clear,
guerite
sharp intellect of her daughter,Louise Marde Lorraine. The duchesse de Mayenne,
like her husband, wept perpetually,
apathetic
and luxury;
bemoaning her past magnificence
and constantly
the ambitious
views
deprecating
mere
of
the duke
and
his kindred.
de
Nemours, mother
for
The
duchesse
martyredduke,"
and his brother Mayenne, swayed by passionate
which had overresentment
at the treachery
throAvn the glory
of her house,acted in concert
with her daughter,de Montpensier.The duke
of Lorraine chief of the
virtually
race, had
of the
retired from
season
"
the contest,offended
that
mandy,
Mayenne, during the campaign in Norof
presumed to take military
precedence
the duke de Bar. The duke,it was apprehended,
waited onlyhis opportunity
to make peace with
Henri Quatre; providedthat the king offered to
the duke
or
an
'
Catherine
Cliarlolte dc
Marck
of madanie
duke
dc
la
Bouillon
The
Bourbon-Monlpcnsier.
lier oidyi)rothcr,
Guillaumc
it Geneva
in
duchess
Robert
inherited
duke
de
of
on
do
la
Franyoisede
the demise
Bouillon,who
of
died
1590.]
Such
THE
the
were
OF
REIGN
HENRY
171
IV.
elastic
the
invested the
malcontents
the
strongholdof
"
Paris.
of the
which
one
the arrival of
commemorated
the
and the
legate. The duke de Nemours
principal
personages in Paris appeared. The
relics of La Sainte Chapelle
and of St. Denis
banners,
were
paradedamid multitudes of flags,
marched
and emblems.
to Notre
The procession
Dame
ascended
the
steps of
enthroned,
the
condition
espousinga
the hand
Catholic.
of mademoiselle
"who assumed
four
crowns
Roman
friend
personal
at
de Bouillon
Henri de la Tour
IV.
on
bread
made
bestowed
eventually
viscount
d'Auvergne,
de
Turenne,
his
Henri
the bushel
172
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
therefrom at tlierate of
where
he often held
and
grotesquedevice
the
authorities.
"
council.
ridiculous
This
sanctioned by
actually
Posterity,"
says de Thou,
was
will
'
in
hand
one
halberd.
Then
crucifix,in
followed
the
the other
ecclesiastics of
Paris,marchingfour abreast,armed
with
pikes.
the
came
followed
by
beingarmed either
dagger,or a
arquebuse,
partisan,
crucifix and
monastic habits
were
tucked
man
bearinga
with
sword.
halberd,
Their
up to the waist,to
1590.]
THE
OF
REIGN
HENRY
173
IV.
Most
of
steel; and
some
"
"
more
with
which theyoccasionally
discharged,
arquebuses,
without
fortunate
unintendingit,at the head of some
spectator."The bishop of Senlis
called himself "captain"of these fanatics;the
Hamilton w-as
their sergeant;and as they
cure
passed along the streets, he marshalled the
and gave out the tunes of the hymns
procession,
intoned duringthe progress.^
The legate,
meantime, informed of these proceedings,
lauded the pious
fervour of the
greatly
ecclesiastics
and
;
ordered
his
coach, that
he
was
might witness the spectacle.Gaetano
accompanied by Panigarolabishop elect of
and
Asti, by his secretary,
by the Jesuit
drove to the corner
The legate
Bellarmine.
of
a
in the line of
street
coach to be drawn
1
De
Mathieu.
up
Le
Dupleix.
close to the
Grain,Vie
L'Etoile, Journal
Chrou. Nov.
de Henri
d'Henri
houses,so
le
as
Grand, liv. v.
Cayet,
174
HISTORY
to allow
as
much
space
[1590.
OF
as
forthe
possible
passage
of the
the
who
sitting
by
was
in
to
his
to be
much
his side.
greatalarm, made
returned
of the
killed
wounded
and
accident created
The
effect, that,inasmuch
"
as
met
upon,
therelegate,
prom})tretreat
This
man.
excitement.
had
secretary
vestigati
lodgingswithout allowinginthe condition
made concerning
by a
partly
allayed
the
The
the
his defunct
retary
sec-
a holy
witnessing
it Avere
sin to doubt
ravishingspectacle,
that his soul had ascended straight
to beatitude !"
The same
was
evening,a partyof royalist
cavalry
attacked and driven from the faubourgMontmartre
This advantage
by the chevalier d'Aumale.
elated the populace,
that a mob
so
invested the houses of two respectable
citizens of
who
the party termed
Les
were
Politiques,
and
known
to
men,
be
to
'
advised
made
nate
have
sewn
that
peace
should
seizins;these unfortu-
Tlic loi^atcis
in sacks
and
thrown
them
into the
in
by all cliroiiiclcrsas living
rcpiTscnled
of his lil'c
from the awkward
be
zeal of his
iu
partisans
Paris'.
fear
1590.]
THE
175
IV.
HENRY
OF
REICxN
Seine
"
"
"
liars
are
infamous
"
messieurs
Le
made
who
liars
and
statement
cowards.
No
to the death !
Guerra 1
say war
The
of the Parisians was
not
spirit
Grain,Decade
de Henri
le
son
garoleelait obliged'interroinpre
grand verre
the
the
! I
guerra !"^
'
Such
to
Prendre haleine."
se
donner
auuom
Scaligeriania
sermon
des
en
"
Pani-
buvant
forces,que pour
Pauigarole.
un
re-
176
HISTORY
made
[1590.
OF
the
serious attack
no
of the
city.The
king,moreover,
even
on
royalarray
the
bourgs
fau-
encircled
blockaded
and
people.
the 17th of June,the sieur St. Paul
On
captured
"
anxieties which
the
amid
and
the whole
beset
life.
easy and jovial
his majesty
took up his abode in the
him, lived on
Sometimes
an
III. had
Gondy at St. Cloud, where Plenry
the guest of the
expired
; at other times he was
hotel
abbess
son.^
Ilenryjourneyedto
Occasionally,
'
d'Estrces,abl)css
Annjclique
life;the
prolliu^iito
an
enquiryto
which
and
moreover
scandal of the
to
her
caused
the
favour
retained her
of Maubnisson
nuns
ensued
abbess,owing
of
conduct,when
most
with
Scnlis
the
caused
the revelations
painfulsensation. The
king was not degraded;
position
throughoutthis reign.
178
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
that of M.
de Villars. M.
daughter,and
reallyattached
to
she
the
knew
the
preferences
Mademoiselle
belle Gabrielle.
however,
d'Estrees,
to
la
d'Estrees,being
dulously
listened increBellegarde,
sides,
suit of M. de Longueville
; beto
was
affianced
to
treason
to
the duke
her affianced,
she
sented
con-
with
correspondence
platonic
who promisedto recount the events
Longueville,
to enter
into a
Majestea
la barbe
recounted.
of Paris
Meanwhile, Henry'srebellious lieges
were
beginningto
]590.J
THE
REI45N
had provoked.
On
tlie}^
stores of vvheat
were
OF
HENRY
the .20thof
exhausted.
To relievethe
openedfor
179
IV.
the establishment
was
subscription
drons
public
soup caul-
of
sold
turbulence
the Hotel
starving
suppliants
hourlybesieged
de Ville,and pursuedthe coaches of Mendoza
or
of the princesses
whenever theystirred abroad.
La
ChapelleMarteau, and the cure Boucher,
thereuponcalled a meeting,and exhoi'ted the
tremity
expeopleto seek solace in their deplorable
by making a vow to presentto the shrine
of Oar Lady of Lorretto,a silver lamp and a
preciousmetal,each of the
ship of the same
value of thirty
marks.
The proposition
was
ceived
reof
with
fell
vehement
cheers
on
the
Journal
nnt.'i.ble
du
-
de
vow
on
the
Henri
IV"
L'Etoile.
siegede Paris,par
Discours
Pierre Coriiero.
loid.
N
veritable et
ISO
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
by sendinghis silverplate
for his own
coined into money, reserving
he announced, only one
silver spoon !*
offered contribution
be
to
as
use,
In the
second
of pope
name
of
donation
50,000
to the
crowns
purchase of provisions.
The discontent occasioned great dissensions in
of Lyons,
the archbishop
the council,of which
with his energy and eloquent
the prepen, was
siding
genius. The duke de Nemours, young
and
and inexperienced,
puzzledby conflicting
to the prelate's
advice.
counsels,deferred greatly
demeanour
of the Spanish
The unconciliating
authorities
for
the
ambassador
The
excited
shouts of
"
Give
turbulent
us
bread
demonstrations
'
This
and
is
money
less
use-
De
"
find
Thou.
Le
rae.ne
Davila.
peuple,"
says Mathieu,
la cole,qui se
veudoit
plutotde
grandcs cliaudicres. Ccux qui en
ct crev^rcnt,quand la liberie leur
ou
leurs aliments."
"
Kcgne de Hcuri
"
mangeoitde
aux
la
carrcfours
bouillic,
dans
de
moycu
d'avoir de meil-
1590.]
THE
OF
RETGiV
HENRY
181
IV.
commanded
dole of
It was
a
thing
barleybread to be issued.
tress
disto behold the daily
most
increasing
pitiable
and miseryof the poor,"writes an
witness.
eye"
died
Some
"
pitals
of starvation in the hos-
on
in
or
dunghills,
of
the
insufficient
contracted
food and its pernicious
quality,
deadly
the
body."
assemblyof
An
in
ecclesiasticalestablishments
at the Hotel
that
largestores
of
were
accumulated
in
heads
Paris
of the
was
voked
con-
day of
of the rumours
prevalent,
grainand other provisions
the monasteries of the capital.
de
June, in consequence
the
the 25th
Ville,on
Nemours, therefore,
proposedthat the
establishments
should
ventual
con-
"
the
church
first be
must
consulted,and
their
"the
replied,
providedfor." Nemours
that examination
so
was
extreme,
necessity
wants
be
must
forthwith made
the condition of
into
granaries."
captainsof the various wards, therefore,
the monastic
The
Mem.
siegede la ville de Paris
Assedio di Parigi Korna, 1591.
t. ii. Pigafetta,
Villeroj,
'
Diseours
notable
da
"
"
de
182
HISTORY
the
on
of the
OF
[1590.
houses,
religious
and
report thereon to the municipalcouncil.
This ordinance excited hot indignation
amongst
the clergy.The rector of the college
of Jesuits,
waited
Tyrius,accompaniedby father Bellarniine,
to pray that his house might,
upon the legate
at
least, be exempted from the inquisition.
ChapelleMarteau happened at the time to be
in conference with his eminence.
When
Tyrius
the provost angrily
his petition,
had preferred
retorted, shame, M. le Recteur ; your petition
is neither Christian nor politic.
Are not all persons
known
to possess stores of graincompelled
at this periodof dearth ?
to sellat stated prices,
AVhy should your house be exempt from that
all others have been compelled
visit to which
the
"
submit
0"
mme
to?
Is your
life
more
valuable than
refused to interfere;
consequently
lars
of the granariesand celand the inspection
made
of the wealthy establishment was
during the afternoon of the 26th of June,
six weeks
and two days after the commencement
precisely
of the blockade.
An amazingstore
The
'
cardinal
Journal
aun^e
15'JU.
Regiicde
Cayet.
du
Henri
1590.]
REIGN
THE
1S3
IV.
HENRY
OF
the estabhshment
maintain
year ; there
salted meats,
found,
M'^ere
one
of
stores
moreover,
would
issued
by
an
of the
nity
commu-
Chapehe Marteau,
ordonnance, which
was
fore,
there-
ratified
roll containina;
the
relieved
order
was
was
names
ventual
con-
should feed
capital
a day ; and that a
of the families to be
be
from
In
court
of
most
the
of the monasteries,
Roma, 1591.
di
di Filippo
8vo.
Parigi,
Pigafetta,
184
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
cences
longingreminis-
having
stores
monastic
rendered
of the council of
the next care
plentiful,
the means
of
to supplythe poor with
state was
The pangs
fuel and other comforts.
purchasing
fast obliterating
of destitution were
political
at times,the frantic
partisanship
; and such was,
that it was seriously
of the starving
people,
despair
might be fired or betrayed.
apprehendedthe city
more
conference
by
the
ensued, which
when
legate,
the mint
in the
it
was
presidedover
resolved to send to
was
of
The
mass.
duke
de
tained
Nemours, also,ob-
the assent
the
'
Journal
of the
devint
Henri
IV.
L'Etoile.
"Leurs
ronne
de
crown
des
roys
pauvrc
amorties
"
furent
et
fondus
les
Speakingof
the miseries
observes
another
author
anciens
joyauxde la
fauxbourgs mines,
cou-
la ville
les terres
d'alcutour
le siege
de Paris,Mem.
de la
en
desolation."
Ligue.
"
Discours
sur
ISG
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
of his nuncio
position
Had
prolonged,
many
of
the
of the
duke
de Nevers
five hundred
the duke
de Nevers
Gonzaga presumingon
his rank
of the duchy of
as
heir-presumptive
to act a neutral part between
Mantua, aspired
Guise.
Henry HL, the League,and its captain,
duke
The
had
;
and
As
venerated,as
dutiful
sympathieshad
allegedzeal to
conscience
and
dictated, supreme
power.
"
tender
orthodox
rigidly
"
gone
he
was
his interest
arbitrarysovereign
of
son
with
transmit
the
the
League
crown
to
in
an
its
thodox
or-
less,
NevertheHenry IH.
to take up arms
as
againstthe anointed
crime abhorred
treason
a
by the
king was
from the contest, as
he retired altogether
duke
the Holy See refused,until after the union of
Henry HL with Henri de Navarre, to issue either
of the
the cause
Bull or monitorydeclaring
The murder of
Leaguers holyand legitimate.
of the generals
the late king; the incompetence
to
successor
"
"
of the Union
and
the violence
done
to the
1590.]
RETGN
THE
OF
1S7
IV.
HENRY
the
successioti by
of legitimate
principle
of Charles
X., confirmed
He
the dnke
mation
proclain his
had, however, on
bienveillance
several occasions testified personal
for the
of
sum
king;
and
the considerable
to pursue
his levies
of Ivry,
so
Germany. The victory
rapidand
added to the dyingexhortations of the
complete,
induced
deceased cardinal de Bourbon, at length
in
de Nevers
the duke
aid might be
proffered
valued.
sent
an
He, accordingly,
envoy to
of
son
Henry in the person of Mario de Birague,
the deceased cardinal-chancellor Birague,
to express
his admiration of his valour
to his majesty
and benevolence ; and his disgust
at the conduct
of the legate,
who, in defiance of his instructions
from Rome, openly
espousedthe Spanishfaction.
He, therefore,
inspired
by loyalzeal,wished to
tions,
the facwith his majestyin annihilating
unite
whose aim was
the dismemberment
clearly
of the realm.
to
Henry gave cordial reception
the duke's envoy, and entertained Biraguemagnificently
at St. Cloud.
During the following
royalmaster
week, Nevers
by
troopof
accoutred/
1
"
du
Mem.
Davila
"
while
to
such
himself
nobles
The
arrived in camp,
and
retainers
magnificently
vol. i.
Sully,
attended
by Gomberville.
De
Thou
18S
HISTORY
[1590.
OP
friend and
old
head
one
in
the
of
tried
thousand horse.
Guyenne, and
Beam.
servant
four thousand
The
men
brave,devoted
were
to
of
his
Turenne,
at
the
troops of
These
from
arrival
the
kino; was
succours
were
levied
Henry'spatrimonyof
ture,
mostlyof lofty statheir prince,
and ready
to
even
in the
secure
when
Le
supported
loyal
prowess. Letters
from his
also reached kingHenry, at this period,
of
constant
friend,queen Ehzabeth, expressive
admiration of la Journee d'lvry;
her majesty's
and commenting with greatdissatisfaction on the
of the duke de Mercocur in Bretagne,
proceedings
had opened the most
who
ports of
important
fleet. The queen, also,
that province
to a Spanish
announced
the speedy arrival of the earl of
Essex, and a corps of Englishauxiliariesto aid
his majesty in purging his realm from such
rebels."
however, cai]Elizabeth,
pestiferous
in sending
didlystated tliat one of her objects
by
"
1590]
this
rebels from
his maritime
resolve
assume
1S9
IV,
kino;mightchase the
that the
was,
succour
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
oppositeto
provinces
the Enghsh coasts,which she prayedhim to accoraphsh. Intelhgencealso arrived that the
roused from inactivity
at length
duke d'Epernon,
by his dread lest the king might now beginto
took the
reckon neutral friends as foes,suddenly
to
offensive
the
of
againstthe pretensions
and
the
the
Provence
in
duke de
Savoye,
other
office
that
supposition
late
the
by
the chancellor
king, under
was
the
devoted
to
will of queen
Catherine
and the duke de
Guise.
Chevernysprang from la haute noblesse ;
the
he
^
able
opulent,
was
"
in
in-
of unshaken
lore,
legal
ne
coniioissaitqu'uuemarclie
"
la
il pretendoit
tout emporter. II liaissoitle
laquelle
haissoit tout le monde ; et saus doute il y avoit
foy parcequ'il
hauteur
bieu
avec
des
meme."
comments
moments
Livre 5eme.
on
of cardinal
with
the
ou
il
The
ne
lui-
hard
Sullyis especially
iu his
duke
de
at
this
de la
The letters
Epernon corresponded
period. Lettres du cardinal
d'Ossat,however, prove
Spanish Cabinet
edited by Amelot
d'Ossat,
III.
that
Houssaye.
100
HISTORY
and
tegrity,
port
de
of
[1590.
OP
that
so dignified,
deportment
prince of
M.
le Chancelier had
"
On
le
been
the
firstbeen
as
M. de
Montholon
immediatelyresignedthe office of
which he had unwillingly
assumed
lord-keeper,
before the meetingof the States of Blois.
As it
was
importantedicts
necessary that the most
issued by the king should have the great seal
that it should temporarily
affixed,
Henry commanded
of state,
be deposited
with the secretary
Beaulien,who followed his majesty. Beaulieu,
however, not being skilled in the fundamental
laws of the realm, soon
petent
proved himself incomthen placed
for the office. The seals were
in commission
de
Biron.
between
The
M.
the acute
1590.]
OF
REIGN
THE
HENRY
191
IV.
majesty,therefore,wiselydecided on recalling
Cheverny; and sent the brother-in-law of the
to invite the
heartyassent
luxurious
Clievernyreturned
from
delightedto emerge
office.
resume
retreat
cellor
chan-
at
his
participate
again in publicaffairs. Henry
received the chancellor with gracious
at
affability
Aubervilliers during the month
of July,1590.
said his majesty
M. le Chancelier,"
facetiously,
he placedthe seals in the hand of Cheverny,
as
behold these two pistols
of the law,with which
I command
merly
good service. Foryou to do me
ever,
againstmyself. I, howyou used them
Serve me
as
pardonyou.
you served the
late kingmy brother,and 1 will favour you as
than did his late majesty. In
much, and more
believe that
to me, and
return, attach yourself
I will
I do your tried ability,
as
venerating
to
"
"
listen to your
or
of
counsels
weh-beloved
as
to
tutor.
those of
"^
These
father,
flattering
de
Messire
chancelierde France.
PhilippeHenault,
De
Thou
liv. 99.
comte
de
Ciieverny,
192
of
HISTORY
the
[1590.
OP
aided
executive,materially
the
royal
cause.
The
town
of St.
withstood
bravely
enemy,
famine.
the
On
word
Nemours, who
was
scheme
to
had
assaults of
persevering
to
the
the
last extremities of
the duke
to
de
Nemours
that his
unless relieved by
inevitable,
was
capitulation
a
timelysuccour
the
reduced
was
the
Aubervilliers,
sent
Deuis,meanwhile, which
of ammunition
and
of food.
vised
dedaringand enterprising,
relieve the famine, which
was
shadow
To
to
his
saddle, and
under
the
divert
the
attention of
chevalier d'Aumale
made
their way
the
the
enemy,
sortie into the bourg
fau-
Half of Nemours'
St. Antoine.
found
crept
to
St.
Denis
soldiers
the rest
were
194
HISTORY
he entered
decrepitude,
and
refused to
His
admit
monasteryas
boarder,
any
affairs in France
administered
were
[1590.
OF
Madame
de
Retz
learned
was
Catholic and
orthodox
the
to
allegiance,
except
to
Cardinal
monarch.
de
suffered
was
to
enter
and
retire from
the
to
capitalat pleasure. Gaetano's proposition
that the
the marquis de Pisani^ demonstrated
miseries of the
the
had
king, who
as
of
any
He
littleappreciated.
were
city,
attended onlyby Sega bishopof Placentia
came,
and by Bellarmine, and proposedthat hostilities
should cease, and the disposal
be
of the crown
assault
the
on
his
referred to
prompt and
statesman
The duke
holiness !
acute,
returned to France
recovered the
said,miraculously
of
the
king.
Claude
of Swiss
Catherine
Dampierre. Her
^
Jean
de
troops which
use
was
of his
1 594',
having,as
de Clermont,
firsthusband
was
deperemptorily
he
body
Pisani, who
daughterof
the baron
de
Pisaui,scuuchul de Xaiutongc.
1590.]
REIGN
THE
legate smiled
and then
195
IV.
HENRY
clined to be
The
proposals.
commenced
discourse
the affairsof
on
OF
pertinent
health of pope
the declining
respecting
questions
of the Spanishfaction
Sixtus,and the intrigues
afterwards
of the conclave. It was
supposed
that Gaetano had alone proposedthe interview,
from the marquis
to gain authentic intelligence
in Rome.
to the state of parties
as
of
During the few hours of this suspension
arms,
many of the cavaliers of the royalarmy
to
contrived to convey
presents of provisions
w^hose
their relatives and friends in the city,
recitals moved intense compassion.The duke
de Nevers,M. de Givryand others sent gifts
to
the princesses
at by the
; a licence connived
king,whose generous heart was moved by the
terrible sufferings
of the people. Aid
even
from the religious
houses in Paris had ceased ;
the streets swarmed
with cadaverous
objects,
whose
wild delirium and savage fury while
of the vilest offal,
for the possession
contending
rendered it dangerous
to pass throughthe streets
unarmed;^
every
in Paris,were
description
Discours
devoured
before
veritable et notable du
siegede Paris,Villeroy,
p.
Les pauvres mangeoient
379. Matliieu,
Kegne de Henri IV.
et autres lierbes
chiens,chats,des rats, des feuilles de vigne,
cuites sans
Assedio de Parigi Pigasel. Corueio. Pigafetta,
fetta was an Italian in the suite of the legate
Gaelano.
^
"
"
"
196
HISTORY
the middle
[1590.
or
of the month
deserted.
some
of the streets
cauldrons,which
soup
in
nations
yet maintained by dotlie authorities,
filled with
were
from
loathsome
The
of
were
substances,such
as
the
exuvise
of
blood
human
"
gutter. On
of
combat
the
who
man
and eat
other
his
his
dog, which he
The dog threw down
to devour.
and began to tear
was
famishing,
with
man
attacked
had
one
flesh,when
miserable
prey."
It
to find two
savage
wretches
was
conunon
hundred
women
blows of
event
corpses
in the
One
hundred
thousand
ing
morn-
in the streets.'
in
perished
numbers
to have
persons are supiioscd
duruigthe three uionlhs of the siege.
1
from
perished
J 500.]
THE
OE
combined
the
from
REIGN
HENRY
197
IV.
miseries
famine
of
and
less,
multitudes,house-
and
broke on
exposedto horrible assaults,
and caused the fanatics
the stillnessof the night;
"
the
of the
cause
these
Amid
beds.
war
terrible scenes,
of relics
processions
of the
priests
passed the
continually
capital
pronouncingthe victims
"
elect of heaven !
martyrs, the
in their
tremble
to
"
blessed,
very
fierce
The
thusiasm
en-
Six
duchess.
herbs
was
the
now
of bread
ounces
fare of
daily
and
handful
the late
of
pampered
doctors,who
with the
preciouselixir
might prove
made
for
useful
dog;
but
of the brain
restorative !
in
vain.
animals
scarce.
They
seasoned
of
Search
dog,
was
"The
German
soon
rendered
"
watched
at
the
19S
HISTORY
of the streets,and
corners
[1590.
OF
that
waited
casket of
for her
precious
ringsand chains,in
If you had asked me
dog.
have been
welcome.
famine
wdl,
for my
ere
as
you
tell
as
all,unless the
long,slayus
me
excuse
must, therefore,
your
me
to
same
She
then
Conieio.
ibid
"
dog
came
de
the
About
light. A
children during
to
the coffins,
which
and
Assedio
Pigafctta,
as
You
does.
salted the
my
caused
de la
gave
Brief traitedes
Ligue.
in Konui,
Parigi
to
bodies,and
and
of the flesh,
'
and it may
him."^
interred.
cousin
should
But
in
keep him
change
ex-
"
aid of your
in power,
offered
duchess,and
the
upon
De
1591.
Thou.
1.J90.]
On
THE
the
famine
OF
REia\
of
23rd
HENRY
199
IV.
and
July, the mortality
several unfortunate
increasing,
individuals
and insensible
themselves
On
"
on
coming to
that theyhad
to
purpose
the
taken
taken
by the royalsentinels.
the men
said,
again,
resolution,
desperate
themselves
cast
were
at
him
to have mercy
their
on
king,to petition
miseryand to permita certain number of persons
!" By command
of the marshal
to quitthe city
d'Aumont
an
exact
"
before whom
relation
suffered,and
of the
recounted
torments
the
they had
tyranny of the
St. Cloud, where
"
"
but
that their
oppressors
in Paris washed
to
givethe realm to
were
supplicants
the
200
HISTORY
bray,in
which
after
greatSpanish succour,
the
encountering
[1590.
OF
of the
army
Not
king,
one
of
of Parma
the
This
realm.
would
in person
conviction, added
the
surrender
and
capital
of
Paris,but
not
to
invade
to
the
generous
compel
destroyhis
to
its inhabitants.
He
membered,
reextirpate
that tlie citycontained
moreover,
numbers
of peasantsfrom the adjacentdistricts,
who had been compelledby agents of the League
the publicstores, and in
to aid in replenishing
the fortifications. Passports
were
strengthening
grantedby the king,againstthe
consequently
de Rosny, and
advice of Cheverny,M.
the
marshal d'Aumont, empoweringthree thousand
persons to quit the capital. On the pass, it
and children,students
that women
was
specified
at the colleges,
peasants,and ecclesiasticsnot
alone be suffered
to the Seize,would
belonging
to leave the faubourgs.
The following
morning, July 24th, between
three and four thousand persons quitted
Paris.
The sightof the haggardand attenuated forms
of the poor creatures
fected
afliberated,profoundly
the king. He caused a sum
of money to
be distributed ; and dismissed them according
to
to
202
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
to press the
faubourgsso as still more
closely
siege. The nobles present applauded.
Henry,
therefore,
assignedthe conduct of the attack on
the faubourgsSt. Martin, St. Denis, and St.
Honore
to Biron.
Montmartre.
M.
de St. Luc
Chatillon with
the command
the
faubourgsSt.
greatestsecrecy
was
prise
sur-
D'Aumont
the
The
to
was
observed
St. Victor.
the
generals
made
their dispositions.
After supper,
silently
the king repaired
to the abbey of Montmartre,
accompaniedby DuplessisMornay, Beaulieu,
and M. de Rosny.
Alibour his surgeon-major,
The assault commenced
at midnight,
precisely
attack on
the fortifications
of the
l)ya general
faubourgs. The bells in the town thereupon
commenced
to peal; the greatbell of the Palais
-
tolled ; and
the
aroused
citizens of Paris.
the
sound
of the cannonade
"
soon
Never," says
a
Sully, have I since witnessed so striking
spectacle clouds of dense smoke, from which
flames of fire,
issued sparksand glittering
gave
us firstthe illusionof beingburied in an
abyssof
darkness,then of beingplungedin a sea of fire.
Added to this,the din of artillery,
the shouts and
"
screams
of the
combatants, combined
The
to
plete
com-
Germans
1590.]
THE
llEIGN
OF
HENRY
203
IV.
and well ;
of Paris foughtbravely
garrison
of the French soldiers was
the depression
so
of the
but
great,that when
to
man
The
the
man,
and
arms
fled back
to
their
down
majoritythrew
hours
at
end
the
in the
hands
city.
of that
of the
an
royalists
appeared and the
; not
enemy
victorious soldiery
encamped within the very
won/
The following
entrenchments so valiantly
day, the king caused a strong guard to be
placedbefore each of the gatesof the town ; and
ordered a battery
to comto be erected so
mand
as
rassed
hathe porte St. Honore, which
greatly
the besieged. Henry also visited the
faubourgSt. Honore, and entered the gardens
of the Tuileries,which
at this period were
without the citywalls.
His majesty surveyed,
it is recorded, with
melancholyemotion the
the abode of the late queen Catherine ;
palace,
"
but which
had been
converted
into
temporary
yenne
sons
had moved
to
La
de
The
Ma-
Discours
Ferte.
his head
he
ce
"
Perefixe,Le Grain.
204
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
to leave
entrenchments
waited, as
of
junction
and
the entire
shelter of liis
the
reluctance
displayed
he
said,for the
to drive
Spanisharmy
the
the
arrived fromMayenne;
tidings
and the people,
tired of endless processions
and
and driven frantic by the increase of the
services,
assembled
pestilence,
tumultuouslybefore the
members
aloud
In vain the
presentspokesoothingly
; and
letter said to have been
even
read
La Chambre
threatened
assembled.
were
to
written
Arms
were
the
members
produced; and
people hurried
from
the leaders
Approaching
if he would eject
them
as
this
sword
severed the
of the mob,
flashed, and
rightarm
from
a
of Goas.
he
made
with
j)eop]e,
1590]
THE
REIGN
then
shouts of defiance,
for
chevalier
in
205
IV.
pressedforwards
Doree, where
La Chanibre
Seize sat
HENRY
OF
towards
of the
members
many
nately
tremblingapprehension.Fortude Nemours
with
troop of
and
the
German
"
assembled
to
consider
whether
it would
not
be
de Heni'i IV.
De
Thou
liv. 98.
"
Journal
20G
HISTORY
the
to
prelate,
the
Seize.
[1590.
OF
most
"
the
king of
Navarre
to propose
decree of
the
accommodation, notwithstanding
the Sorbonne
of
mode
some
bishopof
Paris Gondy, and the archbishop
of Lyons be
deputedaccordingly."
The
followingday, August 3rd, these two
presentedthemselves before the parliaprelates
ment
and
of Paris
to
the cardinal
that
"
state,
to
their
great regret,
of excommunication
the sentence
considering
launched
by his hohness againstthe king of
Navarre, theycould not accept the mission to
then
confer with that said prince."The legate
rose,
and
announced
his resolve to
thereupon sent
of the
casuist,and
laid before
the
missives
Jesuits,to Bellarmine
to
summon
question.
to Tyrius
his
trusty
Panigarolathe Franciscan,and
them
the
followingquestions
the Parisians,being reduced
to the
Whether
last straits of hunger,would incur excommunication
Henri
abettors of the heretic prince,
as
le Navarrois,should theysurrender to the said
prince? also,whether those deputedto confer
witli the said princeon
his
matters concernin-g
of the
relative to the privileges
or
abjuration,
"
"
1590]
?"
anathema
said
of the
amenable
church, were
Galilean
As
207
IV.
IIKNRY
OF
REIGN
THE
to the
penalties
in
to these propositions
unanimouslyreplied
the mission was
the negative,
finally
acceptedby
of Paris and by the
the cardinal-archbishop
the late king used
archbishopof Lyons, whom
the brain of the League
to term
pleasantly
of faction !"
and the quintessence
On the same
day,August 4th, Gondy and the
therefore wrote to kingHenry"humbly
archbishop
to send
prayingthat his majestywould be pleased
"
safe conducts, as
them
St.
sentiments
of the town
the
same
admit
to
was
Denis, there
proceedto
pliedby
it
to
their intention to
laybefore
of Paris."
The
him
the
kinsf re-
conference in the
"
Utrum
reddentes urbem
famis,sint excommunicati
cum,
ut
faciant
eum
"
convertant
quod lion
Sur
ce
vel ut
les susdits
incurrant."
ob necessitatem
Priiicipi,
utrum, adveutum
meliorem, iucurrant
Quinti."
heretico
coiiditionem
principemheretiEcclesiiE catbolicse
excomniunicatiouem
docteurs
bulla
Sixti
respoudirent,negative,
"
208
the
duke,
wrote
Mayenne
"
DUCriESSE
DE
LE
Monsieur
"
de
Madame
follows :
as
THE
La Ferte.
at
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
DUG
You
"
MAYENNE
MAYENNE.
DE
doubtless
are
MONSEIGNEUR
TO
that
aware
we
liitherto permitted
it beingdecreed
to send envoys
to your camp,
that this town
must
make separatecomposition,
before a general
this week
to
we
us,
cruel enemy
that
this
by
as
do to hold
we
are
out
le due
God, deceive
to what
if we
about to be offered
will
offer you
de
has not
to do ! We
send
are
in the
than words
more
lost ! Reflect,monsieur
alas,
what
vantage
ad-
life;
joinedyou,
preciseinstructions
us
need indeed
Monsieur, if
destruction
our
my
said week.
Parme
it is all
experience
; and
we
most
duringthis
not, bat
us
succour
terms
the
rigourand castigation
period M.
of
name
the
can
we
said; also,that if
from
them
acceptthe
expect the
to
are
do not
we
it is
as
yourself
within
inform
the
periodI
without
me
involved in
are
horrible
are
we
state !
loss of
our
time
what
am
to
do.
helpus
all !
Written
this 3rd
"
few
what
be
fate may
ours
God
Henkiette
de
Savoye
Villars."
of the League
by the legislators
clemencyof the king,the duke
to
appealto
de Nemours
the
on
Lettrc
de
madame
"
Metfuycr,a Tours,
1590.
de
210
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
IV.
CHAPTER
1590.
Paris.
Siege of
"
Debates
the Palais
in
abbey of
at the
Interview
"
his ultimatum.
announces
ou
Conferences
with
the
de
mademoiselle
Paris.
Guise.
"
Return
"
king'.Henry
"
of Paris
The
"
garde and
the
ladies
The
"
St. Antoine.
duke
of
appear
de Bellesadors
ambas-
the
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
forbids her
with
union
BcUcgarde,and
king.
"
Capture of Corbeil.
Paris.
"
"
His
Flemish
frontier.
(hikes.
Recapture of
"
"
Her
"
exiles the
interviews
de Cocuvres.
March
"
of the duke
dissatisfaction. Discord
"
Corbeil.
"
Reply of
Parma
duke.
with
Parma
"
the
visits
back to the
between the
to
deputa-
1590.]
OF
REIGN
THE
HENRY
211
IV.
tiou of Parisians.
Skirmish of
He
"
Incidents
Defeat
of the
take leave
into St.
on
"
"
"
Mademoiselle
Action
Spaniards.The
the frontier.
"
"
d'Estrees.
of I'Arbre de
dukes of Parma
"
and
Guise.
"
"
Mayeune
Quentin.
\
Early
kingarrived between
The
the hours of
eightand nine,
and held council in the refectory
of the nuns.
His majesty
attended by the count de Soiswas
the dukes de
sons, the chancellor de Cheverny,
and de Bellegarde,
the
Nevers,de Longueville,
marshals
de Riron
in-chief. Turenne
and
d'Aumont, commanders-
also
accompaniedhis royal
master
to this important
interview. De Rosny,
de Sully,
the future due
likewise followed
keen, intelligent,
reserved, and sarcastically
adornments and indiscreet
notingthe lavish personal
revelationsof M. d'O, Henry's
minister of
"
finance.
There
Biron, a young
was
also
nobleman
de
favoured by
greatly
212
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
merry
converse
master
esteem, he
who
generous
fearless of perilas his
the
was
first bent
in
more
of the marshal
son
knee
the
was
and
royal
Henry's
de Biron,
in
of his
recognition
of Henry HI.
The
secretaries of state
suite of
thousand
on
Beaulieu
gentlemenand
Revol, and
The
attireof his
majesty
and adopted
magnificent,
of Chevernyand
recommendation
personages.
this occasion was
the express
de Nevers
the duke
at
and
who
well remembered
the
lO'JO.]
had been
o'clock
one
of the deceased
Between
successor.
hand
the
213
IV.
to
d'Epernonand presented
duke
king by the
his
from
taken
HENRY
Of
IIEIGN
THE
from
of artillery
great discharge
The
ambassailors.
observed,seemed
horrible
tiers
Henry'scourwas
first,
irrepressible.
recitals of
however, as
Parisians,
of the
ludicrous to
so
approach
the
miseries
recounted
had
faubourgs,
by
kindled
of the
ants
the inhabit-
the strongest
city.
dawn
From
the
on
August,the cityof
Paris
morning of
was
the 5th
filledwith
of
tion.
commo-
throngedwith haggard
and children,
women
prayingbefore the images
of the Virginthat the mission of the deputies
might be successful. Processions perambulated
before the
the streets to offer the same
petition
shrines of the capital.
Many of the miserable
The
streets
were
fell dead on
their way
persons thus assembled
Torches
from exhaustion or pestilence.
were
no
for tallow,
processions,
oil,and grease sold for the same
weightin gold.^
of citizens soughtaudiences of the
Deputations
longercarried
in these
t'oismanger de I'oiug
de
et servoit de paiua maager
aux
quoy on fait de la chaiidelle,
Bref discours du siegede Paris. Pierre Corneio.
Dauvres."
1
"
Kt
avec
cela
je veis beaucoup de
"
214
HISTORY
to
princesses,
duke
de
ask
their intervention
Nemours.
Some
persons,
[1590.
OF
to
with
more
the
hardy
Seize
veyed
prowlingabout the streets,and conto prison.
of
The principal
members
of the ex-co^ncil
the Forty,meantime, assembled and protested
overtures"
about to
againstthe "treasonable
be made
with
terrible
to Le Navarrois ;^ and
menaces
cil,
counagainstMayenne and the existing
they took oath on a fragment of the true
Cross never
to submit to the princede Beam
;
and to seek,by all methods, the extirpation
of
the duke
de Mayenne, his adherents, and
of
the
faction preparedeventually
to acknowledge
the royaltitleof Henri
Quatre. The majority
of the priests
of the capital"
those compromised
in the outragesperpetrated
since La Journee des
Barricades
and prothis resolution,
-applauded
nounced
it holy,and
therefore lawful. The
informed
Spanishambassador was immediately
ever
"
D"rin2: the
'
conference, Mathicu
was
Bussy-le-CIerc,
the artillery
of the
with
states
tliat the
fanatic
preventedfrom discharging
diificulty
Bastille
"
of which
fortress
Bussy was
nor
gover-
Henri
upon
IV.
the ambassadors
and
their
1590.]
THE
HENRY
OF
REIGN
215
IV.
which Menproceedingsintelligence
received before he repairedto the Palais,
of these
doza
"
to
were
of
Gondy
convinced
of his
"
zealous
occupant of
the reward
not
would confirm
co-operation
and
This deputation
is a
applaudhis acts.
"if onlyper dar
said the legate,
necessity,"
sodisfationeal popolo; sapendo che non si fora
own
"
"
concluso
Some
the
nienie"
dearth
must
so
the power
of Parma
lack of
of Le Navarrois.
is
now
Bernardo
on
de
that
extreme
long fallfor
ere
don
was
the
this dearth
siege of
certain
bread
forget,
men's
bones.
was
be
with
Let
mighty
rest,"continued
be
the
of which
name
from the
such
Catholic
mitigated. At
town, the
made
duke
serene
"His
moved
may
city
retorted
frontiers,"
the
defenders,into
The
"
Mendoza.
and
majestyis faithful,
he,
that
thereuponremarked
personage
powder of
done
dead
here, rather
216
than make
concession
hazarded
abroad
by
to
Mendoza
became
soon
and the
the
actually
pastethus manufactured
le pain de madame
was
with the
duke
The
proposition
bruited
with
a few
Nevertheless,
days subsequently,
this terribleexpedient
was
;
heresy!'"
horror.
many
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
de
then
de
givento
was
named
nick-
cument
A doMontpensier.^
signedby
the
de
Nemours,
of
resource
it
governor of Paris, in which
stated "that
the reverend
lords,messeig-
Mayenne
was
and
commissioned
Lyons were
to treat with the kingof Navarre,'and supplicate
him to grant peace to the realm,with permission
to proceedto the camp
to the said ambassadors
to be then at
of the duke de Mayenne, supposed
These
Meaux, to promote this said petition."
credentials being informal might not only have
been
by the king,but the arrest of
rejected
the envoys would have violated no stipulation.
the
negotiations,
Throughoutthese protracted
treated the king with an
Parisians especially,
de Paris et de
neurs
'
less clement
provokedsevere retribution.
into a coach and
then stepped
The ambassadors
in state,amid
traversed tha streets of the capital
have
must
sovereign,
"
Dc
Thou, liv.99.
Du
Puy
daus
ses
sur
la Satire
Menippe'e.
218
HISTORY
with
refectory,
saying,
[1590.
OF
smile to the
archbishop
of Lyons, who looked hot and annoyed at the
multitudes
Monseigneur,
surroundinghim,
Believe me, my gallant
pardon this concourse.
noblesse presses stillmore
round my
own
closely
a
"
person
"^
the battle field.
on
The
cardinal de
The
rightof Henry'schair
Nevers
then
of state,and
opened his
the duke
cardinal de
on
on
He
mission.
spokeat
the
de
Gondy
length
on
"
chancellor stood
he
was
of
deputed by MM. de
the king, and
learn
his
mnjesty
upon what conditions he would grant a general
safe
if enabled by a gracious
afterwards,
peace
instructed to
conduct from the king, he was
proceedand submit the same to M. de Mayenne,
between
and supplicate
the latter to negotiate
camp
'
Kecucil
dc
Ligue,vol. iv. p.
ce
31S.
la conference.
"
Mem.
de la
1590.]
THE
219
IV.
HENRY
OF
JIEIGN
bishop
majestyand the cityof Paris." The archthat they hoped
added
of Lyons hastily
four days only in their journeyto
to consume
de Maycnne ;
of the duke
and from the camp
when, iftheyfailedin their endeavours, or that the
said duke
not
Paris,
was
preparedto succour
they wonld return and make separate treaty
with his majesty."Many of the nobles present,
their
refrained from expressing
with difficulty
of these proat the cool audacity
indignation
posals.
The king, however, with immoveable
his desire to confer pricountenance, expressed
vately
with the ambassadors
rising,
Henry
; and
his
"
retired with
conference
the
his closet.
archbishopinto
lasted
Meantime,
hour.
an
The
the
by his old
the courtiers of the latereign.Cheverny
friends,
and the marshal de Biron taunted the prelate
on
his temporizing
which, like that of M.
policy,
d'Epernon,
theyaverred,soughtto content both
Even monseigneither.
but pleased
parties,
illustrious
most
of our
neur,
you the prelate
St.
wear
Order, no
longer,I perceive,
your
Esprit.With what face do you suppose you
when you behold
can
appear before his majesty,
cardinal de
Gondy
entertained
was
"
him,
as
asked
retorted
you
will
do, enthroned
Cheverny.
the
longerwear
"
cardinal.
my
St.
in the Louvre
Doucement,
"
messieurs,"
It is true
Esprit.Why
?"
that I
?
no
Because
220
its
to
HISTORY
exhibition,
prelateas 1
be smitten
the
to
[1530.
OF
would
am,
cause
me
of
in the streets
ground
Paris.
So
I carry it,however, in my pocket."'
the riband and
saying,the cardinal displayed
jewel of
the
majestyassembled
the
answer
to
his accustomed
with the
long interval
audiences
his council to
be returned to the
with
perceived
laid aside.
never
to confer
These
of Paris.
in
protested,
he
Order, which
on
over,
confer
on
Henry
deputies.
that
discernment
which
he
The
might propose.
secretaryof state Revol,
dentials
command, exhibited the creby his majesty's
of the ambassadors.
The
careless and
irregularmanner
deny
the
was
were
wards
after-
officialcharacter of
the
'
Discours
23nic Juillct au
dc
ce
qui s'est
7inc d'Aoust.
"
passe en rurmee
A Tours, 1590.
du roy
depuisle
1590.]
which
REIGIS
THE
must
now
OF
fall an
HENRY
easy
221
IV.
prey
to
the
royal
"
factions
which
convulsed
the
Henry,in
theyhad proclaimed
his
valorous
realm.
King
but the
of
splendours
the ease, the delights
and privileges
royalty,
of sovereign
power should alone,theyresolved,
their own
be enjoyedby a monarch
professing
faith" the worthyand orthodox representative
of
and
own
arm
223
their canonized
HISTORY
OF
king.
Paris
[1590.
once
in the power
"
"
'
The
dc
"
"
ct
liv.i. p.
Nemours."
48, et seq.
]590.]
REIGN
THE
OF
HENRY
223
IV.
allythe duke of
of the siege,
Parma, and the consequent raising
the
not
to check
theywere
sorry thus tacitly
progress of the king.
The ambassadors were, therefore,
moned
againsumadvance
of
Mayenne
and Lis
king, on
the tender
"
heart of
this occasion,responding
to the
menced
Henry comsion
omisinsulting
by commenting on the
of his royaltitlein the so-called letters of
credence
For," said his majesty, if I am
onlyking of Navarre,I have nothingto say or to
of France.
ever,
enact in the pacification
Not, howthis gross informality,
I
to lay stress
on
have to inform you, messeigneurs,
that what you
ask me
I will admit of
to grant is impossible.
and my city
interferencebetween me
of Paris.
no
the head and crown
Paris is my eldest daughter,
I am
of my realm.
to bestow
willing
every
"
"
amnesty and
mercy
thanks
on
her
but
for her
and
not
preservation,
attribute it to the duke de Mayenne,or to the
kingof Spain. M. de Mayenne, is at the head
of an army of Spaniards.Messeigneurs
! you
oughtto expirewith shame
you, who are both
Frenchmen
born, dare to connive at Spanisli
such
! T
usurpationby bearingme
proposals
to signa general
am
nevertheless,
willing,
cation
pacifiowe
me
"
but not
at the dictation of M.
de Ma-
224
HISTOUY
yenne.
You
to witness
have had
[1590.
OP
the cowardice,messieurs,
the
refrained from
poor Parisians ; and have
of compunctionfor fear of
smallest expression
doza !
de Menis your
le cardinal,where
to
compassion you who made vow^
tend the sheepof your flock ?
God, be assured,
will requireat your hands every drop of blood
shed throughyour evil counsel ! As for you,
beware !
M. de Lyons, chief of my
bishops,'
the example expectedfrom a
and remember
primateof your dignity. Is it lawful to betray
the king of Spain?"' I
to please
your flock even
and if
to your nnssion
make
reply,therefore,
proposalsare acceptedby my citizens of
my
to communicate
Paris,I will then grantyou liberty
if
with M. de Mayenne. I propose, therefore,
within eightdays you are not succoured by the
and presently
dnke, you shall make capitulation,
give me hostagesfor the performanceof this
If within this period
lieved,
capitulation.
you are reI will set these said hostagesat liberty.
yenne
Also, if within these said eightdays,M. de Maaccepts articlesfor a generalpacification
Christian
"
"
'
The
of Lyous
archbibliop
bore
the
title of Primat
dcs
Gaules.
-
his
"
Vous
en
majesty.
aurcz
Ics
picdschaufTcs
eu
Tautrc
mondc," said
226
HISTORY
[1590.
OV
receive M.
stricken with
town
de
M.
articles
de
INIayenneto
I could
as
famine,
You
pacification.
talk of
to
to
consent
suading
persuch
the conditions
on
essay the effect of your eloquence
Henry then placedin the
you know.'"
to
hands
of the
a
prelates,
Spanish ambassador
found
the
on
the
to
person
letter
of
by the
Spain,and
written
king
of
individual arrested
an
bitterly
during the previousday. Mendoza
gians
complainedof the decision givenby the theoloconsulted on the question,
to whether
as
communicating with the prince of
persons
fell under the penalties
of the sentence
Beam
of excommunication
launched againstthe said
prince. God preserve your Catholic majesty,"
"
the
wrote
from
ambassador,
"
console and
and
save
further
me
"
'
De
Kov.
liv. 99.
'J'liou,
de la
Mem.
IV.
Ligue,t. iv ; Cayet,Cliron.
Etoile,Journal de Henri
IV.
"
-
Si
vous
vieiidrait vous
etiez
sire,"said
catliolique,
adorer
comnie
un
dieu !"
M.
"
de
Vitry,
V raiment
"
Paris
,"'sarca!"1i-
1590.]
THE
plied,Let
UEIGN
HENRY
OP
monsieur, by putting
"
evil
us
from
men
that my
commence,
councils.
our
for my
heart weeps
2:27
IV.
protestto
you
and that I
people,
and orchard
every house, garden,
destroyedin this calamitons struggle."
Turning
sorrow
over
then
towards
Prevot
of St. Severin,who
cure
of your
order
so
salute the
their promenadeon
ladies,who
the
the king,
callyreplied
Vitrj!"
"
Discours de
primea Tours
"
horseback in
on
royalarmy repaired
array to
'
of the cavaliers of
afternoon,
many
same
Les
ce
vous
gallant
stillcontinued
During this
ramparts.^
etes
quis'est passe
uu
bon
Tarmee
en
M.
religieux,
du roy, etc.
de
Im-
Tan 1590.
s'eloient
princesses
encore
sur
presente'es
les
meaies
22S
sliorttruce,madarae
appeared.
"The
[1590.
or
HISTORY
de Guise
and
of
gallants
her
daughter
royal army
the
that
mademoiselle
moment,
de
had
Guise, who
hitherto
ledged
despisedevery other suitor,acknowthat it might be possibleto feel admiration
besides a king!" The
for another
accosted the princess
then addressing
;
duke
himself
madame
to
desire to vindicate
Guise, he
de
himself from
de Guise,
in
alone
the duke
as
had
chief
On
HI.
at
his coucher,
conversation
majestyuntil m.idnight
;
from
been
which
denounced
in
accomplice
with
his
stance,
circum-
by
the
the murder.
cette noblesse s'alloitpromeuant par la camsaluant, les dames, et embrassaut leurs amis, conimuni-
ramparts, ct
paguc,
charsre of
nightprevious
remained
League
the
his
the
attended Henry
Bellegarde
and
at
stated
toute
quaiitet devisant
avec
eux
en
toute
familiarite et douceur
aussi
cette
rencontre
1590.]
REIGN
THE
HENRY
OF
229
IV.
planation,
acceptedthe exgraciously
the young princess
and addressing
her mother of beinglikewise smitten
fascinating
Bellegarde the duchess
Madame
de Guise
"
who
by
accuses
the
"
"
"
her
commanded
she
due, as
"
the
statement
to
make
him
le
in his denial.
de
the
captivated
to
forgethis allegiance
beautiful mademoiselle
himself to win the
of M.
of mademoiselle
duke," as
the
placedimphcitfaith
Accordingto
Guise,
to
so
d'Estrees,and
vote
de-
alluringpresentobject."
"
selle
the duke's flirtationwith mademoiNevertheless,
de
him
Guise
had
not
the
effectof
he would
alienating
willingly,
this
the duke
de Nevers
abandon
his
was
230
HISTORY
subscribed
themselves
exchangedas
maudile."
the
on
crown
were
[1590.
OF
in the
"
letters
les victimes de
accession
quently
they frela Ligue
d'Aumale,
of
the
Henry III.,nearlywon
matrimonial.
Beautiful and sprightly
as
of the princesses
most
of the house of Lorraine,
Marie
all in the
there
led
life of seclusion.
The
of the armistice.
the termination
The
de Guise
mademoiselle
as
Bellegarde,
burdened
informs us, departed very pensive,
others
with a thousand thoughts,
some
pleasant,
time the archbishop
At the same
disquieting."
of Lyons and the cardinal de Gondy re-entered
the city
;'theyhaving availed themselves of the
duke
de
"
'
Conimc
ou
s'appcrftit
que
produisait
ny Taecord,
emotion
en
la
cour
du
ny
la conference
I'abondance,il y
Palais, ou
de St. Antoinc
eut
luie
ne
grande
Ligucracquila voulait
em-
1590.]
truce
THE
to
REIGN
PIENRY
2^31
IV.
enjoymentof the
societyof the royal
congenial
its fullestextent
cheer and
good
OF
in the
camp.
A
the
greatconcourse
in
of the
St. Antoine.
The
quartier
famishing
peopleexpectedthat the envoys, if
successful in their mission,would be preceded
earnest of
as
an
by a convoy of provision-carts,
the plentywhich on
the morrow
to pour
was
into the city therefore,when
the coach
of
their cardinal-bishop
alone drearily
passedthe
streets
barriers,a loud
which
and
dismal
wail rent
the
air
heard in the
royalcamp.
out
Throughthe nightthe populace
committed outrageous
inflamed to greaterfuryby emissaries
excesses,
of the
was
Seize.
These
a2;entswere
and
itinerant
that the
king had
part monks
accommodation
and
for the
most
serted
preachers.They asall
positively
rejected
that
he had
vowed
the
wark,
destruction of the orthodox faith and of its bul-
y vint
avec
deux
eent
28.2
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
"
battle.
Your
last encounter
would
brother
too
to venture
on
well
a
remembers
third.
Your
our
dition
con-
"
sieur d'Andelot,sou
Colij^ny,
admiral de Coligny. He
had been taken prisoner
in a
D'Audelot
seduced by the due dc Nemours
was
eventually
1
over
Charles de
to
the
Clmtillon
League,
to the
great distress of
tillon.
-
Corneio
"
Discours
du siofje
de Paris.
of the
sortie.
to go
234
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
had been
Mayenne,duringtliis long interval,
his forces and completing
his convention
recruiting
with Spain. For every concession made to
the importunity
of the duke, PhilipII. demanded
an
therefore,it was
equivalent
; this rapacity,
that rendered
de-
Cambray. The
delaysof the Spanishcourt, and the suspicious
wariness of Mayenne had alreadyinflicted a
mortal blow
removed
on
at
the
Laon
cause.
and
From
Laon
the duke
his
There he
to Meaux.
head-quarters
was
joinedby the duke d'Aumale, the count de
ence
Chahgny,M. de Chatre a veteran of greatexperithe sieur
in arms, the marquisde Maignelais,
de Balagny,and M. St. Paul.' Meanwhile, the
condition of the Parisians,and the
desperate
made
on
salutary
impression
prayers of Mendoza
the Spanish cabinet.
tulation
They foresaw in the capiof Paris the downfall of the League,and
fanta.
claims of the inthe extinction of the alleged
of the resistance offered
The very tenacity
to the king,afforded evidence of the power
wielded by the faction of the Seize through
lent
and by their turbutheir agents the priests,
for
These demagogues
demonstrations.
the most
of the Spanishambassador
part hirelings
restrained the unhappy
ruled and
Conseamid horrible suffering.
even
})opulace
"
"
l)c
liv.99.
'I'hoii,
1590.]
protectand
obedient.
foster
resolved
tardily
Orders
transmitted
faction
devoted and
so
second time
a
therefore,
were,
the Flemish
to
235
IV.
IIENllY
cabinet of Madrid
the
quently,
to
OF
lir.IGX
THE
de
duke
the
viceroy,
no
his fame
measure
againstthat
career
of the victor of
there was
no
Arques and Ivry. Nevertheless,
alternative but to obey orders,which reached
Valenciennes by express.
Parnese, therefore,
notified to the duke de Mayenne his approaching
The
junctureat the head of 13,000 men.
of the League the cardinal de Gondy
deputies
and
the
arrived
in
archbishopof Lyons
"
"
Alexander
Farnese
Countries,son
of
name
M'hom
Parma
2
and
Son
of Octavio
of
Earnese
of Parma
firstduke
Low
of the
Charles V.
by
duke
duke
The
he had
two
died in 1592.
of the
of Parma
sons
and
His tomb
married
one
Marie
daughter. The
is stillto be
in
seen
Spain. Prince
Maurice
duke
of
at Parma.
beingdetained
de Guimaraens,
de i\'assau,
Guillaume,
Pliilippe
died in 1625.
236
HISTORY
the
on
camp
that
day
very
this welcome
[1590.
OP
Mayenne
ceived
re-
The recital of
message.
greatlymoved the duke, and
archbishop
the
drew
from
him
of surprise
repeatedejaculations
at the dogged endurance
displayed
by the people.
that in the extremity
Mayenne, however, perceiving
to which
the people were
reduced an
assault on their city
end by its capitulation,
must
resolved to temporize the more
so, as he learned
from the envoys that the king placed
credit
no
"
in
the
rumour
march
to the
dismissed
them
wished
the
inform
to
to
of Parma
conclude
king
that
"
fore
there-
He
desired
ambassadors, and
the
would
he
earnestly
without
ever,
delayconfer on the subject."Mayenne, howwrote
a
treacherously
privateletter to the
duke de Nemours, which he sent by his confidential
who
travelled to
secretaryDesportes,
Paris in the suite of the archbishop. The duke
therein
admonished
alarmed
at his
he would
kingof
but
rather
their town
'
et
"
Le
be
Mcrcrcdl
the envoys
was
acquiescence
from
at
to
Parisians not
as
assault,
Meaux
rarchcvequcdc Lyons
be
peace, the
ruse
the duke
in four
to
for that
in his
stillpersisting
Navarre
that his
would
answer
the
heresy;
to
save
of Parma
days.'The
am-
s'acclieniinercut
vers
le due
de Mu-
1590.]
THE
bassadors
camp.
The
RKIGN
OF
HENRY
thereupon returned
237
IV.
to
the
royal
before
of Lyons expatiated
archbishop
the council
at
on
the favourable
could
of his
news
convey the welcome
the minds of the ultra-orthodox party
abjuration,
w^ere
the
"
le roy
vers
en
"
Thou, liv.99.
declaration
qu'ilue
Seize,
temps il donna avis aux
mourroit plutot
traite,
qu'il
que de
meme
poiuts'allarmer de ce
faire la paix." L'Etoile,Journal
ue
avec
de
Henri
IV.
Mezerai.
De
238
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
T will die
seek, relaxed
in his attendance
at
the
preche
discoursed respecting
frequently
his reconciliation with the Holy See.
of the
been a religion
Henry'sfaith had never
heart,like that of the deceased princeof Conde,
the melancholymisanthropyof the latter.
despite
Sixtus V. would have made
sion
concesany possible
of King Henry ; an
to insure the abjuration
declared he should
event which the dyingpontiff
of his pontifical
regardas the seal and crown
the subjects
of
labours. Far from intimidating
Sixtus sent
the kmg by ecclesiasticalcensures,
his benediction to the nobles in Henry'scamp ;
holden
in his camp
and
persevere in obedience
to tlieirtemporal
prince. Moreover, his holiness
all but
disowned
to
the
of his legate
proceedings
;
the cardinal,
and had threatened to supersede
and
exile him to his diocesan city of Capua. All
the noble personages surroundingthe king,orthodox
well as professing
the reformed creed,
as
their conviction that a
scruplednot to avow
Calvinist
monarch
never
would
be
tolerated.
1590.]
THE
OF
REIGN
HENRY
239
IV.
king'sdevoted servant
de Rosny. The
de Bethiine,baron
Maximilian
which Rosny possessed
prudence and foresight
in an
extraordinary
degree led him to this
held no
conclusion.
Rosny, at this period,
he
was
placein the administration ; scarcely
acceptedas belongingto the household of the
king. The haughtycourtiers of the late reign
to recognize
condescended
the existence
rarely
taciturn man,
tinguished
disof that pale,studious,and
by no graces of person, who seemed
these
Amongst
almost
to
haunt
the
was
ante-chamber
the
of
his
jesty's
ma-
lack
of
The
zeal.
whole
of
tenour
his .addresses,
and especially
life,
Henry'sprivate
the ministers of the
his deportment towards
reformed churches during his long sojournin
Beam, demonstrate
heartfeltadherence
not
the
that
honest
conviction
motives
actuating
of his conduct.
and
were
The
demise of the
the
perpetrated
of the solemn
same
mission
duke
d'Alccon
mistake in his
of the
duke
(1586),
rejection
d'Epernon,
240
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
late
by the
nounce
king,to imploreHenry to rehis so-called errors, and repair
to court
in his new
dignityof heir presumptive.At
that period,
however, the advice of madanie de
Guiche had greatweightwith the king; besides,
sent
the
and
lied
the faction of Lorraine ral-
in which
power
its
the crown,
on
acknowledged
designs
cause
might reasonably
Henry to hesitate ere he
his union
severed
in the realm
A
the
archbishopupon
consider and remedy
of events.
state
The
in France
Parma
was
Flanders, as almost
The
duke
advance
and
the
this adverse
to
challengedisbeliefof
de Nevers
of the
report of
his second
the
considering
truth.
alliances.
summoned
was
departureof
to
greatreformed party
council
mission,
with the
invasion
its
mediate
counselled the im-
royalarmy, to intercept
Spaniards,should the
be
confirmed.
This
approval of the
council. Unhappily,however,
taken previously
to storm
not
the decision was
and
the capital.After the incredible sufferings
it vv'as deemed
the siege,
more
outlayattending
and humane
for the king to abandon his
politic
met
proposition
majorityof the
with
the
entrenchments, than
to
deluded
their tyrants
by one
from
people
masterly
242
HISTORY
the
On
marched
the duke
the
van
at Meaux."
arrived
Parma
his
22nd
[1590.
OF
From
duke
of
Valenciennes
in battle array,
flagof Spain.
"
at
displaying
brilhant body of
Villa Mediana.
of
count
received with
was
he
duke
The
greatpomp." On
his arrival
at
Discours
1590.
"
sur
first
la
venue
en
Le due de Parme,
et
fois d'afFection,
du due de Parme.
France
Italieu de
ueanmoins
par
"
Tours,
nation,obliged'etre Pran-
crainte et ambition
fait Es-
et
paguolde faction,
pratiques
pleinde vauite et
par de longues
de presomption,"
writes this anonymous
author, a zealous loyalist.
-
De
Thou, liv.99.
however
"
treated
the
The
haughtynobles
lords of the
League
great disdain.
Les
de
ycune
eulrast
dans la chambre
de M. le due de Parme."
3590.]
THE
OF
KEIGN
to hold council
on
the
who
had
mission, was
the prowess
Meaux
at
invited.
of his army
uncork
Paris,
relieving
of Lyons,
archbishop
the
just arrived
his second
on
lauded
loftily
Farnese
;
243
IV.
of
means
conference to which
HENRY
and announced
tention
his in-
days elapsedone
Naof the rivers so carefully
sealed by Le
varrois ;" and
abundant
thus pour
provisions
into the beleaguered
careful
The archbishop,
city.
which
to omit none
of the formal proposals
"
to
devolved
on
the
ere
many
envoy,
laid
then
the
before
That a
princesthe followingarticle
suspensionof arms should be agreedupon by
both the contending
duringwhich the
parties,
of a permanent pacification
terms
might be
arranged, or Paris revictualled." The duke
of Parma
his colleague,
without consulting
replied,
"
"
"
to treat
with
until all
city,
his forces were
lie reliedon the prudent
collected,
there,
of M. de Mayenne." Espinac,
resources
well satisfiedwith this declaration,
fore,secretly
retu/nedto the royalcamp and informed the
king,that now after the arrivalof M. de Parme
As for the
the duke
'
"
secours
M. de
said
of the
revictualling
de Mavenne'
without
could do nothino;
11
eurage
de
ce
244
his assent
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
highnesshad taken
oath to raise the siegeof Paris. By intelhgence
broughtto the camp, Henry knew that the rear
had not
arrived
guard of the Spanish army
at
Meaux ; and, until after the junctionof
;
refused
to
therefore,still
which he
Paris.
the main
stir.
few
remained
mighthave
army, Parnese
to
rendered
the
preciousdays,
king, during
himself master
the
Chatillon,Turenne, and
"
"
the
mutinous
of
Huguenot
lutely
reso-
assault.
resisted
cries of the
he
because
apprehended that
soldiery,
Huguenots were resolved to avenge the massacre
of St. Bartholomew's
Eve
on
the
and slaying
the majority
by burningthe capital
of the capital
The priests
had
of inhabitants."
aforetime availed themselves of this apprehension,
to excite to a higherpitchthe resistance of the
of the blockade, Nemours
people. After the raising
confessed that had the king then stormed
the city,
other alternative but to
Paris had no
capitulate. His majesty,"
says Sully, could
should
not endure the reflexion that his capital
"
be
converted
"
into
vast
connived
therefore,
privily
cemetery. He
at
the
had,
reliefof his
1^90.]
245
IV,
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
He
the
deceived
himself, however
who
had
miseries of his
not
"the
will not
fault of Francis
allowed himself to
be
prince,
sensible to the
onlytoo
people."
solved
counsel, re-
mature
the
We
of the
himself
suffer himself to be
"
benevolence
Henry, therefore,after
to go
Parisians.
sulted
Parma, the populacein-
of
clement
shown
the
of
gratitude
invaders,and
in his entrenchments.
surprised
commit," said the king,
I. before
Pavia, wdio
in his camp
attacked
at
Mirabello
capture of Paris.
as
M.
of
punctuality
troops
"
one
soldiers,
the
monotony
be irksome, especially
to
beginning
d'O had recently
relaxed
in the
his advances
of the
was
cam.p
The
of the methods
by
tried to
continually
impede the
victorious progress of their sovereign.
Henry
suffered from the mismanagement of
personally
his finances.
His table was
often inefficiently
the disregard
shown by
supplied
; and such was
nobles
.240
d'O
for the
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
comfort
and
dignityof
his
royal
gentlemenin
from
of the late
the suite of
king,the least
the greatnobles
M.
robes, if he had
the
yes
but
half of these
dozen
said
shirts ?
shirts
are
"
Sire !
torn
so
Well ; now
for
they cannot be worn."
his majesty.
persisted
my pocket-handkerchiefs,"
I think you told me
that I possessed
eight?"
have onlyfive handkerchiefs,
Sire." Upon
"You
he had justordered for
this*M. d'O said that
his majesty's
use
a
quantityof fine Flanders
that
"
"
"
said the
you
king,
treat
me
"
as
of G,000
"
IJccucil
dc
ITeuri lo Grand.
These
ready
said
when
we
shirts then,
enter
the
jnu'iod,
Henry
'
1"
monsieur, will be
?"^
Ah
Louvre
"
crowns.
"
was
lost
subjected,
quelqucs actions
;\ Lcyde
linprinu;
et
their
sting
paroles meinorables
IG 03.
de
1590.]
THE
his
by
On
the
OF
REIGN
majesty'shappy
tlie 30th
day
of
siegeof Paris,and
took
was
up
HENRY
his
position.
facetiousness of dis-
quartersat Chelles,
conducted
with
247
IV.
The
retreat
skill.
consummate
The
evacuated on a
faubourgswere
simultaneously
that no
isolated body of soldiery
givensignal,
might be exposedto the fury of the populace.
of the town
A strong garrison
of
keptpossession
St. Denis.
Henry,besides,had constructed two
forts on
which
the
Seine,above
he armed
with
the
cannon.
the withdrawal
of
preceding
been hotly debated whether
town
On
the
of Conflans,
the
evening
troops,it had
portionof the
to hold the faubourgs,
so
army should remain
continue.
that the siegemight virtually
All
Henry'sofficers opposedthis scheme. It was
allegedthat the king could not spare the
number
of troopsfrom the main army ;
requisite
off the provision
and that as for cutting
convoys
which might attempt to enter Paris,the bribes
of the
citizens would
cause
the
half-clad and
soldiers to connive
at their
irregularly-paid
A
next
issued,
proclamationwas
passage.
that the
signedby the king and Biron, stating
his majesty
as
siegewas temporarily
suspended,
about to chase from the realm the Spanish
was
invaders. Appended was
in which
a Declaration,
24S
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
the
to
king accorded toleration and protection
Catholic Apostolic
the Roman
persons professing
faith.
The
duke
entrench
de
Nevers
his army
at
counselled the
king to
in a
Claye,a littlevillage
fine open
Mcanx.
Paris and
country between
ference,
resented interBiron, however, who jealously
spread.^In
army
of the
army
a
heights,
without
march
commanded
of Parma
MS.
Lettre
du
opposite
the
roi
au
would
be enabled
refused to be convinced
*
the
impossiblefiom the
fore,
ground; and, thereintervening
seized
case
battle became
of the
nature
Biron, that in
de
League
Chatillon
and
Turenne
to the marshal
observed
the
vain
due
Bibl.
and
so
effectually
per-
Montpensier,F. de Bethune
de
Imp. Memoires et correspoiidancc
de
"
Duplessis-Mornay.
The overbearing
character of Biron, who would sufler no
advice to be acted upon but his own, or that taken in
military
with the king,occasioned endless feuds. Henry gave
concert
him
the niarslialthe most sturdysup])orl,
and never
rcproaclied
wlien defeat follovi'edthe adoptionof his counsel. The
even
2
250
HISTORY
centre
while the
Paul, and
de
count
Motte
La
[1590.
OF
Chahgny,
governor
of
M.
St.
Gravehnes,
and a powerful
rear-guai"d
Masiegetrain of thirty
piecesof ordnance.
only in this army
yenne held nominal command
which he had so treasonably
of Spaniards,
lured
to the soil of France.
Farnese,althoughhis
on
him from takingan
bodilyinfirmitiesprevented
active share in warfare,ruled everything
from
with
followed
orders embraced
His
his tent.
his
the
gency
every contineverywhere
; the military
spieswere
perfect.Cold,
imbued
self-rehant,and
of
notions
monarchy,and
he
court
Parma
had
permittedno
career,
will of
power
devoted
been
neither counsel
nor
to
of the
PhilipII.,at
educated, the
deference
by his implicit
to the world
II.,proclaimed
Philip
claimed
he
so
in his
to the
his
own
sternly
the demise
on
Portugal
in 15S0, might have been
cardinal-king
by the duke's son Ranuzio, in rightof
exacted.
of the
which
of
accepted
Twice
remonstrance.
whose
duke
and
murmur,
of the obedience
strained
over-
Spanish
Parma
estimate
the
the
with
tatorial,
dic-
The
crown
of
of the latterMarie
mother
de Guimaraens.
ducal coronet
of his
of Parma
fellto Parnesc
on
mise
the de-
1590.]
THE
UtIGN
IIENKY
OF
251
IV.
in
fended
deorder. Every night the camp
was
perfect
if
by a barricade of baggage waggons
trench
the army
halted for a longerinterval,
a
constructed to fortify
the camp.^ Farnese
was
inspectedhis troops,and refused to
vigilantly
accept Mayenne as his substitute. Often the
veteran
generalappeared during the night:
watches, carried in
arm-chair,and
All
in his
htter,or sometimes
made
inspectionfrom
tent
to
officers,
therefore,in the
Spanish
alert and vigilant
were
; punishments
army were
meted with rigour: rewards
and
decorations
the other hand
distributed with rigid
were
on
The duke of Parma
Meaux
impartiality.
quitted
with the intent of offering
battle to the king.
tent.
"Le
due
vingtmulets
de Parme
de
campa
une
cofFres,
la Komaine.
grande ecurie,
quatreuu
pages, estafSers,
en
France
de M.
de Parme.
II avoit
"
Tours, 1590.
Discours
sur
la
252
On
HISTORY
the
1st
of
sightof each
royal forces
Their
September,the
other.
from
order
and
"I
do not
squahd
[1590.
OF
Farnese
a
adventurers
came
in
reconnoitred the
neighbouringeminence.
excited his astonishment.
number
see
armies
assemblageof 10,000
patiated.
respectingwhich you exthis
I see, nistead,a
and
numerous
well
!"
with artillery
disciphned
army of 25,000 men
observed Parnese to M. de Mayenne, as he
drily
mounted
surpointedto Henry'scamp with its pavilions
by the banners of the noblest houses
in France, in the midst
standard
of
de
tlieflews
of which
lis.
towered
Farnese,therefore,
with characteristicdecision,
resolved
combat.
the
not
to
risk
mission was
to raise the
special
into the
siege of Paris, and pour provisions
famished city.The experienced
eye of the duke
detected and
mitted
profitedby the oversightcomby Henry in the choice of his camp.
Over the opposite
heights
laythe road to Lagny ;
and the marsh
between
the royal
intervening
camp and the former,the king could not arrest
attack the Spanisharmy.
ning
or
Earlyon the morof the 4th of September,therefore,
the
duke of Parma encamped vis-a-vis to the king,
the
and entrenched
himself strongly.From
the red cross
of Spainsurmounting
royalpavilion,
the general's
visible dismay and
tent was
The
rage filledthe heart of the royalsoldiery.
a
His
1590.]
battle
nobles
the
which
"
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
so
253
TV.
contemexultmgly
inevitable
deemed
and which they had
jjlated,
and victory
certain now
dependedon the will of
the wilySpaniard.The
king himself, loudly
deploredhis error, but magnanimouslyforbore
Biron.
to reproach
Lagny was now in eminent
that Mayenne and
prevailed
; and the report
peril
"
September,sent
the duke
to
"
interruDted him
I have
no
battle : I
am
or
power
to
of
invite
by
one
At
the
harangue,
the
with
observation
commandment
alone to
sent
7th
of the realui.
of the herald's
the commencement
duke
the
Henry, therefore,on
check.
in
to
relieve Paris."
offer
On
royalmessage, Farnese
the following
made
imperiousreply Say to
has sent
}our master, that his Catholic majesty
dox
to extirpate
me
heresyfrom this hitherto orthorealm,which by the grace of God, I mean
to
accompKsh! Say to your master, if I find
that the shortest method
to achieve this be by
him
battle,I will not only offer him
offering
battle at such time,but find means
to compel
the
termination
of the
"
his
acceptance of my
leave my
'
defiance !
You
may
mortification of the
camp.'"
The
Victor Palam
Cayet,Chron.
Noveuuaire.
now
king
254
HISTORY
[1590,
OP
intense.
soon
Mayenne and his siege-train
appearedbefore Lagny ; and the threat of Parnesc,
was
"that
he
wonkl
sealed by
closely
of
eve
uncork
confronted
each
seemed
Navarrois,"
Le
fulfilment.
of the
one
For
other
on
rivers
so
on
the
from
the
Many
persons
"
"
Lettrc
Bibl.
imp.
du
lloj au
due
dc
Beth. 90i5,
Moiitpeusicr,
MS.
1590.]
REIGN
TIIH
availed
did it
OF
nothing,"
says
HENRY
tlie historian
even
25o
IV.
Cayet,
"
dukes from
nor
their
The
Paris with
heed
loss
"
"
army
field.
In
and
the insolent
was
not
of Bussy-le-Clerc
presumption
the
and
nihilated
anleading demagogues partially
the power of the council of the League.
At daybreak,
on
Thursday,August 30th, the
the
sentinels on
going their rounds perceived
of the royal
had
departure
army ; for so silently
Henry plannedand conducted his retreat,that
the approaching
evacuation
of the faubourgs
surmised.
even
into
The
soldiers ran
ing
shout-
the
cityproclaimingthe welcome
the ramparts; the
on
gathered
tidings
; the people
tant
citygates were thrown open ; and utteringexulcries the populaceswarmed
bourgs.
into the fauWith
to behold,the
avidity,
frightful
multitudes ransacked
the houses and
starving
the
deserted
The
accumulated
devoured
encampments
with
in
search
of food.
refuse of the
royalcamp was
and
bloody frays
eagerness ;
ensued for the possession
of loaves and
carcasses
25G
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
of
thanks to Heaven
to return
Te Deum
legatepresided. The
de
chanted at which
was
Nemours
attended,
princesses
and
his colleao-uesof
the council.
Panigaroladelivered an oration
highlylaudingthe heroic fortitude of the people,
which
he said,
the Almighty had rewarded
by a stupendous intervention." The orator,
that had Le
however, scruplednot to declare
Navarrois pressedthe siege
onlytwo dayslonger,
the cityhave surrendered, but
not
only must
the peoplewould
have found themselves compelled
the king to enter
Paris,'"
to supplicate
was
During the night,a supplyof provisions
broughtinto the town by one JacquesFerrarois,
"
"
of the
commandant
the
earned
the
day,
with
the
et
de
due
de
t. iv.
qui
ce
citizens.
The
lieve
re-
next
filled
thousand
of a
carts
convoy
grain,arrived from the districts around
owned
Savoye,he
les moiucs.
tout
the first to
being
the
who
of Dourdens,
Paris
restoit demi
this fact in
missive
addressed to
says
of
necessityof
also
Panigarola,
'
il
credit
town
"
etoit
morts
cu
degarnid'hoinines
de fuiiii." Discours
la villc de Paris.
"
Mem.
et
la
))lupart
verital)lc do
de la
Liguc,
258
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
them
into
offering
the towns
of Melun,
Meulan, and
thousand
body
of
men
St.
Corbeil,Senhs, Mantes,
Denis, and
under
his
troops sufficient
of the
to
retain
command
own
check
to
the
ten
"
ments
move-
Spaniards. The
remaining
corps
the king did
desire to disband ; they
not
said,to be quarteredin the
were, as his majesty
various provinces,
to
ready,on a given signal,
division. The kingmarch and reinforce his own
then gave the princede Conti the command
in
these loyaldistricts^
Tourraine,Anjou, and Maine
within which no insurrectionary
ments
moveted
commitwere
beingpurposely
anticipated,
of Conti on account of his physical
to the care
defects. The princewas
deaf; and afflictedwith
terrible an impediment
of speechas, by some
so
"
to be termed
historians,
The
dumb.
duke
de
in Normandy;
the command
accepted
INIontpensier
de Longueville
that over
the duke
Picardy;
the post of
the duke de Nevcrs in Champagne
"
1590.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
259
IV.
required
vigilant
abilityan^l the
marshal d'Auniont in Burgundy. The services
Gramof Biron,Chatillon,
Turenne, Bellegarde,
the king
niont, and the duke de la Tremouille,
allothers which
retained
"
to
All these
war.
the
mieux
seemed
sauter
present emergency,
them,
to
decision wise,
and politic.^
Other of the king's
provident,
however, ignorantof the true reason
partisans,
and
of a step which
appearedretrogressive,
censured the love
as
needless,
liumiHating
loudly
of pleasure,
averred,induced
which, as it was
the royal
cavaliers to shrink from the hardship
of a veritable campaign. Look," said these
and behold
the sublime resignation
censors,
the princesses
from
displayed
by the Parisians,
"
"
down
1
to
Another
army is the
table of his
the meanest
horrible
scavengers, imder
for the
alleged
by some
one
following
; that one
reason
of the
dispersion
day Henry
a
privateapartment at Chelles,
found
manifesto
on
the
signedby
the duke de
in which
and other greatcatholic lords,
Moutpensier
it was
and allegiance,
their zeal,devotion,
stated,that despite
Henry had not performedthe solemn promisewhich he had
made
on
his
forbade them
to aid
science
royalarmy, as their conof a heretic
the victory
in perfecting
the
king. With tears in his eyes, Henry turned towards the duke
the
de Moutpensier
not to perceive
the duke feigned
; but as
mute
appeal,Henry resolved to disband his army, before he was
to do so by desertions. Yilleroy,
t. iv.p. 92.
compelled
"
260
HISTORY
of famine
privations
is
our
their turn, to
in
disbanded?
army
afraid of
are
royalgenerals
the
and
pestilence,
fastidious softness of
it witli the
Why
and
[lo90.
or
dearth
contrast
cavaliers !
our
Only because
being subjected,
capture of
after the
subsequent
Lagny." Despite these repinings,
the prudenceand preevents completely
justified
vision
monarch.
On Wednesday,
of their gallant
September 12th, therefore,Henry'sgreat and
The king retired to
victorious army dispersed.^
terval
Senlis,where he purposed to spend a brief inof repose after the labours
anxieties of the past months.
incredible
and
the
reasons
Though from sound and patriotic
of his army, his
king decreed the disbandment
d'Estrees
intense anxietyto visit mademoiselle
also an actuating
motive. Hence
was, doubtless,
the enemies
of Henri
of the German
rout
Quatre
was
reign,
preceding
passionfor Corisandre
of Gabrielle d'Estrees
reasons
strategic
de
Bclhunc
wliich
9045
state
now
his
caused
his
victorious
unable
to
visit
Bibl.
king from
alone
"
Henry expressly
givesthese
meut
the
Dhona,
De
Imp.
as
during
owing to Henry'sweak
cinations
d'Andouins, so the fas-
army
the
mider
that
aver
of his army.
reasons
for the
band
temporary dis-
1590.]
OF
REIGN
THE
HENRY
301
IV.
Mantes, tliereforedespatched
a command
to the
for mademoiselle
made
the
by
would
de
Guise
duke
his
restore
de
and
the
demand
that
Longueville
letters,which
"
the
she
duke
might
declared
alike
and
her
matrimonial
prospects,by renderingimpossible
any of the
great alliances proposed for her acceptance.
Mademoiselle
made
by
that
her
own
d'Estrees
the
she
de
at the
letters. The
and
repairedto
with
Gabrielle.
for
duke
latter
Mantes
The
same
to
feignedconsent
have
an
interview
ever,
howLongueville,
whether
unable
his passion
to
overcome
mademoiselle d'Estrees ; or actuated by the
dishoriDurable motive
self of
the
duke
de
of hereafter availino;him-
latter with
262
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
letters of
king,kept the most imj3ortant
Gabrielle's correspondence,
while receiving
back
the
he
not
was
mademoiselle
himself
at
d'Estrees
had
written.
The
first detected
afterwards, when
by
she
the
reproachedLonguevillewith his duplicity,
duke pretendedthat the letters were
lost,and
then promisedto deliver them np at some
future
opportunity.From thenceforth Gabrielle became
the bitter enemy of the duke ; and rendered him
all manner
of evil services for what she termed
"
his
and
unknightly
Mademoiselle
d'Estrees,therefore,when
Senlis, went
no
royalcommands
to
very amiable
mood
artifice."^
ungenerous
of ]\I. de
repairto
; as
Loneueville
arrival at
Senlis, Gabrielle
her
she
to
her
therefore offered
"
'
dc
Drcux
du Radier.
Ileuri IV.,
"
Elzevir,
Leydea,1(3G7.
de
Marguerite
Les Amours
Lorraine-Guise
1590.]
HENRY
OF
REIGN
THE
d'Estrces in
with
guarded and
She refused to meet his majesty
in everything
testified that she
her intercourse
commendable.
private
; and
regardedthe
Henry, more
in
His
and
as
and
enamoured, rendered
more
in his
every assiduity
returned;
presents she contumaciously
when
of him
demand
her
duke
king was
d'Estrees
mademoiselle
power.
the
:2G'd
IV.
asked
by
favour
some
his
for
majestyto
for
herself,
or
ever
whom
Bellegarde,
affection which nothing
an
king,whose rectitude and
with
regarded with
to
succumbed
M.
de
of
at length
took the unjustifiable
beauty,
stepof
to his presence, when
summoning Bellegarde
the duke to relincommanded
quish
Henry imperiously
his claim
His
majestysaid
bis admiration
was
"
to the hand
M.
"
of Mile. d'Estrees.
his
"
de
aware
of
was
words !"
my
duke
of
surveyedthe irritated countenance
was
royalmaster ; obedience he perceived
Dreux
Henri
du Radier
"
Les Amours
de Lorraine-Guise
IV., ecrits par Louise Marguerite
Elzevir,Leydeu 1657.
264
HISTORY
inevitable.
Senlis
He
promised,therefore,to quit
mademoiselle
delay. When
without
d'Estrees
[1590.
OF
was
she abandoned
results,
herself to
its
transportsof
is useless ; I
a
will not
cruel
listen
tyranny!
to
You
you.
wish
You
the
ercise
ex-
ruin
of my repute,and of my worldly
fortunes, M.
de Bellegarde
offered me his hand in honourable
marriage!"
is
Gabrielle,
duringthis interview,it
king
continued
forbid her
union
Henry's
As the
supplications.
of her
in his resolution to
unmoved
with
knelt at
even
the
duke, mademoiselle
d'Estrees
Coeuvres, near
to
Soissons; and
266
[1590
OF
HISTORY
to enter
"
"
the
de la
rue
The
duke
him
no
enthusiastic
cold
His
ovation.
and
mass
with
de
M.
Dame.
Vitry,and
Emanuel
de
at
Lalain,marquisde llenty,commander
of the
horse.
Spanisli
light
-
Vie
Mathicu
du
"
Hist, du
Eegnc
de
Henri
IV.
"
The
Farnese.
duke
autlior, le
his
dcs tribuueaux
liv. i.
"
ell'et. La
n'avoient
ei"'lises
Dondini,
expressed
spectacle
majeste
plus'd'orue-
1590.]
beil,and
at
the
of
their purveyors
and
its capture,besides
Parisians
several miles
by openingto
of territory,
more
the
Without
sat down
duke, therefore,
of
siegewas
as
During
before
longerduration
Corbeil.
than Farnese
The
pected,
ex-
the sixteenth
to
recoiuioitred Cor-
easy
resources
'2()7
IV.
that
perceived
once
being an
the
HENRY
Farnese
thither,
his way
On
OF
IIEJGN
THE
day
of
the
mutual
this interval,
grew
between
the
September
foUowing month.
and suspicion
jealousy
dukes.
reproachedMayenne
Farnese
castically
sar-
presentation
witli his misre-
Henry'saffairs;
the latter retorted by assuringthe duke,
ferent
the siegeof a French
citywas a very difaffair to the siegeof a Flemish town, for
of the condition of
while
"
that
of Frenchmen
name
!"
Spanishtroops likewise
the
The
gave
the
foraysmade by
greatoffence to
the surrounding
etoit si rare,
L'argent
ii'en pouvaicntobteuir
la
los plusaccredites
baiiqued'Auvers qu'a34
pour 100.
26S
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
of the Spaniardsreached
popularity
after the surrender
of Corbeil.
The
amid
stormed
terrible carnage.
Spaniardsentered,a horrible scene
and
ensued.
pillage
houses ransacked
to
extort
and
the
of violence
the
confession where
their treasures
the town
placewas
After
inhabitants
The
its climax
were
dered
mur-
tured
tor-
owners
they had
while whole
posited
de-
districtsof
fired.
recklessly
On the news
of the siegeof Corbeil,Henry
quittedSenlis and proceeded to Creil, from
whence he repaired
On his route,
to Chaumont.
the king defeated a detachment
of Spanishtroops
under the sieurs de Lure and Baroni.
Apprized
of the fallof Corbeil,
his majestyafter the combat
retired to Gisors to wait his opportunity.
were
of the contradiction
Farnese,meantime, wearied
which
in the Low
in the
Countries
mind
on
'
set
out
the
of the
ingly,
viceroy.Accordin Corbeil,
Spanish garrison
leavinga
Farnese
on
11th
his march
day
of
Tlii3 prince
tlie towns
captured
bourg,besides
numerous
fortresses.
back
tiers
to the fron-
and
Sclielinbcrg
^Vclsc)n-
1590.]
REIGN
THE
OF
deliberate purpose
same
advance.
209
IV.
liad cliaracterizedhis
as
Henry immediately
preparedto
harass
and
HENRY
his retreat
and
sent
sue
pur-
orders for
the duke
to
"
words
refer to Corbeil
to
and
royalcause,
which
Paris
"
the
had
somewhat
he
resolved
;'and
of his master
favour
abated
since the
recapture the
to
"
siegeof
town
or
the
on
perishin the attempt. Accordingly,
nightof the 11th of November, when the duke
of Parma
of
was
encamned
in
Pontenay,Givryand
his
assaulted Corbeil,
and after
the neighbourhood
denly
soldiers sudgallant
walls
The
were
scaled;
"
Cela
d'en
a Givry la pensee
inspira
teur de bonne
de Heuri
Henry
IV.
voloate euteud
Tiie town
vol. ii.
; un
of Chatillou
faire autant
or
Castonel,was
"
serviHist,
taken
and
by
Times,
270
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
"
foreign
tyrants."After the conquestof Corbeil the gallantGivry attacked Lagny. which
surrendered
at
Thus,
ere
Farnese
most
as
of Corpossession
the blockade
Lagny,againre-establishing
"
beil and
the
of the riversMarne
the
the
of the capital
lation
in great tribuagitation
; and
the citydespatched
a
deputationto the
duke of Parma, prayinghis highnessto return
and helpthem.'
The duke de Mayenne, aghast
with which
at the rapidity
the king had again
become
master
of positions
so
joined
important,
in the petition.
refused
Parnese, however, sternly
to
he,
his
retrace
steps.
"
Messieurs,"said
the
"
in
turn
my
to
"
Beam
wears
out
more
'
Dc
boots
Thou. liv.99.
than
shoes
we
1590.]
THE
UEIGN
OF
him
exhaust
therefore,
iiuist,
at
ITElNRy
while
any
in Paris. Neither
especially
majesty send another aimy
271
IV.
making
great towns,
tisans
parand
his Catholic
must
hither,excepting
fanta
mider the express condition that the Serene Inbe proclaimed
theless,
queen." The duke, never-
Parma
to
therefore
arrived at Pimes
retreat
was
duke
The
reinforce the
on
conducted
with
and
regularity
de
Mayenne and
League accompaniedParnese
to the frontier.
escort
been
where
chosen
for the
'
the head of
officers. La
at
enemy
None
the
Hist,
Montplainchain.
"
et de
ceremonious
in
army
but at
had not
Pont-Avere,
of
village
d'Alexandre
Plaisance,
Amsterdam, 1592.
method.
yet the
As
His
layin
Bazoche
wait
with
272
fifteen hundred
by
part of
men,
-Thierry.A
Chateau
[1500.
OF
HISTORY
warm
the
garrisonof
skirmish
ensued,led
terminated
de Biron, which
the baron
in
no
It
here, that
was
Henry'slife
occurred
incident in
romantic
most
The
since the
extreme
of mademoiselle
Gabrielle sent
M.
irritated at the
rapture of
and
Bellegarde,
refused to
concerned
in
resistance
offered
the
to
the
suit, which
considered
was
his missives
in
by
an
Senlis.
;
while
daughterwas still
her marriagewith
pardon any person
exile of
by
king's
parture
abruptde-
d'Estrees from
replyto
no
visit to
his adventurous
"
the
duke.
mademoiselle
those
The
d'Estrees
degeneratedays
of
the
fairest
many
flamed
inenviable distinction,
'
of
Jean
de
1622.
France, lith September,
274
of
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
sent by the
parties
capture from the foraging
the neighbourhood,
rendered
garrisonto sconr
The
this precaution
requisite.
king,therefore,
exchanged his habit for the coarse
garb of a
peasant,which had been providedby Biron, and
left by him at a littleroadside hostelry.
Henry
commenced
his perilous
then boldly
expedition
;
and to render his disguise
completehe trudged
along carryinga sack of straAv on his head.
The
of
chateau
confines of
Coeuvres
dense
wood
from
protected
by
garrison
Mayenne, under whom
had
than
served.
once
deemed
was
traverse
expose
himself
to
The
chateau
w^as
d'Estrees
mademoiselle
extreme
learningthis
her charms
most
prudent
this wood, rather
of
chance
nition
recog-
on
amazement
fresh
receive his
preparedto
of Gabrielle,
escapade
in
homage
king, did
depriveher of self-possession
at Coeuvres with her sister,
sojourning
de Villars,
a
haughty and ambitious
not
however
She
was
madame
Coeuvres
the
that
visit.
the
de
the
Biron, who
to
It
the
bouring
neigh-
the duke
marquisde
king to
any of the
middle
of
on
the
on
unfortified,
was
order from
an
for the
on
news
it
assaults of the
the
and
situated
was
i590.]
THE
who
REIGN
HENRY
OF
275
IV.
encouragedGabrielle in her
resistance to the king,because to be duchesse
de Bellegarde
seemed more
advantagousthan
for a while in the fleeting
sunshine
to bask
of royalfavour."
Gabrielle,accompaniedby
her sister,received the king in a low gallery
opening on to a balcony to which a flight
of steps ascended from a garden. lienryleft
Biron in charge
of his sack of straw, and repaired
alone to the interview.
His reception
cold
was
d'Estrees being
and ungracious.Mademoiselle
fastidious to excess, gazed with disdain on his
majesty's
plebeianattire which she declared,
so
grotesquean aspect,that she
gave him
could not look upon
him
without laughing."
the homage of so greata monarch
Nevertheless,
and hero, the flattery
and
promisesmade by
Henry,and the romantic circumstances of their
woman,
had
"
"
interview, somewhat
Gabrielle.
devoted
To
softened
other
no
pursuitso
fervent
to
'
"
Contrc
Par
EUe
Sa
commands
une
uu
had
the
determined.^
and
that in addition
duke's
king,the
un
funeste
own
faire d'Estrees.
coeur,
king
her alliancewith
ce
of
hopeof
of the
combattre,en
sou
jeuuesse,
heart
and
pouvoirsi grandqu'eutpu
chartue
avait
woman
the
jour,
La
T
276
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
.
them.
fears would now
effectually
separate
jealous
lery,
therefore,
Gabrielle,
though she quittedthe gal-
leavhigthe king
with the mutinous
to say
illthat she
so
words,
could
minutes
to offer his
accepteda
from
cup
leave
viands.
looked
of ten
majestyrefreshment. Henry
of wine
other
nothing
majesty,who
not endure
him,'" returned
upon
de Villars
"
or
madame
and
and
slice of bread
of Gabrielle,but
The
king
declined
afterwards
took
for the
"
"
changewdiich Henry
the
addition
the
favourable
of mademoiselle
manner
to
d'Estrees,his
versation
con-
de Villars
sence
duringthe abof Gabrielle,
elated his majesty.
had greatly
Madame
de Villars,fearingthat her sister's
with madame
'
Les Amours
Mathieu
"
dc
Henri
IV.
par
Louise
Margueritede
Grain,Decade de Henri
raine.
Lor-
IV.
1590.J
REIGN
THE
OE
HENRY
277
IV.
jealous
;
and
as
she
afterwards
events
was
desirable
most
artful
was
boon
proved,
sisterrefused,
of fortune that
could
The
happen to
gentle
when
and affectionate her temper, excepting
those
as
moved
by such extreme provocations
she had recently
which
endured, was equable
She was
calm.
and
just and considerate;
Until
and excelled in many
accomplishments.
:
after
attracted
had
she
king, not
blot
rests
the
on
woman
notice
the
the
repute of
in this age of
than ordinary
of Gabrielle's
innumerable
therebycaptivated
d'Estrees,however,
of
was
beauty
"
one
suitors. Mademoiselle
ambitious
in
Her manners
wer
eexquisite
beyondmeasure.
refinement and modesty. Her dress
polished
chosen with taste and skill so as to display
was
lustre of a complexion,
the dazzling
pure as
"
278
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
parent
limpidstream, fresh as an egg, and transas
a pearl."*
The
king, meantime, returned to La Fere
with
well
his expedition,
content
tolerably
this most perilous
havingperformed
journeyto
purchasea woman's smiles at the risk of his
his kingdom,and of his own
and the
life,
crown,
lives of his friends and companions,"
temporary
says a conwith great
author, who expatiates
the weakness of his majestyfor his
on
asperity
fair subjects.Henry's absence had been
covered
disby the duke de Nevers ; and great was
the perturbation
of those lords,
of his
cognizant
Had the duke
majesty's
strangedisappearance.
and
of Parma
Mayenne assailed the royal
the
"
quartersat La
what
Fere, it
difficultto say
the beauty of Gabrielle
fatal misfortune
were
of
arms
to
made
confirm
the
on
the
heart
favourable
pression
im-
of mademoiselle
d'Estrees.
^
The
poet Porcheres
of Gabrielle d'Estrees.
"
Ce
ne
; he also
He
Non,
Et le movement
ce
sont
sounet
on
the eyes
says,
composed a
ce
sont
des
plutot
dieux
puissanceabsolue.
prompt, commc
Muses
Frangoiscs,
J). 286.
1590.]
On
La
army
THE
llEIGN
OF
Henry againset
pnrsnitof the enemy.
the morrow,
in
Fere
279
IV.
HENRY
men
forth from
The
a
"
royal
force,
by a princeso skilled in
the tactics of the period,snfficiently
largeto
loss on
In
inflict severe
a
retreating
enemy.
fact, the king'sactivity
greatlyincommoded
tary
milithe deliberate and
Farnese
systematic
laws which gnided the viceroy's
marches,
often roughlyviolated by the guerilla
were
warfare which it pleasedhis majestyto wage.
Along the route of the Spanisharmy, the dead
left to the compassionof the
and dying were
meted
infuriated peasantry; who too frequently
the same
to these unfortunate captives
degreeof
which
they themselves had experienced
mercy
the Spaniards.Henry came
from
up to the
Spanisharmy at a placesituated almost on the
when
commanded
eager
was
so
great,
of
within sight
ground,
their retreating
columns, attended onlyby forty
gentlemen. The divisions under Biron and the
de LongueviUecoming up, an
duke
immediate
made
the rear-guard.
A severe
attack was
on
conflict ensued, in which Biron beingunhorsed,
led a chargefor his
the king himself gallantly
rescue.
Upon this,the Spanishtroops finding
themselves hotlypressedand isolated from the
that he arrived first on
the
2 so
HISTORY
main
body of the
of
[1590.
OF
the
"
threw
"
down
their arms
and
"
had
come
in
up
believed
by
time," says De
that
many,
Thou,
"
would
this rout
it was
have
invading
army." Several banners and other rich spoils
found
the field,
on
w^re
by Henry
despatched
a
as
trophy of his exploitto mademoiselle
followed
been
defeat of the
the
by
d'Estrees.
The
1st, 1590,
Earnese
"
'
"Ainsi
d'estrc entrez
saut
avec
frayeur,
en
eu
le boil due
retour
ce
Discours
la
avec
venue
dc M.
!"
un
a
aigrercpentir
etc cliasse ; lais-
Mayeune,
a. Dieu
qu'il
plaini
sur
honte, et
du
dc Parme.
CHAPTER
I.
1590"1591.
Condition
of the
Sixtus
V.
demise
and
Gabrielle
conclave.
elevation of
d'Estrecs.
"
king. Enterprise
on
"
Election
"
of
Gregory XIV.
Repulse and
"
of the
"
The
"
St. Denis.
country. Anxieties
Her
Demise
king.
"
Urban
VII.
"
of
His
Attempt to surprise
"
marriage.Promise
"
Paris.
"
made
Arrival of madame
by
"
the
de Liancour
Position of parties.
Chauny. Exile of M. de Liancour.
of Turenne
in Englandand
Siege of Chartres. Negotiations
dence
CorresponGermany. The count de Soissons and Madame.
at
"
"
"
"
"
"
of the
Seize to pope
Guiche.
"
of Landriano
"
of the
Overtures
as
cardinal-
"
"
"
"
Surrender
of Chartres.
mission.
Embarrassments
The
entrance
"
"
Entry of
of the
into Paris.
legfite
duke de Mayenne.
the
of Parma
"
His
of Paris,and the
into France,
were
286
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
of the precarious
the duke, aware
tion
posiprovinces,
trusted to win by his delays
of the sovereign,
of constable of France.
sword
the much-coveted
nent
Henry, however, wiselyresolved that this emivice,
serdignityshould be the reward of loyal
and not a bribe to purchaselukewarm
fealty. In Dauphiny, the duke de Joyeuse'
for supremacy ; a conand Lesdiguieres
test
disputed
which
decided
by
In
the
town
This
invasion
aided
was
and
Antoine
"wlio was
-
second
Scipion,
Chretieune
his uncle.
son
in 1611.
The
by her
to his
husband
de
brother
Joyeuse,
of
Joyeuse
killed at Coutras.
d'Aguerre,widow
de
Crcquy,seigneur
Her
duke
St.
countess
Antoine
married
the
secondly
Blaucfort
count
de
de Sault.
bequeathedit to
Crequy,princede Poix.
mother, who
de
second husband
Charles de
of
her
son
The
by
tage
heri-
her first
countess
died
1591.]
REIGN
THE
Marseilles.
HENUY
OF
287
IV.
fection,
the progress of disafBretagiie
and the treasonable league
of the duke de
Mercoeur with the Spaniards
excited lively
hensions.
appreA force of 5000 Spanish
troopslanded
the army of the League
at Blavet ; and joining
under Mercceur,captured
Hennebon.
Henry's
lieutenant the princede Dombes, proved himself
Gallant and able,
equalto the emergency.
In
his energy
and
them
held
of the
arrival of
until the
in check
invaders,
England,placedthe princein
condition to commence
hostihties by the siegeof
of the kingdom
Lamballe. The midland provinces
were
occupiedby the armies of the kingand of
the League. From
end of the realm to the
one
other all things
shrouded in the desolation
were
of warfare.
and the ruinous
Terror,privation,
lengthof the war, converted the once peaceful
succours
from
and
escapedthe
The
Few
horrors and
churches
;
were
the
desecrated
by
used
priesthood
devastation of
siege.
seditious
their
semblages
as-
to
pulpits
had bound
withholden,until every penitent
by
oaths to exterminate
of the
arch-heretic Henri
heresyin
Le
was
self
him-
the person
Bearnnois, soi-
288
"
HISTORY
[1590.
or
disant
king of Prance.
Henry's hereditary
of Beam
the only province
was
principality
which at this periodenjoyedeven
the semblance
of tranquillity.
The people,
though continually
tempted to revolt by the agentsof the Spanish
king,remained passiveunder the mild sway of
Madame
Catherine
yet in Beam
even,
domestic
of the
king
from
"Tons
de
autant
d'anibition
jaloux,son
de Soissons
comte
au
paraissaient
degr^spour parveniru ses fins ; jamais il n'y a eu
chagrin,
plus demesur^e, ni plusaveuglc.luquiet,
de
ambition se nourrissait de tout, et ne profitait
les evenements
ricMi.'''SuUv, liv. v.
"
290
HISTORY
cardinal de Bourbon^
partlycaused
the failure of
faction so hostile to
a
Tiers-Parti,
the formidable
the
[1590.
OF
of
defeat whose
had,
whose
chosen
certain
moreover,
counsellors
from
advice he
deviated,however he might
rarely
lors
appear to dissent and temporize.These counselof the League were
the
duringthe wars
marshal
de Riron, Rosny, Cheverny,and the
Turenne
of state Revol.
and.the duke
secretary
de Nevers also possessed
greatinfluence with his
majesty. To the latter,indeed, the greater
portionof Henry'scorrespondence
during the
1591-2,
years
The
The
now
demise
extant, is addressed.
of pope
cardinal de Vendome
took
the
ofBourbou,
name
the
on
Pope
Sixtus
learningthe demise
of the
were
"
"
!"
d'argcnt
treasures.
pontihcal
often exclaimed
la
on
tique
poli-
Sixtus
kingsin Europe
"
"
ce
II.,in reference
Philip
1591.]
added
REIGN
THE
IV.
291
consternation where
everyduringthe last months of the
prevalent
This
August 27th, in
by
HENRY
year 1590.
The
OF
the
took
placeon Saturday,
palaceof Monte Cavallo.
event
drank while
under an
of fever.
access
suffering
The notorious disagreements
between
subsisting
the papal and the Spanish cabinets,added
to the
the threats addressed to Sixtus by
II.,occasioned dark surmises as to the
Philip
of the malady under which his holiness
origin
The
bearance
succumbed.
genuineadmiration and forevinced by Sixtus for Henri Quatre ;
and his steadyrefusal to assist the League,by
arms
or
by donation of a partof his treasure,
had greatly
exasperated
kingPhilip.In Paris,
death was
received with
of the pope's
the news
satisfaction. Boucher, from his pulpitof St.
Benoit,declared that the event was one worthy
such were
the
of thanksgiving
as
; inasmuch
designs of his holiness,that the
pernicious
in a few months have
of the capital
must
clergy
to refuse obedience
found themselves compelled
The
Jesuit Rouillet,
in an
to the Holy See.
Sixtus
oration delivered at Bourges, termed
of heresy."
a panderer
a miserly
heretic,
priest,
"
On
the demise
legateGaetano
of Sixtus, the
powers
of his
after
ceased; and immediately
u
-2
292
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
the
cardinal anxious
to
intervention
all-powerful
"
the
of the
Spanishenvoy
the duke de Sessa,for his elevation to the papal
chair. Before leavingParis,Gaetano
proposed
viceto nominate Sega,'
as
bishop of Placentia,
legateand nuncio. The Seize,however, refused
the legatinecapacityof Sega,
to acknowledge
who
had hitherto playeda subordinate part in
the cabals of the capital.After much
debate,
it was
should be regarded
agreedthat that prelate
the political
as
agent onlyof the Holy See until
of the new
the pleasure
pope could be ascertained.
On the 25th of August,Gaetano had quitted
ris,
Paand Bellarmine. He
attended by Panigarola
firstproceededto Corbeil to visit the duke of
Parma, and to introduce to Mayenne a deputation
from the ex-council of Forty. Prom
Corbeil
the legate
escorted by the count de Chaligny
was
to Verdun
; at which placehe received a despatch
the election of the cardinal de St.
notifying
Marcel Giovanni Baptistade Castagna,to the
who took the
tiara,
new
pope
1
of Urban
name
confirmed
Pliilippo
Sega, bishopof
the
The
appointmentsof
Placentia in
died in
Onupliius.This prolate
Holy Sec, for pietyand energy.
VII.
cardinal of
S{)ain,
1596, highlyesteemed by
his
St.
the
1591.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
293
IV.
Quatre. The
8th of October,
influence
The
conclave assembled
most
exercised
by
Philipespousedthe
was
the
on
interests
of
the
cardinals
Gaetano
and
excluded, by name,
expressly
and
cardinals de Medici, Salviati,
election
"his
the
Lauro, whose
never
eve
of
Paleotto
beingelected
to
294
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
the
"
the
of the sacred
members
of that divine
rather than the promptings
college,
which, it was
pretended,
guided the
inspiration
first act
of the
new
pope,
who
took
of
name
the
into
the
faction
bene-
each
and
Gregory
the
for future
reserved
letter addressed
of
hohness
Spanish ambassador;
consideration the
the
to
him
by
the duke
de
Retz, and
to
induce
to espouse the
latter,if possible,
actively
notified to
Luxembourg presently
royalcause.
of extortingany
the king the impossibility
declaration from the pope ; who,
satisfactory
his
his urgent pleadings,
coldlysignified
despite
to
intention to accredit a nuncio extraordinary
the realm
of France, when
the sentiments
of
the
1591.]
other
The
made
hand, not
Boucher
long oration
Spain;
Forty;
in
the
noblesse
close
of
the
the
advice
present
royalty
; while
castles of the
ancient
deputieshad retired,the
duke
of Lyons.
archbishop
the
duke's
his
the
recommended.
was
the
its articles.
glancedat
petition,
When
diilsc.
the
of the
reorganization
and loyal
alHance with
abolition of titlesof
the
demolition
the
support of
dismissal of
the
counsellors ; the
courts
embarrass
the
presentedthe address,'and
cure
council of
Seize,served,on
little to
Seize demanded
The
to
the
295
IV.
HENRY
OF
deputiesof
the
by
REIGN
THE
of
de
MM.
ironically.Tear
"
the
"
We
sembled
as-
before
will remember
to
shreds.
We
their
duke
also
memorial.
The
to
deputies
visitthe duke
forbade
of Parma,
any
of the
This
hibition
pro-
evaded
t. i.
Cayet,Villeroy,
Les
296
exhibit
began to
Politiqiies,
The
and
dearth
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
pubHc
of revival.
symptoms
discontent
imparted
sympathised
httle with the designsof Mayenne ; and
was
the union
by his brother of advocating
suspected
The
faction.
duke
de
Nemours
duke
de Guise with the infanta,
of the young
of
and their proclamation
as
jointsovereigns
Such
Erance.
of the
was
beUeved
duchesses de
aim
to be the secret
and de
Nemours
Montpen-
sier.
de St. Vic, an
person of M.
whose
able soldier,
to be demonstrated.
prowess had, nevertlieless,
determined to arrest
it was
St. Denis captured,
and
thither
convey
whose
suspectedpersons,
the town.
broad
all the
moat
imprisontliem within
become
the
of
precincts
venient,
incon-
of the town
the fortifications
was
its
Avere
298
In
HISTORY
with
[1500.
OF
d'Aiimale
raadame
M.
de
Vic
slain
was
identifiedby
the
caused
in the abbey
temporarily
deposited
de St. Martin,
of St. Denis, in the chapelle
where the corpse was
covered with the pallnsed
at the interment of the late duke
d'Alen^on/
the death
The
of
failure of this enterprise,
Aumale, and the disgraceful
repulsefrom St.
remains
to be
nation.
conster-
had
During the attack,the princesses
before the shrine of Ste. Genevieve
performedvigil
the
to propitiate
presentedofl'erings
; and
favour of the saint. A few days subsequently,
dehvered
the body of the chevalier d'Aumale,was
for interment
raisingthe
On
it
found
was
circumstance
to
corpse to
have
Mem.
liv.1-2.
"
de
Cheverny,annee
Chevernystates
the
See
Etoile,Journal
in the coffin,
mutilated
been
by
rats ;
which
for innumerable
1
placeit
ject
sub-
epigramsand witticisms,*
De Tlioii,
liv. 101.
1591.
Davilca,
was
de
Henri
'
"
The
is one
following
"
Saint Antoine
killed
la Raverie.
epitaphs
:
pillc
par un ohef des Unis
Alia comme
a St. Denis
au
plusfort se plaiudre
Qui lui a de ee tort a vengeance ytroniise.
Un peu de temps apres cc Pillard entreprit
De prendre
St. Denis
mais St. Denis le prit
Et vcngea dcssus lui Tunc ct I'autre eutreprise.
of
1591.]
REIGN
THE
OE
HENRY
299
IV.
made
though a great paradeof mourning was
for the demise of their champion.
of the
at Senhs,when the news
The kingwas
repulseon the town of St. Denis reached him.
His majesty's
content
unbounded
was
;
cially
espeas
sent
hour
an
by M.
Senlis of the
defeat of the
kingcommanded
in the
solemn Te Deum
cathedral,which
The
royaltroops.
the
was
to be chanted
orthodox
present at
performedby
kingbestowed
brave de Vic.^
the
chevalier
giving
thanksDes
wealthyabbey
nobles
the minister
the
The
d'Aumale,
had
on
pertained
apthe
de
His
Guiche, in Beam.
was
The
fair fame of
sullied,
irrevocably
de Mareuil.
300
as
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
a prudent disbelief
Bellegarde
feigning
probably
in the fidelity
of his betrothed bride,broke off
and even
relations with the marquisd'Estrees,
returned
him
his daughter's
letters and her
portrait.M. d'Estrees,therefore,determined
the honour of his house by recourse
to the
to save
of those daysunder such contingency
corruptpractice
he selected a husband
for his daughter;
and signified
to Gabrielle his resolve to employ
compulsionin case she ventured to disobeyhis
command.
Having thus fulfilledhis paternal
duty,the marquissaid, "that he washed his
"
hands
of the
and
afliiir,
concerned."
parties
by M. d'Estrees for
conscience of the
selected
law, was
personage
his son-in-
like that of M.
suit to Gabrielle,
previous
for the more
liant
brilhad been rejected
de Villars,
of Bellegarde.Monsieur
de
proposals
Liancour
was
considerablyolder than Mile.
and a widower with nine children but
d'Estrees,
his descent was
and his wealth great.
illustrious,
whose
He
was,
feeble in
however, illiterate,
mind,
in person.
His character may be
repulsive
at once
by the fact that he was
appreciated
to espouse mademoiselle d'Estrees,
though
willing
the
that the pursuitof the king was
aware
and
1591.]
rupture of
of the
cause
the duke
HENRY
OF
UEIGN
THE
her
engagement with
Bellegarde.Under
de
and
the honour
hope of beingunited
garde,w^liohad abandoned
marriagewitli
the
on
moiselle
made-
had
of
eve
lost
individual
an
of
She
to
every
these circumstances,
resolution
succumbed.
d'Estrecs
301
IV.
and
compulsory
she
whom
pised.
des-
to the king.
vain,in her distress she appealed
In
such
as
Estrees
and
Liancour; but
on
her
of her
vanquished her
marriagewith M.
Coeuvres
1591.^
at
of her
aunt
madame
de Sourdis,
the
Dreux
Her
commencement
was
celebrated at
of
January,
to join
flight
for instant
preparations
concealed
the king were
sedulously
for outwardly
M. d'Esirees chose
father,
^
du Eadier.
Her
lingeringreluctance.
de Liancour
"
de
sister madame
from
to
her
assume
St. Simon.
302
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
an
about
was
promise/ In
fulfil his
to
vain
the
beautifid bride
of her
convey
her to
Senlis
she loathed.
bridegroon)
of hasteningto performhis promiseto
de Liancour, the king was
his road
on
the
Instead
madame
of the
arms
Paris !
to
to
was
of the chevalier
the demise
name
Du
Perrou
composed some
of mademoiselle
of his
tliaii by any
with the line :
"
verses
on
the
occasion,in the
"
qui mc
donnez
Muse
vous,
vous
quije me
donue."
liecueilpar Espinelle.
Fraiu/aise.
1591.]
OP
REIGN
THE
HENRY
who
d'Epernon,
now
by
some
the
of
garrison
two
such noted
service, offered
St. Denis.
were
captains
303
IV.
The
anxiously
royalfavour
to
reinforce
movements
of
watched
diligently
of Paris,who, in the
de Belin governor
of the duke de Nemours, remained
absence
vested
in-
by
M.
with
the sole
of the
responsibility
defence
"
"
of
therefore,
unusual
stratagem to
some
of
movement
the
for the
account
royalforces
in the
Belin took
admirable
capital,
the defences and infor strengthening
creasing
means
the w^atch on the city
walls. The surprise
was
attemptedon the night of January
.20th. Twenty officers,
disguisedas peasants
and drivingasses
laden with bags of flour,
the porteSt. Honore at three o'clock
approached
in the morning,and knocked
for admittance.
of
vicinity
Behind,
the
came
horses,driven
designit was
to
of the
and
gate
rush
forwards
block up
the
on
the
opening
passage.
The
304
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
at the head of
baron de Biron followed,
800
and 400
men
under
La
body of
None,
Givry, and
Marivaux
were
in the
postedready to support their colleagues
expected conflict. The regiments of Swiss
occupiedthe faubourg St. Honore ; while the
king on foot, attended by the dukes de Lonand Epernon,watched the result of the
gueville
stratagem at the
duke
de Nevers
entrance
of the suburb.
of
The
squadron
cavalry,
postedon the road between Paris and
All thingsbeingthus disposed,
the
St. Denis.
of Paris to the summons
of the garrison
answer
of the false flour venders was
eagerlyawaited.
The ruse, however, v^as discovered by the wary
Tremblecourt, wdio repliedthat the citygate
could not be opened at that unusual hour; but
of
river, and
cross
at
interval of suspense, a
The
forth in the town.
flittedin
lights
swarmed
a
with
every
men.
great tumult
church
broke
bells
pealed,
and the ramparts
direction,
after
The king thereupon,
ingly,
Accord-
withdrawn
royaltroopswere gradually
that at dawn
from the faubourgs,
no
so
vestige
The panic in the
remained
of the expedition.
intense; and the people,
however, was
capital,
vowed yearly
at their deliverance,
transported
the
306
HISTORY
[li590.
OP
and
of patriotism
tinguishevery feeling
sistency.
con-
immediatelyto Senlis,and
His
from
thence
he proceeded to Chauny.
first care
to respond to the paswas
majesty's
sionate
de
addressed to him by madame
epistle
Liancom".
Time was
precious and alreadythe
to
its march
on
royalarmy under Biron was
besiegethe importanttown of Chartres ; the
called
fertiledistrict,
which, with its surrounding
Le Pays Chartrain,furnished abundant
sion
provispatched
deto the Parisians.
Henry accordingly
mandate
a
commanding M. de Lianto jointhe camp at Chauny,and to bring
cour
conceded
his wife. Not a day of grace was
returned
Henry
even
very hour
the
when
he
was
to
presence
missive.
The
tears
and
the
enter
by
the
had
M.
rendered
the few
de Liancour
future residence
him
in
from
a
court
castle which
Limousin, to which
being permittedeven
his wife.
Prom
and indicated
he
as
his
to
appertained
departedwithout
partinginterview
with
1591.]
THE
REIGN
reignedover
seemed
daily
more
charms.
was
OF
HENRY
the court
She
de Sourdis,and
Bourdaisiere.
of Henri
and
by
who
Qiiatre,
fascinated by her
more
attended
307
IV.
by
her aunt
madame
Madame
de Sourdis
initiatedher
every other
most
in
of the court.
woman
of madame
obsequious
the earlydays of her
du
Perron, who
in the
had
art
poetic
romantic
The
abbe
;
the abbe
office of
future famous
as
Desportes
Henry;
who
his
His poems on
incidents connected with madame
Liancourt recommended
of
was
power
filled the
the
of the
Gabrielle'sflatterers
king.
taken
One
verse.
the
de
him to the
afterwards took
notice
special
such pleasure
in
as
Gabrielle. Du
and
chaplain
Perron
was
confessor to madame
and
eloquent
He
friend of Bellarmine;and
X
was
so
versed
the intimate
is
perfect
308
HISTORY
deduction, that in
and
of equivocation
faculty
breath
as
provedto
able
and
be
good.
could
he
he had
Never
"
[1590.
OF
have
strate
demon-
justlogically
I heard
more
elaborate discourse
againstatheism
than the one
which you have justpronounced,
M. I'abbe,"exclaimed Henry III. one
day in a
of admiration.
confers
Your majesty
transport
too much
du Perron ;
honour," replied
theless
neverwith your
sire,I will now
permission,
prove to you by arguments as cogent that there
is no God !"
To the honour of Henry HI.,
of du Perron so highly
censed
inthe flippant
rejoinder
that he dismissed him from
his majesty,
his officeof court preacher.
M. de Rosny also paid assiduous court to
de Liancour.
madame
The pernicious
example
bore its evil fruit. The
set by the king soon
of the past reign was
in
profligacy
displayed
stillmore
hideous features ; for the queen-mother
Catherine de Medici insisted on a strict regard,
"
"
'
least,to outward
at
Journal
de
Queen Margueritelaughedderi-
of the court.
1
decorum
Heuri
IV
"
Etoile.
dames
Perron
de
la cour,
de I'etre
115.
1591.]
she
when
sively
the
over
court
at
than
the
HENRY
309
IV.
perusedthe documents
her
reahn reflecting
on
asked
and
OE
REIGN
THE
Mantes
whether
in
were
much-decried
the
buted
distriviations
de-
own
fetes of the
reaUtymore
immaculate
oro-ies of
the castle of
Usson ?
assassination of
the
was
the
and
Chaulne
the
marquise
countess
de
d'Humieres
by
Madame
mieres
d'Huhusbands.
respective
first roused
the jealousy
of her husband
of her deportment
with the
by the levity
de Bellegarde
duke
a
liaison, as it is
; and
supposed,with M. de Simiers had again
the fiercest resentment
in the mind of
inspired
the marquis,who was
of the bravest warriors
one
in the royalservice. One day,M. d'Humieres
and his wife were
walkingalone on the
banks of a lake in the park attached to their
when madame
d'Humieres was
castle in Picardy,
suddenlyseized by her husband and precipitated
their
into the
water.
however, did
In
death
an
1595
the most
mieres
d'Hu-
of madame
attributed to accident
was
killed by
The
her
husband,
at
not
his
wealthynoble
of France.
was
most
al-
310
HISTORY
Madame
cle Chaulne^
[1590.
OF
murdered
was
with
remorseless
more
with
her
of masked
own
who
assassins,
of the unfortunate
night.
entered
countess
still
strangled
and
party
the chamber
These
tion,
tragediescreated a great sensabut were
forgotten. The high
speedily
rank of the parties
placedthem, for the moment,
du roi ; or a convenient advance
beyondla justice
to the ever-exhausted exchequer,
rendered M. d'O
and his colleagues
disposedto connive at the
delinquents.
escape of such profitable
of February,
At the commencement
1591, the
king joinedthe camp of Nevers in the neighbourhood
of Provins, and
from
thence
marched
Charles
was
gerie,
de la
Hargoric.
The
unfortunate
1591.]
to
THE
use
REIGN
hazard
will.
good
HENRY
decisive
some
there
the
English
indication of
is evidenced
Elizabeth,as
311
IV.
induce
to
persuasion
every
council to
OV
contest
of
movement
military
wrote
by
;
her
and
ance
import-
voluminous
to her royal
tenderepistle
allyon the incident,ing
her opinion
and advice. After the action at
I'Arbre de Guise, Ehzabeth
sent Henry a scarf
embroidered
hand.
Monsieur,
by her own
"
bon
mon
frere,"wrote
the queen,
naught in comparisonto
for whom
you
hide
to
it is destined
and
good charity,
remembrance
the
to
of me."
of the perdignity
sonage
; but I supplicate
the wings of your
accept my
'
its value is
"
littlepresentin
Elizabeth
v/as
ing
render-
queen
wrote
letters to
exhortingthem
princes,
most
to
of
the
German
theythemselves were
conversion
before the compulsory
so
interested,
of kingHenry,or the victories of Spainmight
ruin the progress of
retard, or perhapstotally
The
the continent.
reform throughout
answer
of the elector of Saxony beingpropitious,
Henry
cause
in Erance
Lettres
missives
in which
de
Henri
IV
"
Edited
by
M.
Bergcr de
312
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
,
sador
his ambas-
as
states
of the Low
his
recommend
to
majestyrequestedthe
her
Flemish
to
queen
allies. Elizabeth
condescend
to
these
;
requests
of
promise a speedysuccour
ammunition
of
and
in
dislods-ino-the
to
which
ensued, where
of
individuals
visited the
he
paired
re-
the
so
arduous
negotiation
passionsand partialities
various had
demonstrated
Turenne
propitiated,
also
Berlin, Heidelbourg,
of
During the
to
moreover
Englishtroopsand
aid
to
Avar
pleasedto
was
to
be
the utmost
proaches
skilfully
parriedthe reof the princes
relative to the disasters
befel the Germans
of war
which
of Sancy's
levies after the demise of Henry HL
He soothed
the mortified vanity
of Schomberg/the famous
tact
'
and
decision.
Jean Wolf
Wolfang
Muuknitz.
de
He
(Ic Scliombcrp^,
seigneurde
Pulnitz,eldest
seigneurde Schonau,
Sclioiiibcrg-,
His
brother
Gaspurdwas
and
naturalized in
son
Anne
of
de
France,and
314
HISTORY
refused to
guided by
Quatre,the
Isabel, and
Spanish diplomacy,was
its ruin.
to
maclame
crown
[1590.
OP
Even
venom
and
in
of
tbe
to
be
verging
councils of
Henri
Spanishguilecirculated ;
fosteringthe
exultingly
Philipwas now
of a third party,which
had for its
development
avowed
objectthe elevation to the throne of a
Bourbon
of Conde.
The
princeof the lineage
umphed
designsof the king of Spain apparentlytriantidote fortunately
found
was
; but an
in the complex nature of these intrigues.
The
fine drawn
policywhich aimed at subjugating
and deceiving
retained the fealty
all,eventually
The
of his Catholic
of no
one.
insincerity
majestyonce detected,his intended dupes acted
less openly,each for his
thenceforth more
or
interest. Henry IV., the legitimate
own
monarch,
with his political
tact and genial
manner,
then inserted the wedge of royal
bounties and
in France,the holder
conciliation. Henry was
of the realm
the bribes
of the richest provinces
of the Spanishmonarch were
Even
prospective.
the demagoguesof the
faithfulpartisans,
Philip's
realized this mortifying
fact.
Seize,bitterly
terval
Meanwhile, king Henry passed a joyous in:
madame
de Liancour
de Sourdis^ were
The
and
in the camp,
scandalous
Marguerite.
lifeof
1591.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
and
the
king'smind
all
315
IV.
elFaced from
Gabrielle,
relative to
misgivings
the
and
of Rome
for many
remarkable
Spain. The siege was
feats of valour,in which Chiitiilon espegallant
cially
fended
dehimself. The besieged
distinguished
their town
with gallant
courage, fighting
under
the banner of their miraculous
image of
the Holy Virgin
of Chartres.^ Cheverny,Henry^s
astute
the
with
master
for the
of the funds requisite
greaterportion
siege.
which
The
lands
included
to Cheverny,
appertaining
in the hands
were
itself,
of the
League ;
and
the
chancellor
of his
sparedno eflfortfor the rescue
patrimony.The satisfaction of the king was,
nevertheless,diminished
by the absence of
Rosny, owing to a shght coldness which had
arisen between them. Of allHenry'sold servants
and
to have been
most
Rosny seems
slighted
aspersedby the French courtiers. The jealous
umbrage and cabals of M. d'O and of the duke
de Nevers, perpetually
involved Rosny in unpleasant
dissensions.
coldness of
The cynical
^
"11 ay dans
preteudetre
de Chartres,uue
I'eglise
celle que
les Druides
avoieut
aucienue
consacree
statue,qu'on
a
uue
vierge,
tres
inscriptiou
Virgo paritura."The peopleof Charrevered this sacred image under the titleof
La Viergequi
devoit enfanter.' The imageis stillover the portal
of the cathedral
avec
cette
'
at Chartres.
316
HISTORY
[15'JO,
OP
all, his
which
devoted
rendered
eager
peculations,
procuredhim
court
venal.
so
his
loyaltyto
him
The
above
to
royalmaster
denounce private
countless enemies in
of Gisors had
small town
been
Combrailles.
The
absence
of
faithful and
so
by his majesty,who
missed
of Rosny'struthful,
the enlightenment
on
though dry comments
passingevents. Henry
the following
note to Rosny,
wrote
accordingly
which
de Bethune, who
had
he sent by M.
zealous
servant
Kosny;
"
felt
was
on
KING
affairrelative to
some
TO
M.
DE
the
ROSNY.
reach
me
from Mantes
state
If you feel
that you look harassed and thin from overwork.
and to grow
inclined to enjoyyourself
fat, I counsel you to
come
to me,
the
of our
particulars
day of February.
"Henry."'
'
S9dS, fol.2
159].]
THE
OF
REIGN
HENRY
317
IV.
Rosny'sresentment ;
vanquished
and he responded
to Henry'smvitation by repairing
of M.
to the disgust
to the camp, much
d'O.
At the siege,
Rosny'smihtaryardour was
that the king desired him to
so
conspicuous,
This overture
fetch his
Mantes
troop of horse
as
reinforcement.
by
Mantes
wounded.
to
of the
This wound
mandate
the
fallen before
was
attacked
was
and
enemy,
M.
compelled
severely
de Rosny
Chartres
keephis chamber
had
The
Chartres,he
and
ambuscade
an
stationed at
was
during Rosny'sprogress
but
joyfully
obeyed;
between
which
of his
arms
"
brave
et
digneroi."^
A
while stillencamped
previously,
pondence
Chartres,Henry engagedin a hot corres-
few weeks
before
Catherine,relative
the count
de Soissons.
Madame
"
become
an
abandon
at
she
objectof suspicion,
him."
It
was
with Madame
would
not
and
monstrated
king repointedout the
tagne,and whose
^
Mem.
du due de
character and
immense
t. i.edit, de
Sully,
1822
riches
Paris.
818
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
king.
"
"
"
"
of La Varanne, on
personage of the name
confidential mission to the countess, to intimate
sent
a
of his sister's
designsas to the disposal
Madame
de
hand, and askingher co-operation.
incensed at
Guiche, however, was
so
violently
the royalproceedings
relativeto Gabrielle d'Esthat she not onlyrefused her aid in perti'ees,
suading
of the
t]ieprincess
to acceptthe proposals
his
1591.]
princede
censure
the
and
llEIGN
THE
Dombes
OF
HENRY
])iitexpressed
most
conduct.
his majesty's
on
royalmessenger,
her grande ma
unsparing
choice of
The
piquedMadame
moreover,
itr esse.
La
319
IV.
Varanne
had
in the household
of
the
to the countess
THE
"
you
1
Madame
Madame
"
LA
TO
MADAME
DE
GRAMMONT.
I directed Lareine
"
which,
Varanne
Ah ! La
roi,mon
"
to my
as
Varanne
frere,qua
allusion to the
as
in
pation
primaryoccu-
Henry'sBearunois
plusgague
piquerles
talk with
very
head-cook
tu
COMTESSE
(La Varaune) to
observed, in
wittily
of La
du
KING
the matters
on
miens !"
hold,
house-
Ste.
Marthe, t. ii,liv.21.
^
"
On
I'iusu du
disoit de
roi,et
meme
que
le
malgrelui."
De
tout
cotes
mariageallaitse
Thou.
Eavyn.
faire
320
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
statements, I understand
blame
rae,
1 could
improperand injurious.
and therefore have only,madame,
not
counsel,which
foment
to
is,that I will
between
quarrels
never
my
madame,
hands.
to kiss your
"
Henkt."i
presume
with the
of the
count
in the
fm-ther
of his alHance
matter
de
period on
Soissons,moreover,
was
intent
at this
thev been
would
successful,
Lettres
Missives
de Henri
IV
"
Berger
de
Xivrey,vol.
de
dc I'ltographie
Alphahetique
par M.M.
liv.5eme.
giron,Berard,ct Trcmisol. Mem. dc Sully,
Collection
ii.
Chateau-
322
HISTORY
[1590.
OF
wrote
Seize,laudingits
beloved," wrote
the
holyfather
"
Dearly
to the turbulent
chosen
are
elect.
and
those who
'
saved.'
end, shall be
the
to
saith, not
theyalone
well, but
commence
persevere
Lord
Our
who
It is,
monstrate
not enough that ye have hitherto detherefore,
now
The
that he
about
was
nephew,
and
cause
At
to
ambassadors
He
exterminate schism."
wrote
'
when
juncture,
perilous
this
to
peopleof Paris
despatchto their aid his
son
League were
chose
to
inform the
the
"
Ercole
don
the
to
proceeds
pope
open
an
his
envoys from
received in Rome, and the royal
with
negotiations
the
Holy See.
and
having joineda heretic prince,
in heretic counsels.
All this,
for participation
holyfather,I have done out of pure zeal for the
faith,
encouragedtherein by the solemn promise
himself for
"
'
Cayet"
Chron.
Nov.
torialoadc Gic'iroireXIV.
aiiiK^o1590
De
Thou.
Lettres
Moni-
1591.]
of
THE
HENRY
323
IV.
an
cardinal
his
dailyby
the
claim
to
remind
proceedsto
next
was
OF
REIGN
and
crown,
him who
"
himself
who
abuses
fit
un-
the
accorded
to his
patienceand long suffering
claims of his two brothers,
heresy!" The alleged
Conti and Soissons,are next canvassed by his
The princede Conti,he stated,
eminence.
was
in faculties as to render
infirm and impaired
so
his accession to the throne impossible."
The
"
de
count
Soissons
"
an
arms
nor
;
is
restless,
unsettled,and
of the house of
Conde
esteem.
whose
Conde, has
mother
himself is
is under
the
of adultery
and of havingpoisoned
imputation
her deceased lord,the late monseigneur
de Conde.
If,therefore,
your holiness attaches weightto
of a prince
ray argument, I give you the word
and a prelate,
that all the true Catholics of the
realm will desert the king of Navarre at our
all the towns
will hoist the banner
bidding
; and
of Bourbon."^
the
on
his ex-tutor
The
cardinal de Bourbon
of this precious
composition
epistle
Touchard
abbot
,
'
Hist de
Cardinaux.
Tetede
mettait
"
son
The
Marotte.
au
sulted
con-
of Bellinzona and
Huguenots gave
"Marotte, etait une
haut d'un
Aubery
"
the cardinal
tete
Hist, des
the
title of
de marionette
sceptrede fou."
Y
qu'on
324
du
HISTORY
Perron,the young
and
confessor
[1590.
OF
d'Estrees.
Gabrielle
to
muse,
To
render his
the cardinal
the more
refined,
perfidy
Toucliard to the camp before Chartres,
despatched
to ask the royalpermission
for his eminence to
send
an
for the
inglyagreed;
with
to Rome
envoy
new
and
Italian,believed
letters of congratulation
pope.
one
to
be
statecraft,
was
he
On
his
presented
suffered such
without
document
institutino-an
venient to
had
accompaniedthe
Rome, where
he
had
promisedby
succours
Balbani, that
cajoled
'
Louis dc
appear in Tours,
investi2;ation
very
its authors.
secretaryto Mayenne
to
incon-
the
abbe
who
Desportes,
Lorraine^ to
cardinal de
been
sent
to
his holiness,
so
he
succeeded
hasten the
effectually
in drawing
Lorraine,cardinal do Lorrainc-Guisc.
1591.]
REIGN
THE
taining
in ob-
from
325
IV.
HENRY
OF
and other
copy of the cardinal's letter
allwhich he despatched
documents
by express
a
"
to
de
the duke
Majenne. Gregory,meantime,
to the overtures
to Balbani his answer
signified
Tell his eminence," said
made
by Bourbon.
fession
Gregoryto the envoy, that we accepthis proof submission. We
can
giveno response
to his petition.
Rehgionmust be our first care ;
will then decide as equity
we
may dictate. Say
"
"
the
to
to
so
set
cardinal,that
to
The
Navarrois."
Le
overture,by
known
with
forth-
him
of
army
exhort
we
of
this
became
revelation,
unexplained
some
the
secret
cardinal de
Lenoncourt;
who,
of his colleague
Bourbon, and indignant
jealous
nence,
at the supercilious
bearingadoptedby his emihis majestya full detail of the
wrote
tense
inof the king was
intrigue.The indignation
strate
however, forbore to demon; he prudently,
until
his sense
of his kinsman's perfidy,
after the
were
fallof Chartres.
issued to
the
however,
Directions,
lieutenants
over
the various
circulated by the
to seize the pamphlet
provinces
the printer.
and to prosecute
cardinal's partisans
Henry now
appliedhis vigorous
energy to
achieve the reduction
his
had
authority
of Cluirtres.
suffered
He
by the
eclipse
felt that
audaci-
326
ous
HISTORY
of the
enterprises
divest him
to
obtain
the
of his
hand
[1590.
OF
Bourbon
princes the
"
royalcrown
of Madame,
and
the
one
other to
acquirea
and probablyon
reversionary
rightover Beam
the realm itself,
the husband of his onlysister
as
and heiress. The steadfast loyalty
of the brave
marquisde Souvre,'governor of Tours, who at
this periodresisted tempting bribes from Macomfort to
broughtsome
yenne and his faction,
also from
the king. He received cheering
news
queen
his
majestyaddressed
also wrote
the
so
cordial letter.
of the enthusiasm
royalcause
in
arrival in Trance
force under
the
however, a
city,
realm of France
Germany ;
at
and
demonstrated
and
the head
princeof
the
policy
Turenne
of his
of
Anhalt.
most
vindictive
for
speedy
formidable
In the
papal
abasingto the
towards Henry
was
being adopted. On the 12th of
personally
May, pope Gregory declared his nephew, Her-
addressed
letter to Souvre
at this
following
period. La Gode m'amy ; depuis cinq ou six joursque j'ai
ete ici je n'ay este sans
dans
peine. J'espereavoir paracheve
trois ou quatre jours,
et puisaussitot partir
pour m'en aller en
mon
ou
u'oyes parlerde
je ne seray gueres que vous
armee,
ennemis.
Ou m'a dit que
foit mcs
raoi; et que je ne tourmente
m'aimes point;et Ic sieur d'Emery presentporteur m'a
vous
ne
confirme cela. S'il est ainsy je vous
dosavoue ; et la premiere
fois que je vous
verray, je vous
couperay la gorge ! A. Dieu, la
Gode
m'aniy! De Mantes ce Seine Juillet,Henry." Collec.
MS. de M. lu comtc
de Lasteyrie.
Heury
the
"
"
1591.]
cules
THE
UEIGN
Sfondrata, due
generalof
the
This Hercules
327
OF
HENRY
de
Monte-Marciano, and
Holy See
Sfondrata
IV.
and
was
its
the
dependencies.
youngestof the
eldest of whom,
two
the
with
cardinal'shat.
Soon
after the
ment
commence-
the greatbrigand
Gregoiy's
pontificate,
his crimes
chieftain Alfonso Picolomini,
expiated
The
at Florence by the hand of the headsman.
of
duchy of Monte-Marciano, part of the spoils
tliecriminal,
claimed by his holiness as a fief
was
of
as
Hercules Sfondrata,
who
on
borne
previously
had
de Riviera.
suitable dotation
ceremony of
ciano,
de Monte-Mar-
The
duke
new
"
of
general
Dextera
Domini
exaltavit me."
mth
the
Paul, and
vincit mundum
reviewed
of
and
the
fecitvirtutem
The
"
dextera
figuresof
the
motto,
the
"
Domini
a
Peter
apostles
H(BC
est
fix
cruciand
victoria qucB
troopswere
328
HISTORY
the officerswere
[1590.
OF
of
representatives
the noblest houses of Italy. Orsini,Visconti,
Pallavicino,
Gaetano,Naldi,
Borghese,Pignatelli,
and others
in
all eagerlysolicited commands
the army about to march for the triumphof the
orthodox
Parisians.
Gregory enthusiastically
unsealed the treasures accumulated
by his predecessor
Sixtus,in the holycause ; much to the
ways
secret gratulation
of Phihp II.,who looked alwith suspicion
the well-filledmoney
on
some
of the
"
In
fact,to
cause
sirable
de-
his Catholic
expansionof papalliberality,
duke
de Sessa,to
to
ahenate
in the
ated
lands situcertain ecclesiastical
of
the
kingdoms
hquidationof the
The
demand
w^as
determined
prudently
at
was
for
Spainand Naples,
of the sacred
costs
laid before
"
sanctioned,could
war.
Consistory
; when
rather
not
be
it
than connive
if once
his holiness
licence from
demand
the
his ambassador
instructed
majestyartfully
of whijch,
estimated
"
to
330
HISTORY
the
to
advancing
the duke
of the
beleaguered
city,
so that in the
Chateau-Thierry,
rescue
invested
[1590.
OF
event
river Mame
"
and
his
to
son
answer
with
the enemy
at the bar
appearance
them
their
to
lands,which
domain
of
the
and
of the
position
com-
default of their
chambers,
demned
con-
royaldecree
crown.
The
annexed
to
the
government of
given by Mayenne to M.
de Lenoncourt ; after the duke had requested
demand
a
Comblisy to resignhis command
the
the more
evidenced
bitter,as it plainly
was
Chateau-Thierry
"
1591.]
OF
REIGN
THE
3)3 1
IV.
HENRY
render.
sur-
at
the
as
pointment
ap-
requestof madame
de
Liancour,and
his
gladlysanctioned by Chevernyin
of governor, to pleasemadame
de
capacity
Sourdis
whose
liaison with
the chancellor
was
than
scandalous comment,
even
more
exciting
and la belle
between his majesty
that subsisting
Gabrielle. Other and minor triumphssignalized
the royal
at this period
arms.
My cousin the
duke d'Epernon,
his route to jointhe duke de
on
Longueville,
capturedthe governor of Montreuil,
"
his son,
and
his lieutenant.
days subsequently,
my
the duke
M.
de
Moreover, a
garrisonof Dieppe
d'Aumale
at
the head
few
pulsed
re-
of 150
332
ing to
M. de Mercoeur
[1590.
OF
HISTORY
allwhich
"
events
strate
demon-
Almighty vouchsafes
to my loyal
servants,"wrote king Henry to the
which
he
de Nevers/ on
the day upon
duke
Before the month
made his entryinto Chartres.
of the
of June, 1591, Henry w^as
also master
Mantes
of Corbie.
town
A designto surprise
by the League,also failed,
owing to the vigilance
the favour which
of M.
de
the
In
of the town.
Bethune, governor
w^as
doing
Montpensier
in the neighvaliant service to the royal
bourhood
cause,
of Argentan.
In
Bretagne, the
conduct of the gallantprincede
science and
of the
Dombes, sufficed to check the enterprises
invaders. On the 6th of June, Louviers
Spanish
Normandy, the
stormed, and
was
de
duke
of his
and
of the stores
ammunition
the
bishopof
Evreux
in
prisoner
Bibl.
"
-
de
one
Saintes,"
most
Claude
Louviers.
Imp. F.
Uii dcs
The
Seize
crimes
The
of the
taken
was
and
malevo-
plusdangcrcuxbrouillons
de revolte et
iudcl'ati''able
un
doctcur
do
du royaume,
regicide."
un
agent
]5'Jl.]
THE
OF
RKIGN
HENRY
were
so
rious,
noto-
nominated
king immediately
that the
commission
333
IV.
assemble
trythe prelate.
not, however, survive his
to
at Caen
to
bishopdid
days; his transportsof rage
capture many
apoplexy,which terminated his
brought on
beth
factious career.
Henry wrote to queen Elizato advertise her majestyof his triumph
The
before Louviers
and
to inform
some
"
KING
THE
"
MONSIEUR
de Larchant
Monsieur
unfortunate
TO
news
that
we
"
DE
This note
have
taken
LARCHANT.
is to
apprize
you
of the
wager,
me
henceforth
had
"
other
Our
capturewas
The
fallof
success.
; my
envoy
will
recount
'
de
to
Diane
de Vivonne
de la
consort
Chastaigneraye,
of Nicholas
who
Bolaje,
died 1592.
de
la
334
HISTORY
!
might be jealous
am
Send me
of ray suecesses.
of joy,or tears of sorrow
day of
[1590.
OF
Bonjour!
From
June.
"
Bull
The
Henry."
of pope
ting
Gregory, excommunicaof Le Navartlie adherents and upholders
meantime
at Rheims
the
on
rois,was
published
all the members
1 0th of June ; in which city
of
the house of Lorraine met
to
arrange
to
confer,and, if possible,
their mutual
differences.
The
of Tours
and Chalons boldly
issued
parliaments
counter-decrees protesting
againstthe monitory,
and unauthorized,and condemning
as
arbitrary,
illegal,
the said document
to be burned by the
of the public executioner.
Inasmuch
hands
the nuncio
as
without
directed
seizure
Landriano
had
entered
Trance
the arrest
of his
this
Henry immediatelycountersigned
decree ; and publisheda declaration on the condition
in which he, as usual,postponed
of affairs,
until a
matters
the consideration of religious
more
auspiciousperiod. This decisive act,
created dismay in the councils of the League.
person.
"
Lcttres Missives
de Henri
1591.]
fall of
The
Gculis
REIGN
THE
HENRY
force already
Englishauxiliary
approaching
the
and
Elizabeth,caused
the
of
adherents
of the
stability
the
to
the earl of
by
goldand patronage
of the warmest
many
League
to
tremble
confederation.
which
Tiers-Parti,
the
under
vast
335
IV.
the
"
OF
The
involved
for
the
growth
of
disaffection in
the onlyhopeful
was
royal house itself,
sign
be descried. Nevertheless,the well-known
caused littlereliance to be
abiUtyor
perseverence.
reposedin their
for the princede
As
declined to share in
steadily
tiations
negonot sanctioned by the king.
dukes de Lorraine,Mayenne,Nemours,
Conti, he
The
nimcio
new
don
Bernardino
and
other
debates
longand
of
Eldest
marquisde
2
Nicholas
the
reserve,
Pout-a-Mousson.
de Pelve
of Sens
E-heims
pointde
some
of the duke
sou
of the
League. The
complicated
; but as each
cherished
leadingmember
1
were
hot adherents
were
there
also sent
preLandriano, the ambassador
;
or
in 1592.
This
of Paris
capitulation
died
prelate
to
Henry
in
IV.
of
cardinal-archbishop
of rage
1594, literally
at
83G
HISTORY
upon
vvliicli
he tried to mislead
resolution
honest
no
stillhoped to
the Infanta
dona
[\:/.iO.
or
The
was
Henri
to procure
Guise.
colleagues,
adopted. Mayenne
supplantboth
Nemours
bis
Quatre and
the allianceof
duke
or
the
"
degreeas theydeferred
of the church.
was
Spanishambassador
wqth
to
The
unanimous
meet
wdth
success
the maternal
upshot of
the
dance
guiference
con-
shovdd be
his Catholic
to confer
requested
majesty on the aft'airsof
the
over
the
enemy
had
re-established the
338
HISTORY
united
France.
that
approved
overtures
the
papal
Finally,
M.
of
de
the
made
court.
Mayenne
late
by
[1590.
OF
Villeroy
was
neither
treasonable
monseigneur
to
sent
repre-
abetted
and
de
nor
scandalous
Bourbon
to
1591.]
THE
OF
REIGN
CHAPTER
339
IV.
HENRY
II.
1591"1592.
at Mantes.
extraordinary
Council
Bourbon.
dame
Scene
"
de
Liancour.
Jealousyof
"
Escape
Bellegarde.
"
Details.
Death
journof
the
duchesse
de
"
of
of
the
La
None.
His
Stenay.
de
Mission
interview
with
Influence of
king.
"
Charmante
"
duke
The
de
Tours.
"
Gabrielle. So.
"
at
Sedan.
German
Jeanuin
president
"
The
army.
and the
"
de Monte-Marciano
of the
ma-
duke
from
Guise
"
"
"
duke
the
tlie cardinal de
"
and
king at Cassine-le-Duc,
Bouillon.
King reviews the
Arrival of
"
"
Capture
to Madrid.
"
II.
Pliilip
of the Seize
Correspondence
with kingPhilip.Attitude of the Paris Leaguers.Their fury
and cabals. Affair of M. Brigart. They resolve on the assassination
of the first president
de Brisson and two counsellors
of the High Court.
Details of the conspiracy.
Panic in
Paris. Envoys are despatched
for the return of
to supplicate
Mayenne. Audience of the Seize with mesdames de Montand de Nemours.
Don Diegode Evora intercedes for
pensier
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Return
of
Mayenne
to Paris.
"
His
to
promulgated
"
Death of
GregoryXIV.
"
"
Election of his
successor.
King
340
HISTORY
voked
council
condition
to consider
extraordinary
the petition
of
to examine
and
of the realm.
Prostestant communities
privy council
the
[1591.
OF
cardinals de Bourbon
at Tours
of
intrigues
mandate
mained
re-
to
the
its session in
to
and
on
the
count
ac-
the Bourbon
transfer it to Chartres.
sent
the
come
to
had
and de Lenoncourt
the
Part of
of
presidency
the
under
the
princes
Meantime, the king
cardinal de
Bourbon,
Aware
commanding him to repairto Mantes.
with the Holy See was
that his negotiation
the cardinal reluctantly
known
to his majesty,
to have feltlittleappreobeyed. Henry seems
hension
w^liichin
to the result of designs,
as
his crown.
competent hands mighthave perilled
His
ministers, however
Cheverny,
especially
"
and La None
"
his
cannot
M.
arrest
le Cardinal
of your
at such
veniencyto
own
arms
in tlie present
off
be like cutting
yet,if you
nive
contacitly
shun
words
two
foes
con-
jesty's
your maotherwise
of La
Noue
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
341
IV.
HENRY
made
"
France.
"
; your
tacy or deposition
assured
be
that
such
that of apos-
majestymay, however,
is the
alternative before
Madame
indignation
; and
to
bitter reproaches
with
compliance
tations
the solici-
de liancour.
cardinal de
'
Touchard
abbe de Bellosane
of the
ex-preceptor
bis secretary.
Bourbon, and subsequently
cardinal de
34.2
at
HISTORY
Mantes
the 1st of
about
de Soissons remained
to
repaired
[1591.
OF
at
July.
count
towards
The
he
His resentment
this
so
periodwas
ing
obtainthat but for his hope of finally
excessive,
the hand
he probablywould
of Madame,
have joined
not
was
Mayenne. This displeasure
little augmented,when by a privy council
a
in
mandate
he was
deprivedof his command
Poitou, and his brother the princede Conti,
substituted
that important
as
over
governor
district/ The king received M. de Bourbon
with
king
great outward
three
him
the
miles to
hienveillance
meet
into Mantes.
at
his eminence
All members
escort
of the council
measures
which
he intended
to propose at
the
Davila" liv.12.
1592.]
REIGN
THE
OF
HENRY
343
IV.
selection of period
judicious
and opportunity.A present recantation,the
able
king believed would not be followed by favoursion
reaction nor
might it induce the submisof Mayenne and other potentchieftains of
interests ; and
the League,yetintent on personal
still the faithful liegemen
of the Spanishcourt.
not
was
Moreover, the royal power
potent
tion;
enough to dictate the conditions of this recantawhile the taunts of the legate,
and the
of the prelates
assembled
at Mantes,
reserve
tion effectual by
"
the
of
preliminary
Elizabeth
of
might be
absolution.
and
of the
Madame
de
insisted upon
The
favour of
German
princes
also be forfeited; likewise it was
probable
that the great army
alreadyapproachingthe
band
and Anhalt, might disfrontiers under Turenne
in fervent indignation
at this second apostacy. What should I then be ?" asked Henry
of Cheverny. A crownless monarch, an apostate,
abandoned
alike by catholic and Huguenot
the one
the other a
deeming me a hypocrite,
shrewd
The
traitor!"
wisdom
of Henry IV.
the hastyand
often enabled him thus to analyze
queen
would
"
"
"
immature
On
the 5th
assembled.^
'
MS.
council
day of July,the important
There
were
presentthe cardi-
344
nals de
HISTORY
Bourbon
[1591.
OF
and
Lenoncourt, Chevemy,
Biron, d'O, Souvre, Estrees,Nevers, and the
"
of the
realm.
All
tion
agreed; the Declaraharmoniously
therefore
of the privy-counsellors
was
to the
signed,and put aside for presentation
of Chalons and Tours.
parliaments
Cheverny
then rose, and laid a petition
from the protestant
communities
of the realm before his majesty.
The document
prayed for the revocation of all
hostile edicts issued by the late kingbefore and
after the states of Blois,1589.
It supplicated
the kingto issue a proclamation,
the
confirming
in the fullexercise of its
Huguenot population
civil rightsand religious
liberties; and to confirm
the edicts of pacification
grantedat the
intercession of her majestythe late queenof the treatyof Beaumother, at the signature
lieu. Henry then addressed the assemblage
at
great length. His majestysaid that the woes
and oppression
of the Huguenots had long
were
346
HISTORY
decree of toleration is
and
[1591.
OF
conscience,
againstmy
promised.
you have solemnly
assent."
We shallbe happy
in defiance of what
We
cannot
"
to
offended?
If your
deceased
"
"
"
allies and
League
confederates !
if you
course,
You
intend to
side with
in
persist
I command
you
to
macious
contu-
so
quitthis
council-chamber,with
cardinal stammered
The
the
you and
forth
and
he glanced
rising,
the chief partisans
of the Tiersat his colleagues
of
Parti present at the session the archbishop
Bourges,and the bishopsof Nantes and Bayeux.
These prelates,
averted their
however, studiously
themselves in perusing
divers
eyes ; and occupied
a
"
'
Louis
cause.
on
the field of
Jarnac,
1592.J
THE
REIGN
papers scattered
OF
boon
the Protestants
to
of
of the
and
him
the
to
king also
De
the Declaration
the
delivered
de Thou, and
edict
parliamentat
authorized
by
carry the
to
de
toleration
religious
royal signature.^
Henry then
document
to Jacques Auguste
directed
M.
commanded
sharply
his seat
majestyto resume
grantingthe
347
IV.
over
Bourbon, therefore,was
his
HENRY
for
Tours.
tration
regisThe
Thou, whose
probity
was
revered,to ask a loan 30,000 goldcrowns,
from the loyalmunicipalities
of the midland
achieved,
provincesa commission so successfully
that the money was
delivered to the kingbefore
the arrival of the German
Henry next
army.
announced
his resolve to secure
to
equalrights
"
all denominations
stated
within
his dominions.
He
that
"
edicts of minor
and
then debated
consequence were
agreedupon ; after which the council separated.
The
cardinal
'
MS.
was
intimidated by
greatly
E. VIII. fol.52.
Cotton,Calig.
the
348
HISTORY
menacing deportmentof
would
desired
have
at
the
Mantes
Tours
presideover
to
to
His
ting.
retired to
by Henry
convoked
[1591.
OF
consider
nence
emi-
but
a
the
was
synod
matter
of
and especially
to propapal jurisdiction
;
nounce
the validity
of the sentences of exon
communication
recently launched by pope
the
Gregory on
princelyallies,and loyal
nobles of kingHenry. The cardinal made many
demurs, and
but
the
:
demonstrated
much
will
firmly
expressed
and the
name
disaffection,
of the
king prevailed
to the letters-circular
throughoutthe
despatched
realm
by the prelates
present in synod,protesting
of Rome
againstthe usurpations
; and
the papalmonitorynull and void as
declaring
regardedFrance.
Meantime, the secret of the plotoriginated
by the cardinal de Bourbon was extorted from
M. du Perron,^
by the blandishments of Gabrielle
d'Estrees. Du Perron despairing
of fortune under
dissolute a patron as the cardinal
so feeble and
de Bourbon, allowed himself to be dazzled by a
prospectof immediate promotion.Alreadydu
JacquesDavy du Perron,was born at Berne. Perron was at
of Calvin ; on
his conversion,he was
first a disciple
presented
his
struck
with du
III.
who
to Henry
was
poet Desportcs,
by
Perron's jjowcr as a linguist.
du Perron
The king appointed
of 1200 crowns.
to the office of reader,with a salary
'
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
349
IV.
Perron's
was
the
revelations.
ron's
Per-
post
of court
in ordinary
office which
chaplain
; an
attached him to the royalhousehold.
constantly
The
de Liancour
influence of madame
felt in most
was
now
her,her aim
matters, so
seems
to have
been
sooner
or
later
share
of the favourite.
that
Gabrielle
audience
admitted
story was
circulated
Bellegardeto
vate
pri-
350
HISTORY
sisted
the
entering
on
had
therefore,
no
the duke,
had
was
chamber.
but
resource
[1591.
OF
Bellegarde,
to throw
flower-bed,the mould
himself
been
recently
turned/
story,or
Whether
the
of which
there
was
king resented
its
Lorraiue.
"^
The
de Henri
de
Marguerite
Elzevir,Lcjdcu, 1G67.
did
de
king
not
Beuil,count
however
de Sancerre.
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
351
IV.
massacre
duke's
was
jailer
M.
in
royalistthe government of the town was
the hands
of the marquis de Souvre :^ no
event
therefore,was
more
unexpected. The
who had justcompleted
of the prince,
captivity
his twenty-fifth
year, had been one of unexampled
rigour. His guards consisted of twenty-five
"
watched
the prisoner
night
persons alternately
and day,and followed him wherever he stirred.
"
was
lightedby
his slumbers
and
hour, remained
one
their
'
watched
The
extant
was
an
by six of
duringthe
the said
space of
at the foot of the couch contemplating
This
captive."^
nobleman, who
and
flambeaux,
numerous
each in turn,
archers,who
barred
was
"
honour
severe
honoured
Numberless
by
the most
short
espionnage
the
tionate
affec-
letters
are
trulyexcellent
reignin which
he lived.
2
Discours
Guise
"
de M. de
352
HISTORY
had been
adoptedat
[1591.
OF
the command
faubourgsof Tours by
could
Mayenne. Apparentlyno opportunity
for the evasion of a prisoner
so
occur
guarded
the duke de Mayenne had
whom
one, moreover,
than the
interest in keepingcaptive
more
even
ever,
howde Montpensier,
king himself. Madame
after the assault of the
"
rescue
; for she
nephew's
or
longerfaith in Mayenne'sdiplomacy,
the political
fortune.
Latterly
military
vowed
had
no
in his
to effecther
which
Spanishinclinations,
resented her
to
the
and
Mayenne
tended
consequentlyto
that
of
the
duke
de
royalstate of
dofia Isabel. Whilst Guise remained
captive,
of M. de Mayenne as chief of
the supremacy
In the event,
Lorraine-Guise was
indisputable.
"the
however, of the liberation of that prince,
Guise
son
partner of the
the
as
II.
Philip
to him,
indicated as likely
to be most acceptable
arise. The
formidable competition
must
a
duke de Guise had been permitted
some
pondence
correswith queen
and interchange
of gifts
Louise and her ladies,
who inhabited the neighbouring
the son-in-law whom
the Seize,and
"
castle
entertained
prince
; whom
an
of
Chcnonccau.
The
queen
ardent desire for the escape of the
she regarded
as the innocent victim
354
HISTORY
[1591.
OP
dress
basket of clean linen sent from the duke's laun;
queen
who
bribed
was
Louise
to
by
venture
in the suite of
lady'
service.
the perilous
This cord
secreted
was
the entrance
to
to
The duke
this gallery.
his
guards,
exertion of their rapid
ascent,
barred it,just as
breathlessfrom the
slammed
waited
appeared. Eor a few minutes the men
patiently,
thinkingthat their prisonerwas as
usual hiding,
and that the door would be soon
reopenedby his valet. They next began,with
at the door.
loud expostulations,
to rap violently
Finding that no response was given to their
the
summons,
towers
and
archers
raised
an
rushed
alarm.
to
the
watch-
Guise,meantime,
Probably
by Madame
de
1592.]
REIGN
THE
HENRY
OF
355
IV.
with
100
the
Fortunately
80
happenedto be
being in some
places
been
princehad
The
visible.
Loire
the
lowered
archers from
about
adjacent
arquebusesat their
an
dischargedtheir
and raised loud outcries. The noise so
prisoner,
the duke's servants,who deemed their
affrighted
that theylet go the rope.
master
assassinated,
was
balls,
Guise,who had escapedthe arquebuse
to the ground from
therefore precipitated
a
heightof about 20 feet. He lay for a few
tower
seconds
stunned
at
ran
rising,
sent by M.
towards
at
closed ; and
to
compelled
were
waited.^
Fortunately
mid-daythe gates of
as
but
de la Chastre
the
the town
his
he had foreseen,
obtain the
keysof
guards
the city-
de Notre
jourde rAssomption
Dame, est adveuu en cette villede Tours le plusadmirable trait
ni lu. M. de Guise s'est sauve
d'histoire que I'on ait jamais
!
vu
la fortune de ce jeuiie
dire quelle
Je ne puis vous
sera
priuce;
devaut mes
et
niais remettant
yeux la sagesse, la magnauimite
riieur qui se sont trouves ea cette acte, je ue puisrieu prode lui^
mettre de petit
a I'advenir!"
Pasquierliv.14, lettre xi.
1
"Le
15me
de le mois d'Aoust
"
356
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
unless
gates before they could joinin pursuit,
theyalso made
the
leadinga
met
who
On
was
astonishment
intense,seeinga young
was
his hat
running wildlywithout
drybed
man,
The
horse to water.
of this individual
man
descent.
perilous
same
of the river,amid
along the
great firingand
vantage
duke takingad-
the
horse
the
and
upon
gallopedat full speed towards
state of fierce
town
by that time
was
in
followed in purtownspeople
suit.
that his guardswere
The duke, finding
ing
gainupon him,plungedinto the river and arrived in
bank. The persons who were
at the opposite
safety
waitingat the ford,seeinga cavalier approach
of people,
followed in the distance by a number
covered,
took to flight,
behevingthat the plot was disand
garrison
and
many
sortie made
for their
own
arrest.
The
shouts
and
"
and excitement,
nearlyexhausted by fatigue
liers
responded,Vive Guise !" The cavaports
then gatheredround the duke in transfleet
of joy: they mounted
him on
a
mediately
horse sent by M. de la Chastre for his use, and imtook the road to Selleswhere theysafely
who
was
"
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
arrived.^A messenger
HENRY
357
IV.
to Bourges,
despatclied
was
La Chastre of
apprize
achieved by M. de Guise.
to be
dral;
chanted in the cathe-
to
Te
and
at
Bourges,
The
"
The
the head of
to
an
escort
of 600
to
men.
news
king
to
Deum
La Chastre firstcommanded
enemies
more
med
exclaihave," valiantly
"
"
infanta
were
of
imagination
^
ueur
Discours
gallant
young prince.At
veritablede la delivrancemiraculeuse de
le due de Guise
Henri IV.
"
the
raonseig-
Archives Curieuses,
t. xiii.ler serie. De
Cayet,Chron.
Nov.
Dupuys.
Le
Grain
"
Decade
de
358
HISTORY
of
kingreceived intelligence
same
[1591.
OF
arrived in camp
of the death of M.
tidings
bearingthe afflicting
the duke's
de
La
a
evasion,
messenger
None
siegeof
at the
The
Lamballe.
struck
by a splinter
of rock shivered duringa cannonade/
Henry
shed tears on learning
the death of his old and
attached servant,one
of the most
renowned
riors
war-
since his
from apaccession,
majesty's
parent
and disregardof past service.
slights
his new
and to
The king,to propitiate
subjects,
which in truth was
that popularity,
ever
acquire
more
regardedby him than private
friendship,
and distance which
had affected an impartiality
wounded the brave veterans,who through
keenly
allthe phasesof his changeful
fortunes adhered
to Le Navarrois with chivalrous fidelity.
Henry,
in vivid words his grief
in a
however, expressed
to the duke de Montmorencyfrom his
despatch
Mingledwith my content at
camp at Noyon,
the result of my expedition,"
writes his majesty,
bitter ingredients.
I have justreceived
are
of the duke de Guise from
advices of the flight
"
"
'
Amyraut
"
Vie de
Leyde, 1061.
Franfoisde
M6m.
militairc."Basic,1599.
MS.
la Noue
de la Noue
Bibl.
"
zevir,
El-
et
politique
Imp.Suppl.fr. 1009.
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
from
wound.
359
IV.
more
panied
accom-
la Noue
cousin le prince
de Dombes
in
helpmy
Bretagne. I am
with extreme
ever,
affliction. God, howpenetrated
has lately
accustomed
to receive both
me
good and evil. I praiseHis Holy Name, and
with patience.'"
me
pray that He may endow
Yet while Henry expressed
himself so pathetically,
the eldest
Chatillon the brave and loyal,
had retired to his
of the admiral de Coligny,
son
monstrate
degovernmentsick at heart at the ingratitude
by the king for countless services;
that his just
claims were postponed
and indignant
to
of
further those
must
be
some
adherent.
new
It
allowed,nevertheless,that Henry's
was
hampered by the
embarrassing,
position
claims of his old and new
adherents,
conflicting
was
were
celebrated as
were
triumph. Services of thanksgiving
public
the papal
performedin allchurches throughout
dominions.
The most wilydiplomatists
of the
Sacred
pending
College,however, discerned the imduca
danger. Quella uscita del signor
di Ghisafuori
di prigione
la ruina della Lega,^'
era
a
"
MS.
de Nemours
Bibl. Imp.Suppl.
fr.1009-10.
and her
360
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
madame de Montpensier,
received with
(laughter,
infinitecomplacency
and dignity
the compliments
of the Spanish
ambassadors, Evora and Mendoza
the occasion.
on
de
Guise
The
enthusiasm
also had
of mademoiselle
king
though she
often expressed
and sonally
to see the latter,
curiosity
perlauded.
to judgeof the beautyso highly
The
which
was
August, in
by
siegeof Noyon,
assault
on
the 17th of
king,greatly
elated the
with
considerable ; and
which
government of the district,
'
Discours
au
dc
vray dc la prise
Noyon.
"
Mem
362
HISTORY
ma
Partages
Le
prixde
couronae
valeur
ma
Je la tiens de
Tenes-la de
Cruelle
[1591.
OF
Bellone,
mou
coeur.
departye
jour!
vie
sans
suis-je
Malheureux
Que
Oa
treated madame
amour
his
royalmaster,
de Liancoiir with
the deference
of
Catherine mighthave
princess
The
the
sans
command
Rosuy, by
which the
ne
exacted.
sent
by
impart.^
of
the neighbourhood
to
The
mark
1
dit u
One
ce
notable
of the
lettersis as
king's
porteurle tant que nous
I'occasion de la bataille
ct I'assurcr
ma
de
toujours
I3ibl.Imp. E.
regardedboth by
and most significant
queen's
sympathy
; and
of the
vcrtir. J'cscris
cth. MS.
ce
"
A M.
de Rosny. J'ai
Si
a vous
prcscnte,je n'oublicray
ad-
maitrcsse
ma
follows
of her de-
9129. fol.3.
1592.]
THE
OF
KEIGN
HENRY
3C3
IV.
termination
to
announced.
The count
at
of his horse
accoutrements
sum
of
60,000
Ehzabeth's
lavish
crowns.
honour, and
valued
The
king received
courtier with
favoured
the
were
conducted
him
at
marks
of
Noyon,
where for three days he was
tertained.
enmagnificently
zabeth,
Madame," wrote the king to Eliand
I could not receive a more
signal
of the favour with which you
striking
testimony
regardme, than by the arrival here of mon
to
"
"
cousin
madame, surpassed
my
though I
you
who
have
therein,
daringaspirations,
presumedto ask from
most
the visit of
You
illustriousa personage
one
entirely
appossesses your favour and proval."
^
that Henry had no
Essex,on finding
so
so
"
hostilitiesinto
presentpurpose of carrying
or
advent
Bretagne
"
his
of the German
returned
under the
mandy
Nor-
for the
waiting
majesty
army
"
to
'
Life of
Egertonp. 415, et
seq.
364
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
Champagne,to
Ehzabeth,who
the
tion
indigna-
desired forthwith
the Spaniards
at
from Bretagne
dislodge
; or
leastthat an attack might be organized
for the
to
captureof Rouen.
On
the
15th
of
king was
by the
The brilliantduchesse
the
Within
the ca"tlethe
duchess
de Nevers.
of
the coquette
Henriette,
and
guerite
the friend of Mar-
now
subsided
into the
de Nemours.
sent
the
join the
Madame
promptly
to
protection
de Nevers had
caused several
1592.]
REIGN
THE
from
cannons
OF
HENRY
castle of Nevers
the
365
IV.
to be
warded
for-
king'stroopof artillery.
In the evening
a
splendid
banquetwas givenby
the duke and duchess in honour of their royal
guest; at which every custom de oaanded by the
of the late court was
elaborate etiquette
served.
obthe 23rd
of September,
On
Henry
to reinforce the
entryinto the
made
his
there
received by
joyfully
of Sedan, and
town
duchess,whose
their young
hand
de
Turenne.
de Bouillon
been
soughtby
the
illustriousprinces
of the age. The condition,
to her brother's will,'
which
on
according
most
she
alliance of mademoiselle
The
had
and immense
was
succeeded
Marck
was
Amongst
eldest
son
Nevers
to
the
of
princely
heritage
La
M.
de Lorraine,the heir of
de
Nemours,
and
all his
The viscount
competitors.
and able,
was
a Protestant,
brave,independent,
to hold in check his
as he subsequently
proved,
restless neighbour
the duke de Lorraine. The
*
The duke
German
army
Dhona
at
Vimory by the
duke
de Guise
in
possessions.
Anselme
de France
Du
"
Hist,
Bouchet
"
des
grandsOfficiersde
la
couronne
"
366
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
cleHcate. She
was
was
shght m figure,
pale,and nervous
apparently
under the responsibilities
of her magdrooping
nificent
scared by the warlike
possessions
; and
made
her lands and castles by eager
on
forays
for her alliance. The young heiress
competitors
had twice stood a siegefrom the duke de Lorraine
"
been
the overtures
made
to
princes
by foreign
arrived at Sedan
on
The viscount
his majesty's
Germany on the day following
entry. Henry received Turenne in the tennis
of the castle. After the interchange
of
court
of warm
a few words
commendation,his majesty
carried off the viscount to introduce him to his
nuptialfestivitiesthe
king fixed for the 11th day of October, on
his return from visiting
his German
camp. After
and Attigny,
the submission of Mouzon
receiving
with Turenne,
two
towns, the king,
neighbouring
Sedan for the latter place,
porary
takingtemquitted
affianced bride.
The
The
German
battle array
on
army, meanwhile,encamped in
mas
the plains
of Vandy on Michael-
1592.]
THE
KEIGN
OF
HENRY
367
IV.
attended by a brilliant
majestyappeared,
and the prince
of Anhalt
fired,
a salutewas
train,
All the
to Henry by Turenne.
was
presented
colonels of regimentswere
next in succession
introduced and kissed the king's
wards
hand; afterceived
Henry visited each battalion,
being rewith incredible enthusiasm by the soldiers.
To each soldier or officer broughtunder his
notice,Henry had some
appropriate
speechto
His majesty's
skillin German
make.
genealogy
his
charmed
his
the officers
; while the
knowledge of
the various
their fatherland.
The
men
wondered
fiscal burdens
review
the
over,
at
of
king
of the
German
troops,the
succours
raised
the chieftains.
At
Lons-le-Saunier
altercationensued between
Marciano
and
nephew of
the late
'
Journal
de Henri
his
IV.
the duke
an
angry
de Monte-
lieutenant Piero
Gaetano
which ended
cardinal-legate,
De Thou, Dupleix.Mathieu.
Cayet,
368
[1591.
OF
HISTORY
of Gaetano forItaly
by the departure
by the advice
of Ragusa/ Respect
of Matteuci cardinal-archbishop
alone restrainedthe
for the supreme pontiff,
under the banner of Montechivalrous nobility
ridicule
Marciano ; whose recent honours inspired
received
The troopswere
The duke was
at Verdun.
panied
accom-
by Mayenne
by the
duke
zucchi,commandant
de Lorraine,and
by CapiSpanishregiments
of the
4,000
men,
ludicrous
caused
to reconnoitre
precipitation,
slightskirmish,the
Marciano
to
duke
de
Montetown
of
Verdun.
"
'
Who
seems
to have
been sent
gencral.
as
generalbetween
titleof conunissary-
mediator
bore the
370
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
of the
measures
"
at
lengthresolved
upon,
partlyout
of deference
and
Noyon,
condition.
unsatisfactory
returned
from
Madrid
had
majesty
capture
fallen in
most
The
about
Jeannin
president
the end of August,
and
of his
to Rheims
to render account
repaired
mission to Mayenne. The duke's private
remonstrances
had made no deeperimpression
the
on
than did his petitions
dressed
admind of king Philip,
throuoh
don
Diego
resolved not
the ambassadors
Evora.
to
consume
Philipand
Mendoza
and
their
Mayenne. It was
for the interest of their subtle plansthat the
should be prolonged
civil w^ar
that both
so
;
the hostile parties
after
heremightexhaust themselves,
to fall an
easy prey to the designsand
mediation of Spain. Philip,
furnished
therefore,
funds which sufficed only to feed the flame of
nin,
dissension. In replyto the entreaties of Jeanbe pleased
to increase the
that he would
forthe carrying
of 1 9,000 crowns
monthlystipend
his Catholic majestynot only
of the war
on
refused, but added, that from
peremptorily
henceforth this money, instead of beinggiven
to ]\I. de Mayenne, would
pass throughthe
treasures
"
1'592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
so
shall no
crown."
his
armies
king
should
re-establish the
duke
Low
small
seen
his
plies
sup-
to
obligation
added
"that
never
be
the
could
not,
Countries
aid
of
to
the
that
the
on
instant,
of the
account
on
our
witholden
of Parma
leave the
have
shall know
The
We
expended. Our
be
longer
frenchman
IV.
"
sums
many
371
HENRY
As
for
capture of Zutphen by the Dutch.
paying M. de Mayenne'sFrench levies,the
king declared
the day that
election of
himself
the
willingto
do
assembled
states
from
so
for the
the orthodox
Seize ; and
concluded
audience with
the
an
piration
as-
might be inspired
dent
by similar views.^ This speechgave the presihad no intention
to understand that Philip
views on the
of furthering
Mayenne'spersonal
that all Frenchmen
crown.
Jeannin
at
hinted on
dexterously
Mayenne might be induced
election of madame
immediate
^
what
to
terms
M.
bringabout
de.
the
marriage with
fore,
interview,there-
second
"
Prench
Eegne de
Henri
et seq.
B
prince.
373
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
or
"
in lieu of that
of annual revenue
province,100,000 crowns
that
to himself and to his posterity
guaranteed
should be
his monthlypension
of 10,000 crowns
augmented to .20,000 his debts and those of
and finally,
de Mayenne liquidated;
madame
that the king of Spain should entertain an army
and 3000 horse."
tened
of 10,000 men
Philiplisto these propositions
complacently
; but too
missed
vi'ary to compromise his sentiments,he disJeannin with the promise,
the president
:
"
that when
his
been assembled,and
majorityof
invincible Spanish
approved by
propositions
members, he would
send
an
from the
to ejectthe king of Navarre
army
realm of France ; and would continue to allow
of 10,000 crowns
Mayenne the sum
month for his private
expenditure."
This
ignominiouspatronage incensed
de
M.
who
yenne
Ma-
and foot
terprise,
preventedfrom undertaking
any great en-
and
except on
publicsupport
"
hand
of
allegedrightsof
dofia
t. iii.
Davila,lib, 12. Dc Tliou. Aubigu}' Hist. Uuivcrsclle,
"
p. 415
ct s(,q.
1592.]
THE
Isabel. The
REIGN
shameless
Paris,moreover,
whether
OF
HENRY
excesses
IV.
373
of the Seize in
not
succeed
in
the representatives
of the holy
altogether
ejecting
A deputation
Leaguefrom the capital.
composed
of Boucher,Masparault,
Cruce,Lannoy,Sesnault,
Ameline,Crome and others,waited againupon the
duke
at
the re-establishment
of the council of
"
We
thank
your
Catholic
;
our
who for
cityin
one
than
more
mode
or
Davila.
De
Thou.
Maimbourg,Hist,
de la
Ligue.Cajet.
374
in
HISTORY
of
possession
for
our
and
crown
sceptre. We,
yieldourselves
part,joyfully
own
of
paternalarms
we
be
this
[1591.
OF
noble
so
pray your
monarch
majestyas
such
to
the
theless,
; neverseems
to
your
the
fact to
clamorous
'
101.
Cayet.
Mi^m.
they vowed
and,
as
faction of
Mem.
do
de
la
be
avenged upon
preliminary,
organizeda
and advenneedypriests
to
Liguc Maimbourg.
Yilleroy.
"
De
Thou, liv.
1592.]
THE
tiirers to
create
REIGN
OF
tumult
in the
the
capital.During this interval,
made
The
375
IV.
HENRY
streets
of the
dukede
Guise
members
of the
with
at
the barriers
letters and
as
to
the
papers leavingthe
therefore,rolled his note
placedit
was
contents
of
gart,
capital.Briin tow,
and
as
376
HISTORY
shop
was
in
the
the bottle
the
faubourg. At
the
examined, and
was
ruse
and
broken
[1591.
OF
the lettercaptured.
with Le
Navarrois.
The
Chambers, however,rejected
the
and dismissed
petition,
the pleathat the letter in
on
culprit
not
be
construed
;
into
that such
been
the
the
alleged
itselfcould
treasonable communication
wantingto
was
animus
prove
of the writer.
of the
authorities ensued
of Brigartwas
acquittal
rancour.
The
and
dilated
upon
conduct and designs
of the
Brisson,and of two
president
Archer
High Court, MM.
canvassed,and
counsellors of the
and
the determination
Tardif, were
was
expressed
to
summary
duke dc
vengeance
Mayenne
of Le
was
on
the
president.The
Colosse,from his
enormous
briquet
sou-
emhoU'
378
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
general,
thereupon,caused the seizure of all
and prohibited
the issue. Crome,
copies
printed,
led a guardof halberdiers
however,audaciously
from the citybands, and postingthem round
the latter again
the printer's
house,he compelled
of the
number of copies
to strike offthe required
This violent proceeding
nived
being conprocess.
at by the authorities,
the conspirators
inspired
with greateraudacity.Sixtypersonages
chosen from the tumultuous
melee, which
at
the Hotel
5th of November
Ville,held council
de
in the house
the
on
of La
Bruyere.
the
steadily
resolved to carry on
designsof the sections ; and in order to insure
It
was
then
and whose
It was,
the
directions were
agreedto
The
plot was
moreover,
Union.
to be holden
renew
as
final.
the oath
confided
to
of
the
X592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
The
death of the
two
counsellors Tardif
resolved upon.
aided by the
379
IV.
HENRY
Brisson,and
president
The
and
Archer
of the
next
was
Ten, nevertheless,
though
and
support of Bussy-le-Clerc
the chief leaders of the sections,dared not
take
so
hazardous
of the
of members.
To explain
their
majority
intents would
be to defeat the prosanguinary
ject;
Bussy proposedan expeconsequently,
dient
which enabled his colleagues
to execute
their seditious designs. De Thou
states that
the Seize were
exasperated
againstBrisson,
rather for his betrayal
of the letter they had
than for his share
written to the kingof Spain,
in the acquittal
of Brigart. A secret meeting
was
againholden on the 12th, for the alleged
to the renewed
signatures
purpose of receiving
oath of allegiance
to the Sacred Union, from
and tithingmenof the sections.
the burgesses
Bussy addressed the meeting producingfour
sieurs
said, Meslargesheets of paper, he presently
:
"
it would
of
patience
attach your
too
severe
tax
upon
the
this honourable
be
to read
assemblage
its preamble,
liar
both being so fami-
all.
Do
me
the favour,therefore,
to
seals to this
paper."
Most persons unsuspectingly
obeyed; divining
littlethat theywere
then signingthe doom of
the first president
of the parliament
of Paris.
names
with your
380
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
"
was
but
pect
asgivea judicial
to the murder in order to terrify
opponents,
of
and to render the much-coveted
resumption
office by the ex-Fortyappear as a consequent
result. No fear of the duke de Mayenne seems
to
it was
finally
have
resolved to
shaken
The
duke's
and
obvious
His
was
prestige
gone.
manoeuvringfor his own
indecision
interests,
would
the house
remain
companied
dawn, the latter acby La Bruyere,Boursier,and others,
of Pelletier. At
to
proceeded
the
mandant,
quartersof the Spanishcom-
don Pedro
and
taken
made
arms.
a
Hamilton,
similar progress
cure
to
the
of St. Cosmo,
abodes
of the
1592.]
REIGN
THE
OF
381
IV.
HENRY
would
and
then
Brisson
have
advanced, and
accompany
him
gogues
saluted these dema-
to the
Amroux
passedon.
invited the president
to
Hotel de Ville where his
expected
; at the same
presence was
his victim by the collarof his robe.
by
his
Brisson
captors,
was
time
seizing
Surrounded
his
dragged,despite
enter.
There every
had been made
was
conducted
prison.There
he
to
the
found
board- room
one
Cochery
"382
installed as
[1591.
OF
HISTORY
judge,AA'hileCrome
the examination.
preparedto
In the
were
room
duct
con-
Ame-
mented
arrayedin a black rochet ornaLe Normant,
at the back by a red-cross
Amroiix, Emonot, Cruce, Lannoy, and many
line
who
"
was
"
others.
Brisson
first
was
asked,
"
Whether
he
not
"
"
"
"
"
condemn
to death
that scoundrel
I was
his
?"
not
Brigart
calmly;
judge,"respondedthe first president
absolved by the assembled
the said Brigart
was
further querieswere
No
Chambers."
put.
the
Ameline approached
After some
conference,
his hand on the shoulder of
and laying
president,
said : The Lord to-day
t]ielatter,
blasphemously
has chosen to demand
thy soul ! As a great
die in public,thou
shalt not
favour thou
!" Brisson
traitor and most execrable hypocrite
without
then draggedfrom the chamber
was
to utter a word, and incarcerated
beingpermitted
traitor Jean
and
"
"
"
in
cell.
Meanwhile, M.
he
was
Larcher
the
entering
armed
with
Palais
liya partyof
as
tents
malcon-
He entered,and
pistols.
was
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
3S3
IV.
of
confederates
broughtM.
that
was
the
another
time
same
whose
Tardif to the Chatelet,
he
the
crime
had
of the
had, on
about
Brisson
of the
commencement
circulated
troubles,
of the
the pretentions
pamphletagainst
League,written by the duke de Nevers.' While
the examination of the counsellors was
ing,
proceeda
Cruce
sent
"
of the
Brisson.
him
hang him
He
!"
"
I dare
"
unless you
not
is below.
was
Fetch
We
of
president
hither,and
he issued.
Roseau,
obey your order," replied
producea warrant signedby M. de
le mort
"Par
Mayenne or his executive!"
Dieu r furiously
Cruce, obey,or I will
rejoined
hang you, even ifneeds be, with my own hands !"
Roseau
sullenly
respondedthat he had no rope.
of his emissaries,
one
Upon this,Cruce summoned
and sent him to buy three cords.
One of
the prison
officersnext conducted the unfortunate
to the vault in which
he was
to die.
president
"
Brisson
fut convaincu
comme
Tardif
la salute
comme
emiemi
de
un
fauteur
Ligue,et
et poliberetiques
des beietiques,
et
des princes
catbo-
de
Sancy.
"
384
HISTORY
[1501.
OF
havingfirst compelledBrisson
of his hat and
robe,and
to
of the Seize,
divest himself
to
kneel.
The
dent
presi-
with
eloquent
fervour,protested
againstthe cruel and lawless
He
"
was
seized and
further
bound
by
Brisson
parley,
the executioner.
moment
the
Without
to
was
then attached to
iterated
re-
ladder lashed to
of
one
w^as
rope
beam, and
of the
the firstmagistrate
gallows
plished,
accomhanged.'This catastrophe
was
broughtto
soon
conducted
vous
avez
issue. Larcher
an
to the fatalchamber.
"
was
first
Dieu
mon
claimed
fait mourir ce grand liomme /" exhe, when his eyes rested on the lifeless
of Brisson.
body
learned counsellors
the condemned
The
whose
man,
emotion
frightand
health
was
of
weak,
to the
that he fellfainting
overpowering,
ground. Larcher was raised by the executioner,
were
'
so
Cayet.
monsieur
le
De
Thou.
Montrcuil
Brisson.
president
"
"
Discours
Ensemble
sur
la raort de
886
HISTORY
hundred
two
[1591.
OF
zealots againassembled
to escort
the
Cruce
gibbetsto the place de Greve.
and his colleagues
were
armed, and most of them
marched holdinga dark lantern.
This device,
however, seemed only to increase the affright
and
horror of the
The
populace.'
streets and
one
to march
on
the Palais,and
to the
subjectall its members
fate. Bussy-le-Clerc
turned the guns of
same
the Bastille on
of
the city. The
parliament
Paris, intimidated and terror-stricken by the
of the factious,sent
courier
hardy enterprise
after courier to the duke de jMayenne,wdio was
him to enter the cityand
at Laon, imploring
save
them
the
"
In twelve hours,
risen,and
we
shall be
subsequently
boughtby his
widow
de Vigny ; that of M. Tardif also by his widow
Denise
Jeanne Dupont. Madame
Citcer boughtthe body of her son-in-law
M. I'Archer.
extreme
at this indecent
was
Popularindignation
'
The
from destruction.
bodyof the
firstpresident
was
transaction.
*
Pasquier,nevertheless,accuses
cruelty.
Prisson
of
avarice
and
1592.]
THE
REIGN
massacred."
The
OF
HENRY
387
IV,
parliamentadded,
"
that
occupy Paris,the
of the city
would compelthe mempreservation
bers
once
the protection
of the King"
supplicate
to
"
at
which
the
was
Chambre
accorded
first time
that
that La
Haute
The
tirez
du
nous
the missives.
The
the turn
perceiving
togetherto concert
Their
council
Boucher
.'" was
massacre
Seize and
been
their
affairs had
was
holden
absent
from
taken, banded
in
;
of all
adherents,
for their
measures
de St. Benoit
cure
the burden
the
safety.
house
of
dentally
who, havingacci-
during the
Paris
of the conspiracy,
assumed towards
organization
his late colleagues
and
the most
patronizing
benignantairs. Boucher conferred with the
at the desire
Spanishagentsand with the legate,
of the Seize. At their subsequent
the
council,
debated
to proclaim
were
following
expedients
the downfall of M. de Mayenne and the temporary
rule of the duke of Parma, and to proceed
the
election of a king; to close
at once
to
the duke de Mayenne; and
the gatesagainst
:
to
by
send
a
an
blow
was
388
and
HISTORY
cried
honour
"
of
Confer
[1591.
OF
messieurs,the
me,
upon
this
striking
Do
zeal?"
Another
proposedto
you doubt my
and de Montseize the duchesses de Nemours
and hold them
as
pensier,
hostagesfor the
deportmentof M. de Mayenne. This
peaceable
member
a
proposalmet with applause
; when
remarked
that madame
de Nemours
approved
of the justicelately
executed, and promised
to
on
body
the
to
sentiments
demand
proceed in
first to
of Lyons.
archbishop
de
headed
democrats,therefore,
of the
array of
by Crome, during
of November
de Nemours.
then to
and
tumultuous
Belin
ascertain
princesses
; and
of M.
audience
"
to
sembly,
as-
invested
The
chiefs
were
admitted
and
her
Madame
de
a
Montpensier made
flourishing
harangue; and distinctly
promisedto
maintain the cause
of the Seize,and to uphold
theirlate sanguinary
act on the arrival of Monsieur
courage.
her
The
brother.
Mayenne was
proposedthat
lamentation
of madame
excessive,when
of her
one
action.
pacific
as
The
sons
Crome
de
boldly
should remain
at
de
Montpensier,
1592.]
THE
REIGN
so
OF
HENRY
in
populardeclamation,
thoroughlyto
389
IV.
fraternize with
crew
his
of
the
demagogues
troopwithdrew,
satisfied and
M.
de
execution
done
on
M.
de Brisson
and
his
of M. de Mayenne.
to the wisdom
colleagues
The duke de Mayenne was
when the
at Laon
reached him of the outrage committed
intelligence
by the Seize ; and of the death of Brisson.
self
The duke was deeplyaffected. He beheld himand
surrounded on all sides with adversity
dilemma.
His authority
was
outragedby the
factions ; his claims contested by his nephew
Guise ; and his justdemands
by his
disregarded
cernment
lukewarm
ally,
king Philip.Mayenne had disgreatly
enough to perceivehow
was
Spanishintrigue
promotedby the brawling
that the moment
of the capital
agitators
; and
was
present when the enormityof the crime
committed by these persons, placedthem at his
The
of the parliamentof
menace
mercy.
Paris to call in the aid of the king, was
a
sign
,.
of the
not
to
be
adherence
390
HISTORY
[1391-
OF
thereto had
for the
payment
The
war.
of debts
heritageof
in the south
parties
; her
was
revenues
madame
desolated
were
by
de
the
Mayenne
contending
and her
confiscated,
well
as
Every interest,
political
as personal,
measures
urged the duke to vigorous
to re-establish his authority
; and to ward off the
menaced
reconciliationwith the king, excepting
castles ruined.
on
his
own
terms.
the duke
attended by Villeroy,
Accordingly,
mined
departedthe same night for Paris, fullydeterto make
signalexample of the rebels.
The Spanish ambassador
don Diego Evora w^as
at
a
the head
placeabout
of the duke's
at
Montcornet,
On hearing
leaguefrom Laon.
and of the
precipitate
departure,
1592.]
THE
KEIGN
OF
HENRY
391
IV.
doubtless
plotexisted to
deliver up the
to
crime
duke
the
the logicof
resolutely
duke, combated
wily Spaniard.
to
and
These
"
said miscreants
the
wish
abohtion of
Mon-
the duke
Paris.
At
the
and
thus escorted
porte
St.
Antoine,
the
members
and
supported
by a greatbody of adherents had
audacityto presentthemselves, Boucher
the
with
of the
Seize,headed
air of insolent
an
by Boucher,
advanced,
assurance
an
making obeisance commenced
harangue,by the words, that he was deputed
to speakto his highness
by sundryloyal
burghers,
concerninga littleaffair that happenedon
The duke passed
the 15th day of the month."
majestically,
saying, Monsieur, we will hear
Adieu 1'" At the
you at another opportunity.
and
after
"
"
'
Mem.
Villeroj,
Discours
sur
Cayet" Davila
Brissou.
le president
t. i. p. 294.
la mort de M.
"
Montreuil"
392
HISTORY
[1591,
OP
Louvre
chief.
debate
its
took
greetedthe princesses.Several
of the council,exasperated
by the anarchyof the
told Mayenne that there were
three
capital,
refreshment
or
classes of
persons
whose
destruction
was
strongdetachments
althoughthe demeanour of
Bussy returned
placable.
to
surrender
of
the duke
an
continued
insolent refusal
Vitry,by command
the
preparedto bombard
was
transportedfrom the
Royale; when Bussy made
the fortress.
Bastille. Cannon
arsenal to the Place
and
invited Bussy,
actually
to a banquet
Crome, Boucher,Cruce, and others,
some
394
who
sections,
tion/
now
[1591.
OF
HISTORY
act
of
and
were
doomed
form
or
on
bid
to forprocess. The duke then proceeds
ever
all private
of persons, of whatassemblage
"
or
condition,upon any pretextor
quality
occasion ; especially
of those who havingillegally
banded together,
Le Conseil
themselves
term
des Seize,'under
penaltyof the forfeitui'eof
'
decree concludes
by
an
under
injunction,
"were
Du
Mezerai.
The
uames
De
Thou.
of
the
condemned
of the
ex-council of
Forty,
Hamilton,
Bussy, Nonuant, Crome, Mongeot, Parsot,Pelletier,
Cochery,Basin,Choulier,Soly,Mault, Le Roy, Dubret,
nia-
into
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
faction,
tyranny,and
tendingto
IV.
395
with Spain,
intrigues
aud oppression
of their
secret
the servitude
fellow citizens,
rendered
The overthrow
HENRY
of the Seize
was
towards
SpanishLeague.
Their fierce partisanship
supportedthe ambitious
of kingPhilip
aspirings
; while the liaison which
the Seize maintained with the clubs of provincial
democrats throughoutthe realm, powerfully
served the Spanishcause.
the period
I'rom
that the assemblies
were
the members
of the sections,
suppressed,
deprived
of the privilege
of public
declamation,fell into
and even
into contempt. The party
disrepute
of Les Politiques,
to whom
no
penalstatutes applied,
then publicly
advocated their own
policy.
Silenced and intimidated by the fierce threats of
hitherto had
the democratic party,the royahsts
tion.
demonstrarefrained from every kind of public
The
open or concealed
withdrew their patronage
the
great lords
"
"
on
the
duke
of
degradation
de
Guise
even
the
cityorators.
refused to
The
communicate
396
HISTORY
[1591.
OF
that political
priests,
haranguesin
would
their churches
visited with
deprivation
churchmen
patriotism,
moderation, and devotion to religious
duties,were
topicsupon which they might
from the pulpit. This inworthilyexpatiate
course
tmiation followed the delivery
of a violent disby M.
upon the executions commanded
de Mayenne,from Boucher cure
of St. Benoit ;
in which he allbut anathematized the slayers
of
the
those
and devoted men,
single-hearted
remember
"
martyrsof
and
the Louvre."
decision shown
rendered
him
for
had
been
de
faction,whose
firmness
this crisis by
party,which
unusual
Mayenne
periodomnipotent. His
short-lived and illusory.
at
triumph,however,was
The
The
of the democratic
and
organized
Guise,
was
trained
the overthrow
machinations
and
by
of
alleged
had so often sheltered Mayenne'sambitious
hostility
in his negotiations
schemes
with the
king of Spain,and with Henry IV. He now
stood exposed to
the full blaze of the indignatio
him rested
of these potentates
; on
the sole responsibility
of replying
to their solicitations.
Having overthrown all check to his
the duke
apparently
governed. To
authority,
looked for the decision
now
Mayenne alone Philip
1592.]
REIGN
THE
which
intrigue
and
the duke
to
alone
OF
397
IV.
should
crown
Henry
IV.
the infanta ;
addressed
intimated
and
remonstrances,
HENRY
in,
contumacy, if persisted
that
his
hostile
render
must
his
"
"
'
Le
'
put
to
death the
first
The
has
caused
Paris.
the
It does
another.
Moreover, he
Spanishgarrisonto
not
appear
to
me
evacuate
that
such
be well
doingscan
Mayenne, when
A
Et. MS.
mon
cousin le due de
1009.
called
the
by
uproar
in
398
HISTORY
Paris,was
Parma
on
at
Soissons,on
with the
Isabel
as
From
[1-J91.
OF
the
nected
conprehrainaries
of the Infanta dofia
recognition
queen of France.
thenceforth the career
of
Mayenne
hibits
ex-
of indecision and
melancholy
spectacle
paltrycraft. When
apparentlynegotiating
with one of the belligerent
earnestly
powers, his
of the other ;
agents prowled into the camp
and
of both parties,
soundingthe statesmen
the conditions proposed. Thus,
eagerly
sifting
Paris to confer at Soissons with the
on
quitting
and the
duke of Parma
Spanishambassador
and authorized
Evora, Mayenne sent to Villeroy,
to the king.
him to carry a conciliatory
message
found
The duke de Mayenne,"says Villeroy,
to
himself so hotlypressedby the Spaniards
the
"
"
and
besides,
position,
by indiscommands
that he sent me
throughmy
written by M.
and afterwards by letter,
son,
Jeannin, to say to the king that he, with the
princesand lords of the confederate army, was
and treat with his majesty,
wilhngto recognize
providedthat the said king would abjurehis
promise to maintain the
cordially
errors, and
But that he (M. de Mayenne)could not
Faith.
felt himself
so
incommoded
personally
"
case
the
make
tures;
over-
would
Spaniards
1592.]
THE
REIGN
OF
HENRY
399
IV.
seize several
towns
of the realm as a
important
guarantee."
Before takingliisdeparture
from the capital,
the duke de Mayenne nominated four presidents
of the High Court, amongst whom
Etienne
was
of the Cour
des Aides, renowned
Neuilly,president
to the late kingHenry
for his hostility
HI.
tears
and
flowed
at
command
upon
in
which
the most
his
trivial
"
maudlin
Monte-Marciano
to
move
from
the environs of
"
le rendoit ridicule."
400
HISTORY
Verdun
the
met
until he had
new
some
Giovanni Eachinetti
of
pontiff.The
when, after
Tuesday,the
[1591.
OF
was
29th
conclave
immediately
the
on
of October.
evening
The
new
periodof
as
supreme
his election,
his virtues and
ruler
of Christendom
were
at
the
capacity
not
monstrate
de-
before unknown.
abuse, instead
indulgedin the grossestpersonal
Divine guidance. The claims of
of imploring
cardinal Santorio were
supportedby the king of
and by the grand
the Venetian republic,
Spain,