HISTOEY

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UNPUBLISHED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

Quatre. His position

"

the demise of his predecessor.

Conferences among

on

"

The marechal de Biron.

nobles. Position of parties.
"

"

conduct of the

Henry

levies of his army.

Receives a
foreign
nobles. His princely
presence. Dexterous

acknowledged
by the
of
deputation

"

the

"

"

"

and the

king. Paris
"

supportersof the Union.

The

Holy League. Principal

"

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
"

king. Campaignin Normandy.

"

11

CONTENTS.

"

The

cardinal de Bourbon, titular

king of the League

of tlie duke
de Luxembourg to Rome.
trenches
Henry enhimself at Arques.- Details. Correspondence
with

Mission

"

"

"

madame

de

Guiche.

"

Battle

"

of

from

Arques. Succours
the League. Madame
"

England. Cabals in the army of

Montpensier.She haranguesthe peopleof Paris. Arrival
reinforcements under the duke de Longueville
at Gamaches.
"

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

"

his army from the

of the abbess coadjutress
of

Paris.

Sixtus

Pope

"

in France.
cardinal-legate

as

the mission of the duke

de

ception
rapturous re-

withdraws

Abduction

"

nominated

by

siasm
Enthu-

"

Panic

Paris.

upon

the

on

enter

by the people. Henry

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
"

"

Embassage from Spain. Designs and hostile attitude of

duke de Mayenne asserts his independence
The
PhilipIL

"

"

"

and dissolves the

famous

Council

of

Forty.
"

Affairs of

king

Arrival of the king in Tours.

Henry at foreignCourts.
Madame
His popularity.
His harangue to the Parliament.
The duke de Bellegarde.
de Beauvilliers.
Henry chooses
"

"

"

"

"

"

ministry.Members of his council. Campaign in Normandy.

Gaetano.
Arrival of the cardinal-legate
Siegeof Mculan.
Orations
pronounced. Negotiationsof the League with
Spain,and with the duke of Parma, viceroyof Flanders.
in
of
Processions
Advance
Egniont into France.
tude
The
Paris. Charles X.
marquise de Guercheville. -Atti"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

of

the

nobles.

"

Siec;eof Dreux.

"

Battle of Ivry.
"

Ill

CONTENTS.

king. Surrender of Mautes.

Mayenne. Entry of king Henry

Victoryof
duke

de

the

of
Eliglit

"

"

"

into the

the
of

town

72

Mantes

III.

CHAPTER

1590.

Ivry upon the Parisian populace.

Despondencyof the duke de Mayenne. He is visited at St.
Counsel
Denis by the legate,
and by the Spanishambassador.
of madaine
de Montpensier. Letters addressed by the duke
Sixtus.
to the kingof Spain and to pope
Henry establishes
his court at Mantes.
Troubles
in Bretagne. Betrothal of
the duke de Bellegardeto Gabrielle d'Estrees.
He lands the
beautyand grace of Gabrielle to the king. House of Estrees.

Effect

of

the

Battle

of

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Historyof

mademoiselle

Betrothed

to

M.

d'Estrees.

de Villars.

"

The

"

Her

suitors.

numerous

visits the chateau

king

Noisy. Surrender of Henry IV.

His
dissensions with the Spanish envoys
in Rome.
Arrival in the royal
Demise
camp of the bishopof Ceneda.
of Charles X.
Siege of Paris. Details. Correspondence
of Henry with queen Elizabeth.
He recalls the chancellor de
of St. Denis.
Cheverny. Council of State. Capitulation
Siegeof Paris. Letter of the duchesse de Mayenne to her
de Coeuvres.

Conferences

"

of

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

husband.

137

CHAPTER

IV.

1590.

Siege

of

Debates
announces

Paris.

Conferences

"

in the

"

"

The

ramparts duringthe armistice.

"

mademoiselle

de

Guise.

"

the

Interview

Palais.

his ultimatum.

at

abbey

of St. Antoine.

v/ith tlie

"

king. Henry
"

ladies of Paris appear on the

The duke de Bellegarde
and
of the ambassadors

Return

to Paris.

of the populace.Public anguishand misery.

Disappointment
Letter of kingHenry to M. de Nemours.
Discontent
of
"

"

"

IV

CONTENTS.

the duchess

de

II. orders the duke of Parma

Mayeune. Philip
of the League. Reluctance of
to aid the military
operations
The cardinal de Gondy and the archbishop
of Lyons
Parma.
"

"

"

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

"

siegeof Paris, and

of Parma.

Advance

His

"

stratagem to

the royal army.

Henry
surveys
resolves to divide his army.
Reasons of the king. Gabrielle
a

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

Recaptureof Corbeil. Reply

Parisians.
King Henry pursues
^"

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

interviews with the

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

demise, and elevation of GregoryXIV.

of
"

king.

Urban

"

Demise

of

VII.-r-His

Attempt to surprise

CONTENTS.

St. Denis.

death

and
Uepiilse

"

Gabrielle d'Estrees.

Her

"

on
king Enterprise
"

of the chevalier d'Aumale.

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

intercedes for the

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.

III., king of France.

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

Arqiies. Succours from England. Cabals in the

de
the
Montpensier. She
League. Madame

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

while at the foot of the couch, two

of the Order

of JMininies recited litanies.

Behind

the ecclesiastics,
knelt the young count
d'Auvergne,^his face hidden by his hands, and
"

sobbing

aloud.

Around, and

in the

chambers, the courtiers of the

beside
the
'

themselves

Henry III.,His

consternation,bewailed

with

and
catastrophe,
Court

muttered
and

that
protestations

Times, vol. iii.chap.iv. book G,

for the full relation of the assassination of

^

Son

adjacent
deceased king,

of Charles IX. and Marie

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

apartment stood Henri

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

assassination of the Guises,

glidingfrom

Loyallywas
^

from

revolt of Paris, when

the

Erance

the

Bearnnois, however, had

the

his grasp,

of the heretic
the

sceptre of

Henry
king of

III.
varre.
Na-

appealanswered.

III.,his Court aud Times, vol. iii.book 6.

On

the 1st

1589,
day of April,

the monarchs

[1589.

OF

HISTORY

the reconciliationof

eflfected. The

was

enthusiasm

for

royalcause throughoutthe Protestant states

of Europe, after the convention of Henry III.
and his Huguenots,
with the king of Navarre
Ten
surpassedthe most sanguineanticipations.

the

thousand
were

Swiss

enlisted

in

cantons

by Sancy. Schomberg raised

reiters,and

thousand
knechts

troopsfrom the Protestant

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

however, placedthe poniardin the

Montpensier/
ness
monk. Inflamed to madgrasp of the regicide
by her blandishments and wiles,Jacques
forth to avenge the murder of the
Guises,and to deliver the turbulent demagogues
Clement

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

terminate the life of the

great,however, to admit
about

event

dox
ortho-

few

hours

king,likewise held

The consternation

council at St. Cloud.

The

The

to

of serious

too

deliberation.
dissolve that

must

occur

was

mightyconfederation banded for the downfall

of the League,and of the tyranny of the council
of Seize." The sceptreof St. Louis was falling
Catherine

de

de

Guise, and

Guise, daughterof Fraucois, duke

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

the seditiousconfederation organized

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

Seize,or the council of the

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

"

after the demise

vol. iii.p. 15,

"

HISTORY

[1589.

or

into the grasp of a heretic prince,under the

ban
the orthodox nobles
of Rome.
Would

acknowledge the dominion, and fightto

the

supreraac}^ of
Swiss and German

and

in all amounting to
legions,

for the service of

been

levied in the

Henry III.

the

crown

of the orthodox
The

marshal

de

Was

it

mercenaries and their officers

remain in the nominal pay of

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

saluted the Bearnnois

Henry IH. had expired,
and Navarre.
as king of France
Henry retired
from the death-chamber of his predecessor,
leaning
the arm
of the marshal, whose military
on
repute
invested him with great authority.
The first
portant
thoughtof Henri Quatre,was to obtain the imas

adherence

legions. M.
"

de

of the

now

German

and

hastdy;
the stay
proclaimyourself

Biron," exclaimed

is the time to

"

Swiss

he

and preserver of my crown

! we will not make
speeches; let us act ! Go, and receive the oaths of
the

Swiss,and then

againstyour enemies, and

'

Annand
of

son
-

de

to
"

my

own

prevail
Sancy,""'

Gontaut, sieur de Biron, marechal de France,

Jean, baron de Biron, and Anne

Nicliolas de

helpme

and

return

baron
Ilarlay,

of"ccrs of the realm.

de

de Bonncval.

Sancy,one

of the most valiant

10

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

had been, meanwhile, preparedfor

IjQclgings
the king in the hotel du Tillet; and the purple
velvet hangingsand tapestries
which decorated
the apartments of the deceased king who was
in mourning for his mother, queen
Catherine
were
conveyedto adorn the chand:)ers of Henry
IV.
The palaceof St. Cloud was
then vacated,
ners,
excepting
by the officersof the household,almoand chaplains
of the deceased king, who
remained to performtheir last offices.
At his lodgings,
the king found
assembled
crowd of gentlemen,to salute and congratua
late
"

"

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

the late king

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

the son of Jean

cavaliers of the court. He was
accomplished
dc St. Lary,brother of the marshal dc Bellcg-arde,
and of Anne de
II ne dq)loya
Villeueuve
jamaisson credit ct sa fortune a la
de fairela fortune
cour
avcc
plusdc joycque quand il s'agissoit
"

dcs pcrsonncs

dc

et des liommcs
Icttrcs,

d'csprit."

1589.]

REIGN

THE

HENRY

OF

IV.

11

againheld council in the house of Eran^ois

sudden
cle Luxembourg, due de Piney. The
his nobles in a
death of the late king,placed
and embarrassing.The lords,
onerous
position
of Henry 111.,^
hitherto designated
as the minions
nobles

feared that his

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

royalbrother-in-law. The count

d'Auvergne,
boy though he was, had recently
presumed to give Henry the lie direct in the
presence of the late king; and had ever taken
malicious pleasure
in dealinghard blows to the
the court

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

poor thot the

personalefl'ects of his predecessor

Quatre

and

was

so

passed into his coffers a grievance

who were
keenlyfeltby Epernon and Bellegarde,
thus despoiled,
as
they said, of the lawful perquisites
of the officestheyhad filled about the
person of the late king. The courtiers,likewise,
before
had been accustomed to incline reverently
the magnificentand stately
mien of their deceased
"

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.

the caustic irony,

or fluent
sovereign
; to applaud
at the costly
; and to wonder
graces of his speech
wlio now
claimed
of his attire. The prince
variety
had little majesty
of presence
their allegiance
he was
jocund,buoyant,and restless ; he hated
; and had the inconvenient
perfumeand frippery
of attending
affairs. Moreover,
to his own
propensity
most
he had a manly heart ; and what was
in their opinion,
to be apprehended
Henry had
-^

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

demagogues installedat the Hotel de Ville,and

midable
the Council of Forty. The forself-designated
should
armies of the Spanishmonarchy,
of the rightful
the nobles delaytheir recognition
their
claims of Le Bearnnois, might anticipate
election,and imposeupon France, as her king,
the

future

husband

of

the

Dona

Infanta

Isabel, daughter of the eldest sister of Henry

III/

No

royalwas

orthodox

French

for
eligible

the

princeof
succession.

cardinal de Bourbon, broken

*

bien

Henry,

his accession, was

on

fait,d'uue taiileriche,les yeux

long,I'air martial,et
eventail
^

comrae

une

Franfois1."

Elizabeth de

with

the bloodThe

old

gout and other

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,

several times been

"

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

"

less,from his total want

common

heard

The

arms.

volatile,captious,

was

suitor for the

madame

the castle of Cliinon.'

infant in

an

Vendome

The
profligate.

humble

of

in
prisoner

heir of Conde

cardinal
and

[1589.

OF

he

considered,the duke de Lonweighty reasons

M. de Rambouillet, and M. de Guitry
gueville,
proposedthat Henri Quatre should be forthwith
proclaimedin camp, as the only expedientto
France from anarchyunder the League, or
save
from dismemberment
between the king of Spain,
This
and the dukes de Savoyeand Lorraine.
was
by M.
proposition
rejectedwith warmth
'

the

The

Cardinal

youngest son

d'Alcufon. His
Henry IV.
-

Tlic

Vendome

Bourbon, titular kingof the League, was

of Charles,due de Vendome, and of Prancoise
dc

brother

was

and the cardinal de

Soissons,
de Coude,slaiuat Jarnac.
of Louis L, prince

dc Conti, the
prince
were

sons

Antoine,king of Navarre, father of

count

dc

3589.]

OF

REIGN

THE

HENRY

15

IV.

d'O, by his brother. M. de Maiiou, the marshal

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

from the true Catholic

d'Epernon,the
Piney,and other

de

marshal

chief nobles,

proposed That Henri de Navarre should

be proclaimed
king of France, at this perilous
lowing
his majesty's
on
juncture,
acceptanceof the folthen

"

"

articles: 1. That
would

Holy
duringthis

himself to be instructed in the

cause

Catholic

six months, he

within

Faith.
Apostolic

2. That

interval,he should bind himself

to

nominate

no

Huguenot to state offices. 3. That his majesty

would permitthe nobles to send an embassageto
Rome, to explainto his Holiness the weighty
which had induced them to acknowledge
reasons
his sovereignty.'"
The fear of Spanishconquest; the adhesion
the

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;

Thou, liv. 97." Cayet,Chron.

de Henri IV.

"

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

for the lords

morrow

council of the
and
gueville

M.

late
d'O

for this mission.

declare to

The

ask

audience

composingthe privy

king.
were

to

duke

The

the personages
duke

was

de

Lon-

selected

directed to

majesty that, "very Christian

being one of the attributes of the king of France,
it was
the title
impossiblehe could assume
without demonstrating
its reality."
Longueville,
when
he arrived at the king'sabode, shrank
from delivering
this message ; and finally
declined
M. d'O, therefore,
to be its bearer.
His colleague,
took upon himself to administer the objurgation.
his

This d'O'

had

himself liarly
peculate reign,by his

rendered

obnoxious,during the

assumptions and unbridled tongue. He

been especially
favoured by Henry HI.,
conferred

finance,as

of

who

the post of minister of

his majesty,
rived
by his own avowal,de-

upon

M.

d'O

equalamusement
'

had

and

benefit from

the

d'O de Mailebois,de Fresne,master

Francoisd'O, Scigueur
the wardrobe to the kingsHenry III. and IV., chief secretary
of

and governor
finance,

of Paris.

18

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

Huguenot troopers,his majestyassumed a

which
confidential bearing,
imphed that present
be made
to expediency.The
concession must
orthodox gentleman,Henry flattered by his respectful
allusions to the faith ; and by the horror
deed committed
he expressedat the regicidal
the person of the late king.
on
Cn
againretiring,
Henry issued instructions
should
his cabinet, excepting
enter
that none
those persons who enjoyed the privilege
during
As king of Navarre,
the reign of Henry HI,
he was
Henry enforced little court etiquette
;
the friend and captainof his hardy warriors
his majesty
leu7'bon compagnon
wont
to
as
was
monished
adbe designated.Henry'stact,however, now

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

saying,Learn, monsieur,in future,to

"

there is

19

IV.

nate
discrimi-

notable difFereucebetween

the

of a kingof Navarre, and the majesty

of
dignity
of discontent
the king of France !'" Murmurs
became
rife in the camp
of Meudon.
thereupon
who had longenjoyed
The Huguenot captains,
and precedency
at the court of Nerac,
privileges
beheld themselves eclipsed
by the new courtiers
of their king; while others affected to believe
Henri
that, dazzled by his presentaltitude,
his subjects
ere
Quatre would
longpropitiate
of the majority.
by conformingto the religion

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

from Normandy, and

arrived in camp
had hastened to throw himself at the feet of Henri

morning

Quatre,hastened their dehberations.

The

king

received the lords with

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

swords, and their

estates

his lawful

to vindicate

claim to the throne. A solemn act of

recognition

signedby all the greatnobles present,

exceptingby the duke d'Epernon who alleged
been pleased
that his majestyhaving
as his reason,
the
to
permit his two commanders-in-chief,
marshals de Biron and d'Auraont,to sign the
next to the royalprinces,
document
it would for
ever
derogatefrom the rank granted to him by
ledged
the late king if he, by sign manual, acknowsuch precedence.'
The act was
signed
next

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

the cheers of the soldiers,

and orthodox/

Huguenot

In

of the

Proclamation

titles of the

and
style,

name,

both

Dinteville.

and

Manou,

of the
Paris, meanwhile, the intelligence

decease

Henry HI. was received with frantic

Plags waved ; the peoplecheered,
rejoicings.
and greedily
fresh outrages on the
perpetrated
of the regicide
was
royaladherents. The portrait
borne side by side with the effigies
of the
dered
murprincesof Guise ;" while a statue of the
deceased king was
ignominionsly
draggedby the
Madame
neck in the mire.
de Montpensier
of

"

embraced
rushed

the man,

her hotel with

to

vengeance

had been

exclaimed

she

true?

Are

of

scavenger
the

Paris,who

that her dire

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

Nevers, and de Nemours, peers of foreign

See Henry III.,his Court and Times.

de Guise, de

royalextraction.
1

is that he

content

Sennent

du

princesdu

Roy
sang

de
et

Navarre,

autrcs

dues

avec

et

Paris,1589, in Svo. De Thou, liv.97.

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,

all the leaders of the factions laid aside the

and

black scarf with which

after the
public,

in

[1589.

OF

theygirtthemselves

assassination of the duke

and the cardinal his brother, and

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

the streets of Paris

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

highaltar,and addressed an assemblyof people,

of madame
de Montadmitted by the command
pensier.
The proposal
made by the duchess,that
should wait upon the mother of the
a deputation
^

"

La livree des fous."

of Ercole IT,duke of Fcrrara and Rence
d'Este,daugliter

Anne

de Prance.
on

wards,
espousedrran9ois,duke de fiuise,and aftertlieassassination of tiie duke, Jacquesde Savoye,duke

de Nemours,
governor

She

by whom

she had two

of Paris for the

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.

and invite her to visit

announced

was
subscription

the

HENRY

martyr,

pubhc

for the benefit

whom

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.

Cruce, Sesnault,the chevalier d'Aumale, and the

leaders of the Paris

de
democrats,with madame
Ste. Beuve, and others,assembled
at the Hotel

de Ville.
to

The

few in number, and exposed

royalists,
countless perils,
illuminated their houses

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,

Guise, and of the cardinal de Guise

1588, chief of the League.

brother

slain at

of

Blois,

24

HISTORY

faction of

[1589.

OP

Lorraine, nominallysupported by

king; the party favourable to the

of Tienri Quatrc,on condition of his
proclamation
and now
termed
of Calvinistic heresy,
abjuration
while the third faction was
that
Les Politiques
;
of the turbulent cabal,headed by Cruce, BussyCatholic

the

and Ihe chevaher d'Aumale, hostilealike

le-Clerc,
of
supremacy
claims of Henry IV,

Mayenne, and to the royal

agitatorsfor the most
part in the pay of Spain.
At daybreak,on Thursday, August 4th, the
to

the

combat

MM.

between

"

"

de Marivaux

and

Marolles,

plot of ground lyingbetween

the
and the walls of the city. M.
de Marivaux, the self-constitutedchampionof the
was
a cavalier of great reputein arms
royalists,
;
had frequently
and whose prowess in singlecombat
gained him the honours of the tourney.
Marolles,the cavalier of the League, accepted
Marivaux's
to combat
a cartel which
challenge
to the
the late kingsanctioned. Marivaux repaired
his seconds
in highspirits,
rencontre
entertaining
of his adversary.
with scoffing
jestson the inferiority
Marivaux purIn his boastful security,
posely
to close the vizor of his helmet.
neglected

took

place on
royalcamp

"

The

combat

commenced, when

the lance of his

adversarypenetratedthe aperture,and

entered

the eye of the unfortunate

Marivaux, who fell
from his horse mortally
wounded.
Tliis incident

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

church, that the fall of

Paris should establish his dominion.

that
suspected,

coldness of

the

from dread lest the

king,aware

wealth, should ask

contribution

on

loan

It

was

also

Epernon,arose
of his immense

propose to levya
the vast heritage
of the duchess
;

or

d'Epernon,whose lands, as heiress of Candale

of Beam.
Captalde Buch, laywithin the territory
The king offered no
remonstrance, nor
sought
to induce

the

duke

to

alter his determination.

coldlygave the desired permission,

though
from the
the departure of Epernon severed
troops. The
army a body of four thousand
example of Epernon proved infectious ; many
and
other nobles solicited a like indulgence,
preparedto depart/Louis de I'Hopital,
seigneur
de Vitry,
however, alone went over to the League,
in the kirig's
that he saw
no
security
alleging
fine promises
commit
not
; and that he would
the mortal sin of bearingarms
for a Huguenot,
the Holy Union.
The count de Villars,"
against

He

'

Amongst

the marshal
Gclais and de
'"'

these
de

the duke de la Treniouille,

personages, were
Dampierre,the count de Choisy,MM. de St.

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-

gave the vacant

count

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

footstool; and obliterate the

at the

ridicule
licence led

of

court

memory

of his

salage
vas-

Henry IH., and

the sent
prethe lifeof shameless

accruingfrom
by his consort,

queen

poused Juliette Hippolyted'Estrees,sister

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

of the mortal remains of the late

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

Henry HI. in their offices;and directed them

had
to repairto Tours, whither the parliament
been translated by the late king. Henry, also,
intimated his royalwill that the council of state
established by Henry HI. in the cityof Tours,
for the
should

internal administration
be

deemed

of the
the

to

permanence

en

realm,

until the

render
sur-

admitted againof itstransfer

capital

Louvre.

chief members

The

the cardinals de Vendome

council were,

Lenoncourt, Montholon

keeper of

secretaries of state

the

of the

Beaulieu

of this
and

de

the seal,and
and

Re vol.

directed that the act of his

Henry, moreover,
signedby the nobles,should be prerecognition,
1

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

pretext of those persons wdio,

had determined to leave
of his faith,
Such persons doubtless,"said his

on

the shallow

on

account

the camp.

"

majesty, hope by this conduct to compelme to

present,
abjuremy religion.Let every man
"

however,
realm

assure

himself that I esteem

of France,

nor

even

the

whole world,sufficiently
to renounce
nor

will I

ever

the

empire of the
;
my religion

accept other doctrine

unless such shall be confirmed and

not

in

lieu,

proposedby

generalcouncil,as, messieurs,I have before

man,
You know that I am
a good Frenchexplained.
a

and
I have been

that I have

sincere and

true

heart.

king of Navarre for seventeen years,

and
duringthat period I believe that I have
violated my word ; although
never
repeated
opportunity
has been afforded me
to avenge myself
foes who so shamelessly
traduce me.
der,
Consion
T pray you, messieurs,how hard and unjust
a thingit must
appear to me, this attempt on
in religious
me
matters, when
your partto coerce
I, who am
your king and master, permityou
to enjoyperfect
freedom of conscience. I appeal

30

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

you, and to the nation. Meantime, I beg that

each one of you will pray that God Almightymay
and
direct my counsels,
enlighten
my conscience,

to

bless my

endeavours."

his intention

to

Henry

withdraw

next

proclaimed

from before Paris,to

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

his intention to traverse Lorraine,

establish his

gouleme.
Henry, meantime,

at
head-quarters

before he

withdrew

An-

from

Mayenne and the League.

the
had joined
The ex-secretary
of state,Villeroy,
to be
duke de Mayenne, who caused his name
enrolled amongst the fortyautocrats of the Hotel

Paris,made

'

de

De

overtures

Thou, liv. 97.

declaration faite par le roy

dc la Ligue,
villede Paris Mem.

Harangue et

France,Henri IV. dcvant

t. 4. Mem

to

sa

du due d'Anaoulenic.

"

1589.J

THE

de Ville.

Excessive resentment

REIGN

OF

HENRY

IV.

31

at his dismissal

and at the treacherous

king from office,
of the Guises, had exasperated
slaughter
of Villeroy.Besides, his summary
the mind
to great
ejectmentfrom office reduced Villeroy
pecuniarystraits. The troops of the League
of Paris ;
his lands in the neighbourhood
occupied
made
de Montpensier
while madame
Villeroy's
and his pohtical
aid, the
presence in the capital,
priceof the restoration of his patrimony. The
the acute
intellect and ambitious
king appreciated
of the ex-secretary,
who,
aspirations
creed of Catherine
trained in the subtle political
de Medici, found his colleagues
of the Seize
but rude associates.
Accordingly,
Henry sent
to Villeroy,
secret message
a
requestingthe
him in the Bois de Boulogne,
latter
to meet

by

the late

"

as

he wished to make

him

of peace to M. de

the bearer of certain

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

majestyto accredit an agent, who might

his designs
and future pohcy. The king,
explain
the sieur de
sent his private
therefore,
secretary,
Marsilhere, with instructions to propose nothing
until his mission was
recognized
by his presentation
in vain adjuredthe
to Mayenne. Villeroy
offered.
duke to listen to the proposals
Unite,
with the greatcatholic party,in
monseigneiir,
sumnioningLe Bearnnois to abjurehis heresy
on
jesty
ascendingthe throne of St. Louis ; his mawill not dare resist.
Rejectthe opportunity,
will sooner
and you yourself
later fall
or
the hatred of
before the fury of faction,or
Spain!" The astute secretary,nevertheless,
failed to move
found that his appeal
the duke.
the mind of Mayenne
Stolid and self-satisfied,
could contain one sentiment only,
but upon that
his

"

idea

one

Hard

was

endow

he

acted with invincible perseverance.

de ]\Iontpensier
it,as madame
found,

the duke with

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 faith and

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

church of St. Denis. On the road,he assaulted

and took the towns

Clermont, and
which
the

Gisors.

precededthe

funeral

of Creil-sur-Oise,
Meulant,

During

surrender

the

combat

of these

places,

cortegehalted by the roadside,and

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

daughter of Eobert de la Marck,

Bouillon,aud of Fraupoisede Breze,daughter

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

marquiscle Canillac afforded the enemies

for pungent
another theme
of the royalcause
sion,
wrote to congratulate
satire,
Henry on his accesand to pray that her revenue
mightnow be
augmented.Henry, who was sensible of the
beauty and address
power which Marguerite's

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

Valois,eldest sisterof the

for the Infanta Isabel,
least,

the elder of the two

"

The male

our
highness

daughtersof that princess.

of Henry 11. is extinct. Her
posterity
Infanta is now

the undoubted

representative
of the augustlineof Valois [ Away with

the barbarous

Saliquelaw

!
D

Avray with
2

tlia

3(j

HISTORY

[1589,

OF

claims of the Bearnnois !" The

remote

words

and

infuriated the duchesse de

attitude of Meiidoza

Montpensier. The assassination of Henry III,,

the elevation of her brother
instead of accelerating
Mayenne to the throne, which she had been
to proclaim
vacant, had, on the contrary,
pleased
raised insuperable
obstacles to her ambitious
designs/ Without the gold,and the aid of the
armies of Spain,the heretic Bearnnois,recognized
enter
by the princesof the realm, must soon
prostrateParis.
The

of the duke

ambassador

laid his master's

of

time,
Savoy,meanto the crown
pretensions

of France

before the supreme council of Union.

claims of the duke of Savoy were, as he said,

The

threefold. His mother

of Francis I. ; his wife

Marguerite,
daughter

was

dofia Catalina,
est
young-

was

daughter of PhilipH. and Elizabeth de

faith was
Valois ; and his religious
orthodox and
of Henri de Lorraine,
fervid. The pretensions
due
de Bar, eldest son
second

of Claude, duchesse

sister of the deceased

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

the lineal descendants

de Lorraine,

of the

claims of
claimed the

Carlovingian

niunarchs,traitorously
supersededby IluguesCapetand his
It

was

overlooked

of Lorraine

that the Guises

were

onlycadets

of their house

that the supposed

and, therefore,
rightmust

to the chief of their

linea":e.

race.

tain
apper-

15S9.]
her

RF.IGN

THE

grandsonhad

been

Medici.

de

Catherine

OF

future chief of Lorraine

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 cardinal commanded

the council of

Union

suspendits

the

to

whom
legate-extraordinary
accredit.

to

his

important

The

duke

his hohness
de

tended
in-

Mayenne and

resolved upon the immediate

therefore,
sister,

of the
proclamation
The

of France,
the

on

on

under discussion until after the arrival of

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-

His age and

such that his

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

'greatduke,'killed at the States

of Blois,and of Catherine de Cleves,countess
d'Eu.
-

lienrjIII

his Court
,

and

Times,vol. ii.p.

335.

38

HISTORY

schemes

for the ultimate

[1589.

OF

of the
disposal

crown.

also,that Henri IV. had marched

intelligence,
and encamped before Rouen, created the utmost
that
therefore,
resolved,
dismay. It was hastily
after the proclamation
of Charles X, Mayenne
The

should take the

field at the head

of the entire

pursue and captureLe

his
corps cVarmee before

of the Union, and

army

Navarrois

and

junctionwith

his

the

succour
Enp;lish

which

was

about to sail from Portsmouth.

On

the 7th of

August, therefore,after

five

days of tumultuous cabals and excesses, the

leading
demagoguesof Paris met in the Hotel
de Yille. The proclamation
of the cardinal was
agreed to amid cheers and mocking laughter.
Mendoza
waved
his plumed hat, and first cried
Vive el rey don Carlos X. .'" No one was
the
dupe of this demonstiation : allfeltthat the name

"

of the

prelate a captivein the

of Le Bearnnois
had been used onlyto
power
allow leisure to each faction to organize
its conspiracies
for the final appropriation
of the crown.
The League had need, meantime, of a phantom
whose name
king,
mightserve as a rallying
point,
in oppositionto the legitimate
of
pretensions
Henri Quatre. The edict was, therefore,
issued,
August 7th, which proclaimedthe cardinal de
Bourbon
king, under the titleof Charles X,'
imbecile old

"

"

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-

for the lifeof the regicide

as
pensier,
hostages
Jacques Clement, should be liberated/ The

Mayenne wrote circular

lettersto the governors of provinces
and towns
the decease
to the Union, recounting
appertaining
of Henry HI. and the election of Charles X.
the orthodox and legitimate
heir of the realm.
He stated that the violent death of the late king
a judgmentsent by the Almightyto punish
was
his enormous
impietyand cruelty
; that until
the presentauspicious
the Holy League
moment
had had to combat
the secret inroads of heresy;
but now
itselfwas
the crown
boldlyclaimed as
the heritage
of a contumacious
apostate. We
same

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

L'Etoile,Journal de Henri III.

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

of the realm,orders the newlieutenant-general

directs that public
king to be proclaimed
; and
edicts should be issued in his majesty's
name.
Mayenne then wrote to PhilipII.,prayingfor
succours
; and announcinghis intention to pursue
the Navarrois to the coasts of Normandy, and
render
compelhim to take shipfor England,or to surhimself a prisoner.
of Toulouse,meanwhile, pubThe parliament
lished
the claims of the king,
a manifesto
against
branded in terms of gross
in which Henry was
personalabuse. These fanatics,who by their
turbulent violence had ever augmented the troubles
of the realm,took oath as a body never
to
the supposition
Le Bearnnois, deriding
recognize
that the

son

of Jeanne
faith. The

d'Albret could be induced

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

trained bands of the

[1589.

OF

succour

battalion of

de

sent

Nemours

Lyonnais;

and

of

Walloon

brought the
Balagnythe

The six thousand

garrisonof the Cambresis.
in Paris joinedthe army ; while
Swiss garrisoned
led four thousand German
reiters,
Bassompierre
wdiich he enlisted by the aid of the Spanishviceroy.
The army of the League exceeded twentyfor the most part,
veteran
eightthousand men, all,

soldiers,ardent

for the faith,and inflamed with

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

"

before the march

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

themselves with a rehgious

demagoguesregaled
streets
on
a grand scale throughthe
procession
to convey the ashes of the regicide
of the capital,
Clement

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

daybreak of the 24th of August, eighteen

penitentsof both sexes
departedby boat to
St. Cloud, takingwith them vases
and baskets
to carry back mould
from beneath the
gathered
which the body of Clement was
consumed ;
on
pile
the ashes of the
sainted martyr"beingsupposed
therein to mingle.On their return,the boat,being
too heavily
laden, foundered, and the greater
of
part of these fanatics perished.A procession
half-clad penitents,
with
flags,banners, and
torches meantime
perambulatedthe streets,and
"

waited to escort the relicsto Notre

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

of both sexes, singing

longarray of profligates
blasphemoussongs, interrupted
by shouts of

44

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

they passed before a

of the king,which
of the murder
representation
niany of the fiercest Leaguershad caused to be
from their
chalked on black cloth and suspended
and tumult
The wailing
windows.
were
great
which
when
the news
spreadof the catastrophe
had happenedto the deputies
sent to St. Cloud ;
of the preciousrelics in
and of the submersion
The torches were
the
the Seine.
extinguished,
banners lowered, and the penitents
dispersed,
to attend a solemn
to meet
againon the morrow
Requiem performedin Notre Dame for the persons
"'

Dies

irse" whenever

drowned.^

king,after menacing Rouen, which was

defended
who, after
by the due d'Aumale
found it impossible
from Senlis,
his famous flight
to confront the wits of Paris
dislodgedand
encamped before Eu. The design of the king
the coast,and receive the succours
to approach
was
sent
by Elizabeth, before engaging in actual
conflictwith the army of the Union.
companied
Henry,acwith three
secretly
by Biron,departed
for Dieppe,
horse in gallantarray
hundred
The

"

"

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

county appertamed to Catherine, the

duchesse de Guise,the inhabitants were
widowed
as

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

Shut within the

pays

de

behind, the powerfularmy

League confrontino-him, there seemed no
the Channel

Caux,
of the

resource

king but surrender, or an ignominious

into England.
flight
The spirit
and resolution of the king,however,
and merry wit
never
quailed
; his fearless gaiety
to the soldiers.
restored confidence
Henry
and
remembered,
adopted the motto of his
for the

heroic mother,Jeanne
lien
his

was

/"
d'impossible

d'Albret
He

"

cosur

vaillant,

trusted in God, and in

for extrication
cause,
good sword and righteous
from perilapparently
overwhelming. It
first

to
resolved,therefore,

remove

the

old

46

HISTORY

from the castle of Chinon

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

to confide the custody

therefore,
of the king of the League to a guardian able,

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

been sad and monotonous.

From

tower, la tour d'Argenton,

lofty
the cardinal gazed down
upon a rich aud sunny
varied enough to recallreminiscences
landscape,
and hanging gardens
of the beautiful plcasaunce
When
of his castleof Gaillon.
Duplessis
Mornay
unfolded his mission, the cardinal wept bitterly.
Vernages,his old and attached valet,remarked
thereupon That his eminence would have been
with the League."
wise to have had no
dealings
Do you believe,
Vernages,theywould not have
of his

the summit

"

"

Uist.

de la Vie

de

Messire

Liques sur les M6moires

Uu])lcssis
Moruay, liv.i.

du Plessis,redig6e
par dc

ArbaUbtc, epouse dii dit

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

express to the duke

an

to

d'Aumont,

de Lonto hasten

Beauvais
despatched

Elizabeth,to advertise her

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

chief of this mission.

nominated

was

"

lui

n'avoir son page

tergiverser,
alleguaut
equiPlessis replique
toute
en
reverence,
qu'il

pouvoitdonuer

of the duke
with

duke

M. le cardinal voulut

pret; mais M. du
ne

The

madame

que demi lieure." Ibid. Giraud,in his Life

states that the latter had been negotiating
d'Epernon,
de

into his hands.

Chavigny for

the

surrender

of the

cardinal

48

HISTORY

commissioned

was

Christian

to express

in

desirous of

"

was

issue between

be relieved from the

the Roman

creeds ; the which

his

intended

to

left him

greatermental

majestyvery diligently

he made

at heart

was

Catholicsand Reformed

studywhen

Henry, when
the reformed

the wish feltby his

pontifical
token of which, king Henry
the matters at
reconsidering

majestyto

censures

[1589.

OF

the cessation of the

and

war

personalliberty.''

these reiterated declarations,

second time

faith.

readyto abjure
but his
was
religion

His

partybadge the cri de

guerre which had enabled

duringthe late reignto arm in defence of
"

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

mien of his ministers

alwayshighlydiverted the king. At this time,

when
the future depended on the momentous
issue of his struggle
with the advancing
hosts
of Spain and the League,Henry felt no truer
for his faith than

reverence
was

seen

when,

at

Nerac,he

to while away the dreariness of

the
and throwing
by eatingcherries,

the face of the minister des Amours

preche

stones into

!' It

was

further resolved to convoke the states of the realm

to

meet

at

Tours
when

of November

three estates

would

'

IlcnryIII.

month
during the following
the united counsel of the
enable his

his Court and

majestyto

Times, vol. ii.p. 301.

take

[1589.

OF

HISTORY

left,stood the castle of Arques. At the

of
base of this hill,winding round the village
the

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

Biron, at the head

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

enclose the Maladrerie,Biron constructed another

by inner works, and

baggage waggons of the
postedin the Maladrerie

trench,which he defended
barricaded

the

with

army.* Biron then

three companiesof Swiss, and
musketeers
of two

three

hundred

outside the works,he

placeda body

Swiss under their

Galati.
colonel,

hundred

that the plan

conjectured
de Mayenne would be to attempt
of the duke
to seize Dieppe by marchingalongthe straight
walls under
and level road,which led to the city

Henry and

his officers

of the hill,
at

the brow

king'scamp

the

at

the base

of which

was

Arques.

Meanwhile,the greatarmy marched from Paris,

its ranks by the addition of the garrirecruiting
sons
of the fortifiedplaces
of Normandy.After the
of Aumale" and the garrison
of Rouen, the
junction
thousand
thirty
army of the League numbered
providedwith a powerfultrain of artillery,
men,
and with
^

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

He married Marie, eldest

1631.
Brussels,
he had one
Rene, marquis d'Elboeuf,by whom
heiress of Aumale.

furious and zealous

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

shall find that

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

while the duke

the

royalcamp.
stand of three hours,hopingto
of his trenches ;
the protection

from
supplyof provisions

de Nemours, with

detachment

lighthorse, scoured the adjacentcountry.

Henry, however, prudentlyavoided the snare;
the young count d'Auvergne,
thoughhe permitted
of his
the slayers
ardour against
whose military
forth at
to sally
uncle was not to be repressed,
skirmish
the head of his troops,when
a
slight
of

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

givehis troops repose before the assault of the

castle of Arques. So confident was
Mayenne
the officers
named
that he actually
of victory,
who

to ride

were
1

MS.

postto Paris,to

Bibl. de 1'Arsenal"

MSS

announce

Hist. 179, t.i.

the

54

HISTORY

overthrow

of

[1589.

OF

le Navarrois

to

the

expectant

Leaguers.
For three
other.

On

daysthe
the

armies thus confronted each

16th,Mayenne silently
dislodged,

the king, approached

and, hoping to surprise
ligence
Henry had received intelArques. Ever vigilant,
fore,
The duke, thereof the proposedattack.
the river Bethune
found the bridgesover
and a squadron
occupiedby the count d'Auvergne
of light
horse,and by a regimentof lancers under
The duke de Montpensierdeployed
Larchant.
in front of the Maladrerie,while the artillery
of
his
the castle swept the plain.Notwithstanding
numbers, and his boastful threat of capsuperior
turing
the

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

discontent at his indecision and caution.

theless,
Never-

they believed that,beset by an army

the king
numbering thrice that of the royalists,
could not escape capture. At length
eventually
the didce de Mayenne, after much
hesitation,
resolved to try his fortune in battle against
the
veteran troopsof the king. On the morning of
the 21st of September,he ordered M. de Belin'
'

Jeaa

dc Faudoas, scigucur
dc Scrillac,
Fniiu;ois
ou

the

re-

'15S9.]
to

THE

REIGN

HENRY

OF

attack the Maladrerie.

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-

capturethis,the advanced post of the

The

under Tremblecourt and

regiments
remained in ambuscade
within a
Chasteigneraye
littlewood skirting
the village
of Martineglise
;
while the Germans
approachedthe Maladrerie
waving their caps, and by signsand gestures
their wash to go over
to the royal
intimating
enemy.

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

parapetof the w^ork.

royaltroops with muskets

then was
the panic,that

duke

and

pikes;

the Swiss

fled in the utmost

their posts,and
of the

assailed

and

turned
instantly

Germans

the

the outer

mount

de Nemours,

governor

and

doned
abansignation
con-

of Paris for the

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-

rushed at the head of their regiments

teigneraye
The
to the supportof Collato and the Germans.
of the chargeoversuddenness and impetuosity
whelmed
the Swiss, who defended
the inner
works

these soldiers were

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

in their turn, had

d'Aumale

duke

with this fortunate

royalarmy.

themselves in the Maladrerie.

the

from his horse.

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

Sagonne received instructions to force

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?"

Cries of le Bearnnois ! le Bearn-

nois ! raeantime

The

and

charge;
renewed.
to hasten

the

in the ranks of the

commanded

conflict

an

sent

also the arroo-ant

"

plain;

within his
the

immediate

was

his chief, that le Bearnnois

the

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

onlyremained to bury him

trenches of Arques to complete

The moment

one

of exceeding

of the League posgenerals

sessed
even
an
adequateknowledgeof military
the destruction of the royalarmy, assailed
tactics,
have
must
by a force so immeasurably
superior,
been inevitable. Mayenne, fortunately
for the
king,ever fearfulof ambuscades, marched slowly
;
halted to allow his troopsto form,
and frequently
he emergedfrom the steepand broken paths
as
brief as it was,
the hill side. This delay,
on
allowed Henry leisure to rally.
cour,
Moreover, a suchastened to the
unexpectedas invincible,
with two regiments
of Huguerescue.
not
Coligny,
of the garrison
of the Castle of
infantryjjart
the rout, and the dangerof
Arques perceiving
his own
with all speed,on
the king,marched
to the aid of his royalmaster.
responsibility,
when the conflictragedmost
therefore,
Suddenly,
the soround Henry'svaliant soldiers,
fiercely
"

"

the

was

15

S9.]

battle-chant of the

famed

of the

notes

norous

59

IV,

HENRY

OF

llEIGN

THE

Huguenot troopers the heroes of Contras

of the enemy.
struck dismay into the ranks
forth the words
They advanced thundering
"

"

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

Ainsi des mechans

Dieu
Tu

force est

La

cieux fondirent
terre trembla

Le

Mont

de

!" exclaimed

d'Israel fut ebranle !'

all sides,and

Mem.

Clement

du due

mourrons

nous

Coligny,as
rear,

that the troopsin

edit, de

sueur

frayeur.

voila !

nous

Les Pseaumes

en

Sina tout trouble

male's division in the

ta voix

aspectterrible

Dieu

on

consumee

le desert horrible

A ton

vous

Dieu

devant

quand par tes soins et par

autrefois
ton peu])le
menas

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

and the sieiirde Tremblecourt,

Beliii/
soners
priof

war.

Meanwhile,Biron,at the head of five hundred

attacked the Maladrerie. Galati
arquebusiers,
and the Swiss, havingralhed from their panic,
after his valiant
joinedthe marshal, Coligny,
reinforced Biron's division by command
exploit,
of the king. The Maladrerie was then assailed
with such vigourand success
that,at length,
Collato's landsknechts

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

hour, drove him from

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

Henry IV., that

Holy League.

at

men

besides were

Bclin

was

so

he afterwards

either wounded,

fascinatedby the courtesies of

remained

feeble

allyof

the

1589.]

remained

or

REIGN

THE

OF

HENRY

The

of war.
prisoners

men,

"'

kinglost two
M. de Baque-

amongst whom was

and valiant soldier."
resolute,
diligent,

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 :

the soldier which

not

respectshis king,and

he

or

every

his prowess for

occasion." ^
The
legitimate
himself and

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

he heard of the victory

of Arques, exclaimed,
pope, when
that the kingwould win his crown
n'etait
puisqu'il
;
"

lit que le due de Mayenne etait a table."

au
pluslong-temps
De Thou, Angouleme,Relation du medecin
Sully,Cayet,IS'evers,

pas

Chesne, Cheverny,Davila, and countless other authorities,

Du

consulted for the

"J'ai

'

wrote

Henry to

La

Journee

d'Arques.

conquetes jusques-aubord de la mer,"

mes

madame

de Guiche.

"'

Dieu

benisse

mon

retour,

il a fait le venir !"

comme
3

acheve

of
history

The

of
original

the

letter,said to have

been

written

by

comHenry to Crillon,"Pends toi, brave Crillon ; nous avous

battu a Arques et tu n'y etois pas.
Adieu, brave Crillon,je
vous

aime

tort et

travers !" is nowhere

extant,and is found

62

HISTORY

The

[1589.

OF

however, never
king'svigilance,

true, beaten back the foe

he had, it was

but

Mayenne and
and
Martineglisc,
to

laxed
re-

once

his hosts stilllayencamped at

the

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

but invited himself to dine first with

and then with another,his tact and
his

welcome.'

ever
society

the brother of M.

d'O, who had

one

officer

dering
renvivacity

M.

de Menou

made

now

mon
com-

Epernon,offered the most sumptuous

whom
he
entertainments
to his sovereign,
affected to patronize.
Henry'strusty ally,the queen of England,
cause

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

"

Amiens, 1597, and

Brave

de moi

which

Crillon, pindes vous

Lundi

dernier

commences

de

n'avoir pas

with
et^

the

icy

qui se soit
plusbelle rencontre
This letter
etc."
verra
se
jamais,

la

jamaisvcue, et qui pent etre

will be givenat its proper date,in the future volumes containing
the Historyof the lleign
estabof Henry IV. after his peaceable
lisliment
'

Mem.

on

the throne.

de Charles dc

Valois,duke d'Augoulcme.

15S9.J

REIGN

THE

OF

HENRY

heart of the queen, that she

vesselsto Dieppe laden with
for the

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

flour,casks of wine and beer,cloth,shoes for the

and immense
soldiers,

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

but to avoid coufusion

known, has

been

his

given.

Mathieu.

marquis de

Pont-a-

title,
subsequent
by which

64

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

heir of the chief of Lorraine. The

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-

and the duke de Nemours

this movement,

had

established himself

Dieppe,^and boldlyreturned the cannonade

the citywalls. A
which Mayenne opened on
the following
skirmish ensued
on
day, which
ended in the second defeat of the League. At
in

the

storm

by

time the duke

same

M.

d'Aumale

advanced

to

the castle of

Arques, which was defended

d'Amville,heir of Montmorency. After a
of two

combat

hours,Aumale,

never

successful

compelledto retire with greatloss.

yenne.
disheartened Mareverses
repeated
greatly

warrior,was
These

He
an

beheld himself the nominal

in which

army

command.

chief of

preme
every noble aspiredto suHis cousin, the chevaher

d'Aumale, had

openlyto
'

presumed on several occasions

The chevalier,
disobeyhis mandates.

Davila, liv.10.

"

Mes

amis,"said Heury

to the citizens

entryinto Dieppe, pointde ceremonies ; je ne demande

bon pain,bon viu, et bou visage
d'hotes." Mem.
occurs,

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

subservient to the turbulent hate with

pursuedthe royaldynasty.Her powers

all tremble, from the
of flayingridicule made
haughtySpaniardwho ventured to disputeher
which

she

to the
fiats,

meanest

subordinate

of the Seize.

empire,and to establish her influence

the factious demagogues of the sections,
over
de Montpensierharangued in public,
Madame
sometimes
Bellona,
or as
arrayedas a Minerva
To rivether

"

with

cuirass, helmet, and

shield.

At

other

times,she showed herself with dishevelled tresses

flowingdrapery; she ate in public,

prayed
and dictated to her secretaries
aloud in public,
her
in public.The peoplegazedin wonder
on
and on her flashing
frenzied gestures
eyes ; they
that the blood of kingsflowed in
remembered
her veins ; and when
they listened to the passionate
vigourof the words she launched rather
than uttered,
theybowed at her feet as before one
with supernatural
The wilyMendoza
light.
gifted
humoured
the fallacy,
but provided
its antidote ;
for the goldenducats of the kingof Spain were
and permanent than the boldest
more
profitable
flightsof eloquence. The bui'ghers,
cures.

and

1589.]
and

OF

REIGN

THE

HENRY

G7

IV.

democrats of Paris had

fact
mortifying

realized the
already
and the exhibition
processions,

that

of the sacred treasures

of La

Sainte Cha-

and of St. Denis would neither evoke miraculous

pelle
of present
avert the pangs
nor
plenty,
famine. At this juncture
itneeded all the ?;(?ri;e
and resources
de Montpensier
of Madame
to rally
enthusiasm. Henry III.,in execration of
public

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

her young son the

of Tours,the heir and eldest born of the
captive
the

*'

duke ;"
martyred

upon

the

throne.

claim
The

and therefore looked

of his uncle

Mayenne

executive council of the

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

violence of the heretic

F

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

of dofia Isabel with

name

and

joined
skilfully
that of the heir

of the wealth and

policyof the Great Duke.

In Normandy, the position
of king Henry and
de Mayenne began to be reversed.
the duke
The royaltroops,inspirited
and by
by victory,
of succours,
the expectation
now
presumiedto
pass their entrenchments, and in their turn offer
the 26th the duke de
battle to the foe. On

the marshal d'Aumont, La None,

Longueville,
and the count
the great Huguenot captain,
de
Soissons,arrived with largereinforcements for
the royalarmy, and encamped six leagues
from
the army of the League. The days of Henry's
Shut up so skilfully,
were
over.
greatnecessity
his enemies believed,in the Pays de Caux,
as
domitabl
with the ocean
alone for his refuge,the inof Le
courage and masterlyresource
Bearnnois yet had broughtridicule and shame on
his enemies.^ The duke de Mayenne, therefore,
fearingin his turn to be surrounded, raised
his camp at dawn, Friday,
Sept.28th ; and after
a
firing
volleyat the walls of Dieppe, with'

The

Pope

aspidem et

after the battle of

Arques exclaimed:

basiliscum ambnlabis, et conculeahis leonem

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

also carried a command

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

Henry and kissed his hand ; the most

lively
curiosity
being evinced to behold a prince
so
heroic,and favoured by their virginqueenThe king drank queen Elizabeth's health,which
After
was
respondedto by a salute of artillery.
complimentaryspeechesthe king took
many
to

leave, and

barge by

aided

was

the admiral

the latter of whom

of 500

crowns,

from
and

the

lord

into his

deck

Willoughby; to

his

majestygave a donation
distribute amongst the sailors

to

of the fleet. Tlie vessels,meanwhile, continued

salute untilthe

to

and
boisterous,

The

kinglanded.
the

sea

rough

so

weather
that

was

many

cavaliers of his

suite became seriously

majesty's
several had too freely
as
indisposed
; especially
partaken of the good cheer providedby the
admiral.^ Before takingleave of the king,the
is not on record, kneeling,
admiral,whose name
presentedHenry with a missive from queen
Elizabeth.
QUEEN

"

own

The

ELIZABETH,

TO

FRANCE

AND

"

army, 1 would have

of those which I
trausjjort
Mem.

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

Valois, duke d'Angoulemc,one

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

siasin of the soldiers.

Eutliu-

"

marclies upon Paris.

Panic
Successful assault on tbe Faubourgs. Marie

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

the mission of the duke

de

Luxembourg

the

from

of
coadjutress

Pope

"

de

ception
rapturousre-

of the abbess

Paris.

dukes

king."The

Paris.

enter

"

Paubourgs of

the

by

by the people. Heury

Montmartre.

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

Spain. Designs and

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

Henry into the

town

Ivry.
"

the

"

of the nobles.

of the
Victory

duke

of Mantes,

dc

Charles X.

Paris.

"

"

Siege

king. 'Surrender of
"

Mayenne. Entry of king

"

74

HISTORY

waved
peatedly

down

his

his cheeks

[1589.

OF

plumedhat

while tears rolled

he listened to the vehement

as

cheers of his soldiers,

who

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

while many retired

their comarades
the last

kiss his hands

to

count

by
de

"

ce

brave

Bearnnois."

At

the duke

Soissons and

de

offered a banquetto the king. The

Longueville
full
"was
so
hall,"says the count d'Auvergne,
that nobody could stir. The
king recounted
his victory,
amidst the plaudits
of the company
some
bewaihng tlicirmisfortune in not having
been present others loudlythankingGod
for
night
givingthe king so mighty a rescue." At midto prepare on the
the assemblagedispersed
"

"

"

morrow

for

review of the army

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

Temps, V\v. 97.

de

to Madame

wrote

her of the surrender

of "u.

Dieu

placeque j'ai
soninie,

je suis

dans la

He

says

"

David, celui quim'a donne victoire sur

cette affaire facile. Ainsi soit-il,
par

Imp. Suppl.Franfais.

Guicbe,

Par la grace

mes
sa

et

to

iuforni

de
spe'ciale

je lui dirai comme

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

entryinto Amiens, into

which

he had

town

engaged to introduce a Spanishgarrison

; and
where
he modestlydeclined a canopy of state
municipality.
preparedfor him by the obsequious
An

immediate

of Paris
boui'gs

assault
was

his officers. The

the

on

decided upon by Henry and

almost destitute of
citywas
of the

troops; and M. de Rosne, commandant

in
garrison

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

St. Marceau, with

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

Soissons and the duke

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

the river Oise,at St. Maxence,

the march

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

Montmorency, son of the constable Anne, and

de Thore espoused
SavoyeVillars. The seigneur

de
de

wealthyheiress

of Humieres.

78

[1589.

OF

HISTORY

the 1st November, the assault

on
daybreak,
The troops of
the faubourgscommenced.

At

of

"

the

Leao;ue

at first

foudit with

resolution : but

fog,and by the number

all
of their assailants,
on
they soon
gave way
sides. By half-past
eighto'clock,king Henry
of the faubourgSt. Jacques. The
master
was
embarrassed

by

dense

thrown

entrenchments

up for the defence of the

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,

his followers, plunged into

the

river, and

far into the city,

from whence he was
penetrated
onlyrecalled by the express order of the king.^
1

De

Tliou, Cayct.

Vie

L'Etoilc,Journal de Ileuri IV.

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

that it is the opinionof

dismay of the Parisians,
the military
of the sixteenth cencommentators
tury,
that had
Henry stormed the gates of the
city,Paris must have fallen. Master of the
suburbs
of Paris, Henry unfortunately
pended
susthe combat, with the intent of renewing

the attack

on

the

morrow.

The

houses and rich

palacesof the faubourgswere then givenup to

giously
; the churches and the convents
pillage
beingrelirespected
by all but by Henry himself,
who
found in the latter,
accordingto his own
words, "a more
preciousprizethan the aggregate
of the rich booty capturedby his soldiers."
In the

faubourgMontmartre,on the summit

of the hillsupposedto have been the place
of the
martyrdomof St. Denis, was a wealthyconvent
of

nuns

in

Louis le Gros, and his queen Adelaide.

abbess elect,or coadjutress,
of this
young

1113,
The

of the order of St. Benedict,founded

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 Paris democrats,and

lauded chief

the confusion of their much

whom
"

the

abbess
youthful
The

badaud."

had

Mayenne,
termed
irreverently

king

greatlylessened

charmed

was

the

absence

influence of la belle

In the

societyof the fascinating

abbess the king forgotthe days when he had so
de Guiche as
Madame
contemplated
admiringly
Corisandre.

'

Daughterof Claude, count

de St.

Aignau, and

Marie

educated
young abbess was
of Bcaumoni-lcs-Tours,uuder her aunt, Anne

de la Bourdaisiere.

She

appearedfor

The

brief interval at court

her

nomination

the white veil at

Montmartre,

of the convent.

Marie de Beauvilliers was

on

; and

Babou

at tlicconvent

do Babou.

afterwards

took

coadjutress
born,April27, 1574.
as

83

HISTORY

witlioiit

St. Maxence

pout de

the

and arrived in Paris

[1589.

OF

after the assault

few hours

opposition
;

faubourgs,with the cheeringnews that

the morrow
on
Mayenne himself would relieve
illin bed when
M. de Thore was
the capital.
Henry'smessenger entered Senlis ; and by some
his majesty's
orders were
oversight
unexplained
neglected.The bridgeover the Oise, therefore,
fortified,enabled
nor
being neither destroyed
the

on

the enemy
The

to take the direct road to Paris.

meanwhile

doleful lamentations

most

filled the streets of the

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

his house, and under

Germain,

Henri

one

of the

most

rabid amongst the

III.,his Court and Times.

Curd de St. Bcnoit.

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

the eveningof All Saint's

on
capital
morning,the duke
Day. Earlyon the fo'lowing
de Mayenne also arrived,
accompanied
by a small
rency.
at the hotel de Montmoescort, and alighted
the
The most deliriousjoythen inspired
entered the

inhabitants;each division of the army,

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

the distribution of which

Madame

de

Montpensierpresided/ In their thankfulness,

the inglorious
the people
forgot
campaignof their
the contrast presented
between
; and
general
and his
the duke's furtive return to the capital
that
thence to commence
departure
pompous
which

march

to terminate

was

of le Bearnnois !

however, before
de
a

"

La

few

in the destruction

daysonlyelapsed

merveilleuse

course

de M.

Mayenne,en Normandie, etc., et son ret our

for countless caricatures
Paris," formed a subject
and songs.
The

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

invasion of the duke

of

Parma

compelledthe king to reinforce the garrisons

of the placesin Normandy and
Picardy
which adhered to the royalcause.
The army
from the suburbs.
withdrew, therefore,
at dawn
Henry waited in battle array from eightuntil
eleven to encounter
the army of the League, if
the duke
attempteda sortie in pursuit.He
then marched
and
encamped at Montlehery.
Duringthe precedingnight,a party of Huguenot
assailed the convent
of Montmartre,
cavalr_y^
and carried off its youthfulabbess elect. The
scandal was
great,and did Henry infiniteharm
in the esteem
of his orthodox subjects
; especially
when the next tidings
heard of Marie de
Lettre

de Henri

Mornay, t. ii. MeDuplessis

moires.
In the postscript
"Eu
the king says,
of this letter,
ce*^te lettre j'ai
avis que le due de Mayenne vient
sigiiant
eu
'

IV.,

M.

"

d'arriver dans la ville avec

son

arnie'e; de sortc que, laissant

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

retirer aprcs dcniain

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

Beauvilliersrecounted that she had thrown

aside
of

ornament
reignedthe brightest

her veil,and

royalhousehold at Tours, whither she had

been at once
conveyedby her captors.
Henry,meanwhile, continued his triumphant
the

At

progress.
he

capturedEtampes, the
The

razed.

were

of November

the commencement

duke

de

of which
fortifications
and
Longueville

his

division there took leave of the kins;and returned

of the
Picardy,to watch the movements
and Mayenne
between whom
Spanishviceroy,
couriers were
passing.On the 14th
continually
of Venof November, Henry stormed the town
Prom
of his ducal appanage.
dome, the capital
de
Vendome, his majesty wrote to madame

into

Guiche

in most

affectionateterms.

doubt not that I take

"

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
^

she heard of the favour bestowed

the

yoifngabbess

MS.

Bibl. de

of Montmartre

F.
aud Suppl.
I'Arsenal,

No.

and

of the

1009~Bibl.

Imp.

86

HISTORY

[1580.

OF

establishment of the latter at Tours !

On

the

king Henry crowned this era

of brilliantmilitary
by making his entiy
exploits
into the city
of Tours.
by torchlight
the arrival of Mayenne, in
The day following
of three opulent
Paris, witnessed the execution
accused of having distributed written
citizens,^
bills in the streets,and especially
amongst the
de Justice,
advocates and officersof the palais
tending"to create dislike to the government of
the Seize." The despatches
of the envoys, meantime,
20th of November,

whom

the duke

had

sent

to

Rome,

pleted
com-

the

of the latter. They repreperplexities

sented
and
irritable,
Pope Sixtus as incredulous,
uncertain.
One day his holiness denounced the
insolent audacity
of subjects
who dared to take
arras
againsttheir king on another,the pope
made
lamentations on the desecrating
pathetic
which sullied the first Christian
taint of heresy
realm of Europe. The dean of Rheims, one
of
nounce
Mayenne's ambassadors,had instructions to anof Charles X., and the
the recognition
of the duke on his campaignto destroy
departure
Sixtus smiled derisively;
the heretic usurper.
:

and asked whether

stillthought on

his old friend M.

de

Nevers,

the affairs of Prance, as he did

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.

duringthe reignof the late king,while Guise was

his treatyof Nemours
?"^
For the
negotiating
rest his holiness declared his willingness
to comply
with the desire of M. de Mayenne,that he
should nominate
aid
to
a
legate-extraordinary
the princes
with his counsels ; but principally
to
effect the liberation of the cardinal -king. So
anxious was
the pope that nothing should
be
decided without his participation,
that the nomination
of Enrico Gaetano," as
cardinal-legate
the
was
on
morrow
extraordinary,
publicly
announced.
The cardinal was
of great
a prelate
attainments and apparent moderation

courteous

and

in his address,but a bigotin faitli,

plausible
and devoted to Spanishinterests. For the more
able discharge
of his onerous
mission,the cardinal
to be accompaniedby Lorenzo
was
Bianchetti,
FihppoSegabishopof Placentia,
Mocenigabishop
of Ceneda, the eloquent
Paniorator Francesco
garola
bishopelect of Asti ; and last,though not
last in learning
and influence,by the renowned

Jesuit casuist,
Bellarmino.^
'

See

Brother

Henry III.,his
of the duke

Court

and

While

these arrange-

Times, vol. ii.

de Sermoueta

aud

grandchamberlain

to

the pope.
^

He

Roberto

Bellarmiuo

entered the

Societyof

1599, Bellarraino received

was

made

died in

at

the

cardinal's hat from

at the Jesuit's

He

soon

of Louvaine.
university

archbishopof Capua
Rome,

Monte-Pulciano, in ISiS-

Jesus at the age of 18.

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

pope, the duke

situation of the realm

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

the nobles to recognise

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

steadfast in their faith.

The

however, had orders to departwithout

legate,
the urgent requestwhich
notwithstanding
delay,
that he might prethe duke de Piney preferred,
viously
confer with
sent

the

pope.

the ambassador

less,
Sixtus,neverthe-

cordial invitation to

visitthe Vatican.
The
were

disallowed

avowed
of

royalclaims
even

of Charles X., meanwhile,

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."'

few weeks the affairs of

During the following
in like
the League in the cityof Paris proceeded
fashion. "Where
there is no lord,
unsatisfactory
observed
Maall the valets are lords !" bitterly
At the commencement

yenne.
Juan

de Taxis,^and

of

December, don

the commendador

de Morea

the terms upon

negotiate
which PhilipII. was
willingto afford aid to
The
the Union.
Spanish faction mustered
bribed by the gold and promisesof Mendoza.
The duke
de Mayenne, how^ever, received an
accession of strengthby the liberation of the
archbishopof Lyons, Espinac,who, at length,
had
managed to satisfythe cupidityof his
Guast
Guast.^
This Du
Du
the Gascon
jailor,
had been trusted by Henry III. with the custody
of all the prisoners
arrested at Blois after the
he
assassination of the Guises.
Subsequently,
leasing
compelledhis royalmaster, under threat of reto a comall his captives,
to come
promise
de
the kingtherefore retained the princes
Guise in his own
keeping; while Du Guast
to disposeas he liked of
received permission
the former

arrived

"

to

"

Dc

Thou, liv. 97.

Conde

de Villa Mediana.

Don

Juan

the treaty
negotiated

of Joiiivillewith tliedulse de Guise,in 1587.

^

du lleu'uedc Henri IV.

IVlalhicu" llir^t.

1590.]

REIGN

91

IV.

HETsRY

OF

of Lyons, ChapelleMarteau proarchbishop

vost
his colleagues
of
of Paris,and the sheriff's,
the League/ The fieryzeal and eloquent
pen
infused new
life into the party
of the archbishop
founded,
conof Mayenne. The
duke, in fact, was
the

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

his consort, madame

the

saint

Hennequin,Bussy-leof the League ; the overbearing

de Montpensier
; the insidious

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

guests of the duchess spoke of her

the captive
and
of Tours, as the undoubted

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

Montmorency the abode

madame
de Montpensier,
the hotel Guise,
the house of the Spanishambassador, were
resorts

many
^

for the factious of every

Henry III.,liisCourt

and

pohtical

Times, book iii.

92

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

fully
skilKing Henry, tlironghVilleroy.
fomented
this distrust by demanding a
that
of mademoiselle de Guise,hinting
portrait

shade.

his marriau;e with Marsruerite de Valois

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-

offered up prayers for his

could she be induced

speedy conversion nor
of her uncle Mayenne, to
by the displeasure
titleof Charles X.
the royal
acknowledge
:

A greatcouncil was

provost of

Paris

holden

GhapelleMarteau,

of December

commencement

in the house of the

at

the

1589, in the hope

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

de Taxis, the commendador

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

That his Catholic

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

daughter.Tijat the canons

not
received. Foreigners
were

eldest

should be

nominated

to be

the decease

on

his said Catholic

Charles X., to whom

would

crown

to

commands,
offices,
of France

within the realm

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

farce,reiterated the advice of the

if you
Moiiseigneur,
archbishopof Lyons.
in this realm to the kingof Spain,
givea footing
"

you render the

power
war

and

war

immortal.

You

hold the

now

You
have the power of
peace.
through the devotion of this great city,
of

the

war

or

forces of the Union

or

peace, you
of the king

proclaimon the conversion

but not
of Navarre ! Accept,
the aid
therefore,
the protectorate
of Spain." Mayenne remaining
stillsilent,the Spanishambassador
haughtily
said
Monsieur, may God inspireyou with
may

"

"

sager counsel. I know

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

his title of lieutenant-ofeneralof

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

convey the sentiments

de

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
"

"

celuydu sieur de Villeroy."

of the Jesuits,and brother
FranpoisPigenatprovincial

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

the so-called supreme

the duty and veneration he owed

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

"

of his supreme functions as lieutenant and

viceroyof Charles X., issued an edict supthe famed council of the Seize ; and propresshig
hibiting
the

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-

that the council of

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-

by Mayenne,the privycouncil,and the

council of state,
whose acts were
after
promulgated
of Paris.
registration
by the parliament
In Venice, meanwhile, the victories of Henry
IV. produced the most propitious
result. The
senate

met

to

the demands

deliberate whether, in deference to

of the pope, the

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.

liim on his accession in the name

compliment
of the serene
repubhc. The nuncio upon this
retired
incensed that he immediately
so
was

and

'

from

Venice

the pope,

but

to intimidate the senate, and

refused
republic,

the

arrival in Rome, and

to Venice

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,

city. The grand-dukeof

renewed
to Henry IV. the offers which
secretly
he
he had made
to the deceased king; to whom
promisedthe sum of 2,000,000 of goldcrowns,
the security
of the revenues
of the cityof
on
that

Marseilles.

Duke

held conference

Ferdinand

on

of the kingwith Jacques

Auguste
prospects
de Thou the famous historian,
who was in Italy
;

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

'

pope'snuncio in Venice was Gerouimo Mateucci.

Perdinaud I.,grand duke of Tuscany,succeeded Prancesco
The

1.,1589.
as

Before his

Ferdinand obtained greatrepute

accession,
cardinal de Medici.
eldest daughter
He espoused
Christine,

of the duke de Lorraine.

H

100

HISTORY

be
niio;lit
de

[1589.

OF

negotiated between

Medici

Dombes.'

and

Henri

The

duke

his niece Marie

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

Mantua,' hkewise,sent the king

of

duke

and

obhgingassurances;

most

bienveillance for his uncle

whose tender conscience
induced
and

him

observe

to
a

retire to

greetedHenry
king was there

the duke

de Nevers,

IV.

had

matters
religious

his castle of Nevers,

strict neutrality
duringthe
These

contest.

on

prayedhis
majesty's

ing
pend-

communications
satisfactory
on

his arrival at Tours.

received

by

The

the cardinals de Ven-

and de Lenoncourt, and

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.

He lirst married Marguerite

Gonzaga,duke de Mantua.
Farnesc,onlydaughterof the renowned Alexandro, duke
lie repudiated.
of Parma, whom
For his second wife, the duke
of Francesco I.,duke of Tustook Eleanore de Medici, daughter
cany,
^

Viceuzo

and the archduchess Giuvauua

of Austria.

1590.]

101

IV.

the

met
parliament

;^

throne and canopy had been erected.

kingtook his seat on the dais,and addressed

and

where

The

his

HENRY

tlie hall in which

pairedto

the

OF

REIGN

THE

assemblage.In a few well-chosen sentences,

turbed
majestyexpressedhis regret that the discondition of the realm

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

asfain into the difference

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

monasteryof St. Julian.

de Harlay was
president
imprisonedby

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-

the first Roman

republicwas

Catholic power which had sent him an ajubassador."

During the remainder of the day Henry

grantedaudiences,and dined in public. In the

eveningthe king received the ladies of Tours.
de Beauvilliers was

Madame

Henry
as

discoursed

present; with whom

apart for

longan

so

giveumbrage to several of
Next to the king,the duke

to

attracted most
fair dames,

interval

the ladies present.

de

Bellegarde

favourable attention from

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

he held the officeof first gentleman

chamber.

Henry HI., on his

recommended
to
death-bed,especially
Bellegarde
the notice of his

successor

continued to hold the

and the duke, therefore,

officeabout the

same

The duke, at this period,

person of Henry IV.
declared himself the cavalier of Gabrielle d'Es-

trees,the beautiful daughterof Antoine

de
madame

Cocuvres, and

the

de Beauvilliers.

cousin -germ

Many

quis
mar-

of

an

of the noblest

damsels of France envied Gabrielle d'Estrees her

conquest; and
duke

wondered

how the

wittyand

had fallen captive

to the charms

some
handof

1500.]

THE

HENRY

OF

REIGN

103

IV.

yet made her debut at court ;

considered as comparatively
therefore,
had

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

sheathed his sword.

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

Beaulieu should attend him to the camp,

to

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

with the difficultiesof that

Gonzaga, uncle

of the

duke of Mantua.
reigning
in right
of his consort
Heu-

bore the titleof Nevers

Cleves

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

had therefore signedand sealed all

accession,
in addition to his chargeof president
of
edicts,

the council of state.

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

siegeto the town of Le Mans, which was

defended by Bois-Dauphin,
ardent Leaguer;
an
one

of the

and

who

hei'oes of

the barricades of Paris,

had

justbeen created a marshal by

M. de Mayenne. On the 25th day of November,
for fresh conquest,
Henry,thirsting
quitted
Tours, after a residence there of two days,and
A vigorous
to the camp before Le Mans.
repaired
assault followed the arrival of the king,and the
surrendered on
town
Priday the 1st day of
The
December.
lowed
folcaptureof Le Mans was
by that of the town and citadelof Alen^on.
the latter placethe king proceededto
Prom
'

Montholon

ill favour

also

of the

was

afraid of

Huguenots.

beingcalled upon

On

his retirement.

counselled the recall of the chancellor

Chcverny.

to seal edicts

Moutholon

106

Henry,

HISTORY

then

[1589.

OP

pursuing his

victorious

after
invested Lisieux, v^^hich,

defence

march,
of

day, opened its gates and submitted ; as did

of Pont I'Evequeand
also the adjacenttowns
Bayeux. Honfieur was the onlyneighbouring
and
which remained to be reduced
fortifiedplace
its submission
the king would find himself
on
and most
master of the largest
importantportion
commanded
of Normandy. The garrison
was
by
who had adopted
the brother of the brave Crillon,
the cause
of the League. During the siegea
took oath to kill the king.
soldier of the garrison
and
the castle,
this man
To fulfilhis vow
quitted
he
his majesty as
in the intent of surprising
self
rounds in the camp, postedhimmade his daily
behind a hedge. An ofiicerpresently
passed
the
assassin,
the placeof ambuscade ; when
beheving that he beheld the king, shot him
dead with
an
arquebuse,and succeeded in
making his escape into Honfieur. The rumour
immediately
spreadthat the king was dead ; and
the garrison
appeared and vehementlycheered
the ramparts of the castle. Henry, however,
on
promptlyshowed himself; and the well-known
helmet and white plume apprized
the enemy that
their perfidious
attempt had failed.' Tlie siege
thenceforth carried on wdth redoubled
were
operations
but
Crillon,a few days
animosity
;
:

'

De

Thou, liv 97.

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

the marshal de Biron, and Maximilian

Soissons,
de Bethune, baron de Rosny. The inhabitants,
who had bravely
stood a siegeof several weeks,

greetedtheir king with rapturous plaudits.

and greatly
the town
Henry, after traversing
retired
laudingthe brave defence of the citizens,
The following
to his camp.
day,Mayenne again
attacked the city
from the south, and succeeded
in making a breach in the wall. The
people
and repulsed
hovvever,bravelystood to arms
marched
their assailants. The kingimmediately
^

a
*'

As the

ball

cannon

Mes

king ascended

the

passedbetween

faits sont

of
steeple
his

des miracles !"

the church of St. Nicaise,

legs. Mathieu,
wrote
Henry to

Guiche,

aussi sont-ils conduits du Grand

F.
Suppl.

1009.

"

Maitre."

t. ii. p. 24.

madame

Bibl.

de

Imp.

lOS
to the

tlietown, reinforced the

order

to

draw

into
fresli provision

threw

He

rescue.

away

[15S9.

OF

HISTORY

and
garrison,

the

army

laid siegeto the strong town

of

then, in

the

League,

of Dreux.

Mayenne was besieging

Gaetano entered
Pontoise,the legate-extraordinary
Paris.
received in the faubourg
He was
St. Jacques by the chiefs of the Union
then
in Paris,and by ten thousand
in gala
burgesses
to fire the
attire. The Swiss troops who were
when the
not havingtheir matches lighted
salute,
to
sent to requesthis eminence
cortegeappeared,
make
however, who
a short delay. The cardinal,
had heard of the want
of skill shown by many
of the men
in handling
their fire-arms at the
the faubourgs,
attack on
requestedthat the
"The cardinal
with.
salute might be dispensed
Whilst

the

feared that

duke

de

miskilful hand,

some

or

wicked

some

partisanof the king,might salute him with a

of the
brace of bullets,"
writes an
eye-witness
scene.

The

soldiers,however, could

induced to omit this honour

to

the

not

be

representative

During the time,therefore,that

the cardinal was
bestowing his benediction,
being
piecesof ordnance and arquebuseswere
to his manifest annoyance.'
Chapelle
discharged,
of his holiness.

"

Le

Grain

"

Ddcade

de Henri

le Grand.

Du

Breuil,Anti-

quitesde Paris. L'Etoile,Journal de Henri IV. L'ordre

du legalpar messieurs
faitc a la reception
la niagniliceuce

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

about the year 1200.

no

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

declined to take the

League, and
member

of the council under

mention

had

been

oaths

Navarrois

made

the

on

Mayenne ; as no
by the cardinal-legate

of his eminence's intention to communicate

Le

as

matter

with

of his conversion.

of Paris also retired

Gondy cardinal-bishop
he deemed
the languageof
from the capital,
as
and tendingalone to
the legate unsatisfactory,
the Spanish faction."
The
following
gratify
day the legatesent his credentials and a missive
all which
from his holiness to the parliament
;
documents
were
registered
by acclamation. On
the 15th of January,Gaetano went in state to
self
himDoree.
The legate
demeaned
La Chambre
and spokeas if he alone had the
arrogantly,
His eminence never
of the crown.
tioned
mendisposal
condescended
Charles X., and
scarcely
''

to

duchesses

notice the

Mayenne

"

members

his courtesies

of

the

de

and

Nemours

being reserved

discomfited

ex

de

for the

-council of the

Seize,Mendoza, and madame

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

doinghim honour, led

pretextof

him to the chair

prepared

1590.]

THE

for his
the

OF

frown

gatheredon

use.

Ill

IV.

HENRY

REIGN

the brow

of

dissimulated,
haughtyprelatehe, nevertheless,
:

commenced

and

august majestyof the

the

tongue upon

oration in the Latin

an

stated that his holiness relied

and

holy zeal displayed

by the
the regeneration
of France.^
As

soon

as

in
prelate

the parhamentof Tours

ascertained,

was

the

on

peoplefor

Trench

the arrival of the

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
*

reached Paris of the reliefof Meu-

news

Navarrois,and

Kegistresdu
de

Parlement

de

of the

siegeof

Paris,et de I'Hotel de Ville.

la

Ligue. Le pouvoir et commission

Paris,1590.
Cajetan(Gaetano)legaten France
Mem.

the

du

cardinal

"

De

The

the

Thou, liv. 97.

relief of Meulan

solicitation of

M.

decided upon by king Henry, at

de Rosuy, the future duke de SuUv.
was

112

HISTORY

of
strongliold
be

to

sung

toise

"

The

Dreux.

in honour

ceremony

[15S9.

OF

of the

liad yet

Deiim

Te

capture of

Pon-

deferred in order that it might

gracedby the presence of the legate.The

most
were
stringentmethods
adopted by the

be

duke
the

de Nemours

pubhc

of Paris, to preserve

governor

peace.

The

faction of the

tions
citysec-

invoked the aid of

frantically
cried,
degovernment of Mayenne was

raved, and

Spain.

T!ie

and

the hotel of the

Guise

de

duchesse

throngedby the partisansof Philip11. who

by
pretendedto see no hopefor Prance excepting
the marriage
of her son, the captive
duke de Guise,
,

with

the Infanta dona

heard
!

mere

give the

to

laughed,and

hope of

The

de
an

mere

Guise,

was

la reine

still

who

alUance with Plenri IV.,

exclaimed

voulez dire

vous

duchess the title of

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

ftiilureof all the

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

do Lettres Missives de Henri

IV. t. iii.

114

HISTORY

[1589.

OF

holy^Yo^k in which the deceased emperor Charles

safed
vouchV. would have gloriedan opportunity
to the Spanishnation in compensation
"

for the

failure of

the

great Armada,

which

king might not deny to his people.

drid
The order, therefore,
was
despatchedfrom Mathe departure
of the young count
authorizing
demanded
Egmont, at the head of the succours
by the duke de Mayenne ; who was to jointhe
latter in his military
for the relief of
operations
issued a
Dreux.
Philip II. simultaneously
Declaration to explain
and excuse
the invasion of
We
Prance by Spanishtroops.
requireand
wrote his Catholic majesty, the aid
adjure,"
of all Christian princesto unite with us to procure
the liberation of the very Christian king
Charles X., a captive
in the power
of heretics ;
also that by such alliance the very august realm
of France may be purged from heresy. By the
to the extirpation
grace of God, we will then proceed
that finally
of other heretic princes
; so
the

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

de Nemours, the chevalier d'Anmale,

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

of Glasgow,who had originally

archbishop
of Henry III.,to
solicitthe interposition
Stuart.
I

116
to the

HISTORY

duke

[1589.

OF

lieuMayenne as his majesty's

was
tenant-generaLThe same
dayproclamation
made

cle

in the streets of the beneficent intents of

king Phihp. Copies of

causes

which

moved

the Declaration of the

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

X. had been committed.

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,

of Antoiue, sire de Pons,

daughier

Marennes, and of Marie

Guercheville.

Pons

she

Quatre. She

king in Normandy,
The

de

when
years,'

three

widow

the notice of Henri

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

Henry pursued his

went

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

of honour and virtue,

steadily
repulsed

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

resistance of the marchioness

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

Guercheville miirht have

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

de Pons, and concentrate

of the
proceedings
the

duke

de

his attention

on

the

out
Mayenne. Through-

had crowned the valiant

country,successes

Henry'sadherents. All Guyenne pronounced

for Henry IV.
of the
The provinces
and picturesque
Loire,with their loyal
population
of

arms

towns, every castle and

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

tlie firstChristian baron

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

died iu 1642, aged 8S ;

le plusancieil
d'Epernou
ofEcier de la couronne,
le plusaucien general
d'armee,le plus
de provijice,
aucien gouverueur
le plus ancieu chevalier de
le plusancieu conseiller d'etat,
et presque le plusancicn
I'Ordre,
homme

de

d'Eoeruon.

condition

"

de

sou

temps." Giraud,
"

Vie

du

due

120

to find

limited confidence; and

honest

no

rival at the

de Bethune

council table in Maximilian

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

zague, Avhile he revered

believed them invalidated

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

system. All these

while theyunited in repressing

nobles,therefore,
the
League,took no active steps to secure
vaded
Provence, meanwhile,was inroyal
supremacy.
by the duke de Savoyeand torn by private
feuds and factions. Normandy,Henry's
trusty
sword had won.
the county of Nantes
Bretagne,
of treason
a
excepted,was
very bulwark
and revolt. The duke
de Mercoeur
fought
for the League; and then combated the Union
in support of the alleged
rightsof his wife,
Mario de Penthievrc,
to the duchy of Bretagne.

the

12.3

HISTORY

before Dreux, lie

[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

inured to the vicissitudesof the

men

and whose courage had been kindled

battle-field,

by brilliantvictories.The marshals
science
d'Aumont, to whose military

and sustained
de Biron and

Henry owed so vast

to their royal
master.

debt,acted

as

lieutenants

of
prestige
enhanced by the

The

army was, moreover,

of Charles de
of Montpensier,

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

the chief officersof the army,

his

123

IV.

de Biron assembled
and

communicated

manded
design. The king afterwards commajesty's
that public
prayers should be recited by

and

his ministers,both reformed

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

and each division he supsquadrons,

ported
The command
of
by a battalion of infantry.
his two firstdivisions,
Henry gave to Aumont and
The third division,
to tlie duke de Montpensier.
and
which consisted of light-horse
artillery,
under the count d'Auvergne the king postedin
advance of the two first-mentioned squadrons.
The fourth squadron was
commanded
by the
baron de Biron.
The king led the fifth and
division,numbering six hundred
horse,
largest
to which was
attached the squadrons
respectively
commanded
by Conti, de la Tremouille,and
The
sixth corps, under the
Duplessis-Mornay.
marshal de Biron,consisting
of three hundred and
horse and two French regiments,
fifty
Henry
to reinforce any division hotly
kept in reserve
pressedon the field. The seventh division was
into

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.

de Belin, Pheffer,St. Paul, Trerablecourt,and

of the centre was
Thenissay.The command
shared by Mayenne,by his half-brother the duke
de Nemours, and by the chevalier d'Aumale.
and his staff was
On
the right of the duke
Egmont with four hundred Flemish horse and a
his left,
a regiment
; on
squadronof Spanishcavalry
of horse,three hundred

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.

white,beset witliblack fleurs-

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

de Chattes, governor of Dieppe,and MM.

de Fervaques,^
and de Larchant.
Henry again

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

de Henri IV. t. iii.p. 61.

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

witli Frenchmen, but

I commit

your

valour
loyal

you

all assert, you

love and

to

venerate

have
my

the grace of (jlod Almightytoday

you shall see that I can lead you all mighty

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.
"

of the God of Battles,

Again invokingthe name
which
Henry gave the signalfor the onslaught,
of artillery
openedby a generaldischarge
upon
the German
troops of Mayenne'sarmy.' The
under Bassonipierre,
returned the cannonreiters,
ade
in confusion,they
retreating
; but, instantly

upon the centre of the army of the

in person.
League,which Mayenne commanded
The duke, without hesitation,
chargedthe fugitives
bore down

they Hed from the field in

panicand disarray.This incident gave the king
The viscount de Tavannes
a manifest advantage.
then attacked the royalists
at the head of several
regiments of horse, and was
repulsed by
d'Aumont, who, reinforced by the king,
effectually
The
drove back the foe.
king,"wrote the
marshal de Biron, then performeda prodigious
detachment
With
of cavalry,
act of valour.
a
;

which

upon

"

"

he

hastened

to

the support of M.

d'Aumont, who, attacked by

horse,without such aid must

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

vanced himself to assault the centre

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

chevalier d'Aumale, at the head

divisions.

The

shock

was

and

of their

the

ive
respect-

The

rude.

king

led his troops,his

majestyrefusingto cede the

of command.
Henry performedvaliant
privilege
deeds of prowess ; and duringthe conflictwas often
exposedto imminent peril/ The young baron
and repeatedly
de Biron carried the royalguidon,
the king and his adversaries
threw himself between
admirable to behold.

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

the fielddeclared for the

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

roi,"writes Biron, "yfittrcsbravement, gcnereuse-

et hardiraeut autaiit

d'Armand

his

de

Gontaut

M. Duhaillon, contenant

se peut, et quasitrop !"

qu'il

baron

de

Biron, marechal

de

Lettre

France

qu'y s'est passe a la bataillc d'lvrj.

de la Monarchie
Marcel, I'Origine
Fran9oise,t. ii.p. 043. MS.
Discours sur la bataillc d'lvry,
De
Sully Mem.
par Villcroy.
ce

"

Thou, liv.98.

130

HISTORY

Biroii,who

had

[1589.

OF

the

stirred from

never

post

assignedhim. The Swiss regimentsof the

but
;
League stiU maintained their position
flioht with their

disdainino- to follow in

they lowered

manders,

token

in

resolved
first,
bnt

after

of

to

their surrender.
his

king,at

charge and put

them

to rout ;

with Biron,he

Biron

exclaimed

part of

the marshal

the

gloriousand
fled!

Vive

king.

de Biron

To

noble

you

from

he, "you have

the marshal

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
"

"

Lett re du mareclial de Biron

dc Mantes, Ic 24 Mars, 1590.

Duhailloii datee de

ce

camp

1590.]
of

town

UEIGN

THE

broke

down

first of the

The

Ivry.

131

IV.

HENRY

OF

bands
fugitive

bridge (over the Eure), and

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

troops to attack this said

send

to

promptlyexecuted.

we

than four hundred

which
fell,

is

as

horsemen

of the

the loss of four

seized four

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

Mayenue,iu breakingdown the

verted
animadhad passed,
is severely

upon by the duke de Nevers, in his able

Prise des Armes," 1589.
It caused the death of

"

Traite de la

hundreds,-who,

found their retreat cut off.

the duke iu his flight,
following
count
d'Egmont, princede Gavre et de SteenPhilippe,
huyse,sou of La morel,count d'Egmont,and Sabine of Baviere.
-

132

HISTORY

commanded
mont

honourable

to
cousin-german

was

Louise
the

him

de Lorraine,widow

banners

and

[1589.

OF

interment,as Egthe queen

dowager

of

flagsof

Henry IIL
the League

All
were

captured,also the flame-coloured standard of

the Spaniards. The duke de Mayenne lost his
guidon,and his private
baggageand camp equipage.
the

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

Medavy, and others. The

however, was lessened
Henry'svictory,
count

of

by the loss of the counts de

Schomberg. Amongst the
wounded

of

the counts

were

Clermont
cavaliers

de Lude

and de

and

de

severely
Choisy,

d'O, who foughtgallantly

by the side of the

king,and

M.

Rosny. The duke de Mayenne

first soughtrefuge
of Ivry news,
in the village
however,being broughtto him that Henry was
the river at Anet ; and that Biron was
passing
the duke took
to the assault of Ivry,
advancing
to horse,and fled to the neighbouring
of
town
Mantes.
The inhabitants,
at first,
peremptorily
refused to open their gates to the fugitives
; but
de

He

left no

children

by

Lis consort, Marie

de

Hoonie.

When

from the Union

haranguedthe count, and made
deputies
allusionto his gallant
father,Egmont basely
replied,Nc parlez
some

"

pas de lui ! ilmeritait la mort

! 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.

Henry lost duringhis parleyon

the battle-fieldwith Birou, gave the duke

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,

braveryand skill admirablyseconded

Henry'sdesignsduring the importantevents of
and received the marthe day. The king rose
shal
at the foot of the stairs. Embracinghim
to
his majestyinvited d'Aumont
affectionately,
to take his placeat
sup, and compelledhim
table/
The king discoursed wath his officers
until a late hour.
He thanked them repeatedly
whose

De

Thou

d'xiumont
edited
Heuri

"

de

son

Temps,

liv. 98.

Vie du raarcchal

Perron, Hist, des Connetables,Marechaux,

etc.

by Denis Godefroy,in fol, Paris. Perefixe,Hist,

de

"

Du

Hist,

le Grand.

134

[1589.

OF

HISTORY

for their courage and devotion

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;

leni^tha soldier of the

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

hailed the vidame

and

armed

with

the
his

parts,
ram-

escort.

replied,That he had been sent by

his majesty
the king to exhort the townsmen
to
surrender ; that the king had gained a great
battle over
the troops of the League,and was
readyto pardon and protectthe inhabitants of
to his
Mantes, providedthat they submitted
A
crowd, duringthe parley,
royalauthority."

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!

"

take up his abode in Mantes.'

de Mayenne, meantime, received
duke
The
of the city
wards,
timelyadvice througha captain
of the resolve of the peopleof Mantes to admit
the king.With the utmost precipitation,
therefore,

whilst the vidame

the

the
garrison,
followed by the

fled towards

de Chartres
duke

remounted

miserable

harano-uino-

was

his horse,and,

residue

of his army,

St. Denis.

day,March 14th, and at almost

the same
hour, duringwhich the battle of Ivry
attended the
another notable success
was
fought,
royalarms in Auvergne. The count de Rendan,
from before
generalof the League,was repulsed
On

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

day following his arrival.

Salomon

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.

the king, that

people so gratified
to

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

faithful servant, the

the

on

duke

de

Sully.^
'

)attle of
^

de

Lettre

Biron

Duhaillon,

Ivry. Marcel, Origine de

Memoires

de due

de

containing a
la Monarchic

Sully,liv. 3.

relation

of

franfaise.

tlie

138

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

by the
duke

sieur de Tremblecourt,aide de camp to the

de Mayeiine.
Consternation silenced for an

interval the clamour of faction.

The

Parisians

daily
expectedto

behold the army of Le Navarrois

before their walls : and such, in fact,was
the
counsel of many of the king's
most
experienced
officers. The victorious banner of Coutras had
been furled

lay at the feet of

madame
de Guiclie ; and now
the oriflammeof
France,before which the foes of Henry IV. fled
at Ivry, was
likewise lowered in homage to
charms which for longexercised potentfascination
the versatile mind of king Henry.
over
The duke de Mayenne and the remnant
of his
army passedthroughPontoise,and on Thursday,
March

by

the

king

to

20th, reached St. Denis.

established his

not
quarters,

There the duke

daringto

confront

the anger of the citizens of Paris.

Mayenne
dreaded the rabid declamations of the cures
of the
and
capital;

the taunts

the Seize,whom

abased.
recently

he had

the wrath

duchess

of the fiercedemagoguesof

of his sister,
the

"

He

precated
de-

termagant

;" and feared the ironicalcondolence of

the ambassador

Mendoza.

deputationof

the

citizens waited

upon

more

the

The

day,a
following
disposed
peacefully

duke

to

tender

him

sympathy; and to promisethat a subsidyshould

be proposedto re-establish the treasury.
JMendoza,
by the comaccompaniedby the cardinal-legate,

1590.]
mander

REIGN

THE

OF

Morea, and

de

HENRY

the

by

139

IV.

of
archbishop

Lyons also paid Mayenne a visit. The former

and
consented to despatch
an
express to Madrid
far
as
to the riemish viceroy
Farnese, to palliate,
of the defeat at
the adverse tidings
as
possible,
for succours.
Ivry; and to make urgentdemand
of
imminent
the indulgence
The crisiswas
; and
saw,
forethe ambassador
or
recrimination,
jealousies
During the
mightbe fatal to the cause.
evening, Mayenne received further consolation
by the arrivalof the duchesses de Mayenne and
of her
de Montpensier. The irritabledejection
de
brother was
so
palpable,that madame
Monlpensierfeared lest the license with which
affairs might conshe usuallyexpatiated
summate
on
mission
Henry'svictory,
by inducingthe subof Mayenne himself!
She, accordingly,
the duke by cheering
words, attributing
inspirited
his overthrow

to

reiters; and

the

cowardice

German

of the

of the
spokepositively

zealous

of the leaders of the sections to

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

frere firent semer

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

if Henry,after the battle 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

rapprochementof interest with

Guise.
This alliance,
not being

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

the j)ope and to

of Spain,exculpatory
of the recent

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

their pay, or threatened to disband ;

and that he had had every reason
to expect
victorious campaign; which, but
for the
a
treacherous retreat of the Germans, at the
of the battle would

mencement
com-

have
undoubtedly

1590.]

THE

OF

REIGN

HENRY

141

IV.

Mayenne concluded this

his respectfor Spain;
despatchby protesting
crowned

and

liis

arms.

promote the interestsof the

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

To the pope, the duke

of acrimonious reproach,
at the

be afforded to the
wrote

immediate

not

his holiness

to

French

that

comprehendedin

Rome

affairs

for that

the elect of the greatnobles,would, ere

prince,
of France.
long,become the anointed monarch
The duke, moreover,
expressedhis conviction
that king Henry was
not unwilling
his
to abjure
heresyprovidedthat no coercion was used ; and
that his holiness abstained
so

that his

from

hostile demonstrations,

majestymight with

honour

Holy See. Sixtus beheld with

the designsof PhilipII.
displeasure

treat with the

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

absent from his mind

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

indifference to the sacred

"During
Mayenne,

cause

life of the late

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,

doublybound to support a war, which we wage

excommunicated
againsta contumacious heretic,
strangeand dauntingis it,
by yourself.How
therefore,to behold your holiness so tardyin
the succours
which you have
even
despatching
! For what purpose have you amassed
promised
such

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

instructed to second the demands

conjurepope Sixtus to vouchsafe some

and substantial proofof bienveillance.
satisfactory
rendered
the crafty old
These
objurgations
of the intentions of
stillmore
pontiff
suspicious
declared
PhilipII. lie therefore peremptorily
that as the Holy See had no desire to promote
in France, except so as to insure the
civil w^ar

and to

"

election of

an

orthodox

successor

decease of Charles X., he

'

St.

would

to

the throne

take time

on

and

in the cofl'crsof his Ciistb of

Sixtus liuJ six iiiillioiis
sterling

AdkcIo.

1590.]

THE

REIGN

ponder well before

acts of hostility
; but
in
had been pleased

HENRY

OF

sanctioned

he
as

143

IV.

any

fresh

Enriquede Guzman
remarks
to forget
the

Don

his

the supreme head of Christendom,

his holiness desired that the ambassador
might

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

meetingwas next convened in Paris,at the

to deliberate on the condition
lodgingof the legate,
of affairs; and simultaneously,
an
assembly
holden at the Hotel de Ville,
called by the
was
of Paris.
Gaetano
provost and municipality
made
He
address.
a conciliatory
presentedthe
duke
de Mayenne with the sum
of 50,000
crowns,

it

on

behalf of the pope

which, however,

stated by the legate,

his
reluctantly
holiness desired might be alone employedfor
the reliefof the famishing
poor of the capital.
The legatethen announced
that,in conformity
was

with orders received from

to seek
at the chateau

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

ready to abjurehis heresy;

also,to propose certain articles tending to promote
the pacification
of the realm.
The resolution
of the legatecreated much
altercation.
de

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

Gaetano,however, stated that such

Navarrois.
was

was

the Yv^illof his

holiness,who

had

already

autographletter to the marshal de

the latter to use his good offices
Biron, exhorting
to bring about the
with the king of Navarre
to arrest the march
conference ; and, if possible,
of the Huguenot army upon Paris.
Whilst these agitations
were
pending,
Henry
written

IV.
state

was

an

establishinof his court

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

Sire,I will accepta husband

majesty,but

not

dishonour !"

was

from your
the resolute

146

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

heretic king,lived

acknowledgea

in their castles. Madame

and intrigante
as
lovely,

de

ever,

lifeof retirement

Noirmoutiers,

wearied

herself

in vain

regretsfor the court in Poitou. The

duchesse de Nevers, whose vivacity
and
grace

duringthe late reign rendered her one of the

most
studied
popularpersonages in Paris,now
and polemicswith her husband
in his
politics
Madame
palace at Nevers.
d'Epernon,whose
toilette had greatly
youth and exquisite
vated,
captithe king, resided at Angouleme under
the jealous
she was
eye of her consort, by whom
adored.

The

Bretagnea
madame

duchesse

de Mercoeur

enacted in

faint imitation of the role

playedby

Montpensierin Paris. The duchesse

de Joyeuse,
sisterof queen Louise,lived in strict
retirement,employed by turns in rebukingthe
de

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

celebrated at certain hours, both

by nightand day.^The
'

Vic

wail of

mourningand

dc Louise de Lorraine, par le perc Thomas

lllustres.
Hilarion de Cosle
Uames
"

the

d'Avignon.

1590.]

THE

REIGN

OF

HENRY

147

IV.

now
harmony of dirgesand antipliones
in
echoed throughthe gorgeous saloons,

solemn
alone

which queen Catherine and her sons

On the strongrock of Usson, queen

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

of the young count,

speaking
stancyby frequently
before the princess
;'
laudinghis deportment
that of
contrasted with
she favourably
which
it was
whose
the prince de Dombes,
fidelity,
known, Henry wished to reward by the hand
and

The

of his sister.

duchesse

repute of being the

the

France, and the duchesse

in the

which, of

d'Usez, had both

of the

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

but," says mademoiselle

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,

and the noble ladies their kindred.

d'Elbojuf,

1590.J

THE

Guise in her
unfortunate

"

that fatal

to

misfortunes

own

he
sight,

and lost the favour of the

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

and a valiant and honourable

artillery,
who loyally
served,his country.
officer,

grandmaster
Her

mother

Francoise

was

Babou

de

la Bour-

of the famous Florimond

daisiere,
granddaughter

Robertet,.secretaryof state, in the reign of

led
d'Estrees,
nevertheless,
Henry H. Madame
abandoned

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

in the year 1572,

IV., par Louise Margueritede

Guise.

marquis de

ancestor

Raoul

Coeuvres

had

Bourbon

blood in his veins.

d'Estrees,marshal of France in the reignof

St.

Louis, espouseda princessof Courtenay; vi'hile Jean

and father of the marquis
d'Estrees,grand master of artillery
married

Catherine

de

Vendome, daughterof Jacques,sieur de

de Vendome, greatof Jean, count
Bonneval, illegitimate
son
grandfather
of Henri
^

Madame

IV.

d'Estrees

and

her sisters

were

notorious for their

lives;the eldest sister Marie, married the count de Stprofligate

Aignan,and was the mother of Marie de Beauvilliers. Isabel,
the second sister,
the marquisde Sourdis,and was
brated
celeespoused
for her beautyand profligate
life.

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

her eyes blue and fullof fire;

her complexionwas
like alabaster ; her nose well
blonde

cendree

filled with pearly

shapedand aquiline
; a mouth
teeth, and lipsupon which the god of Love perpetually
bust ;
throat and perfect
dwelt ; a stately
the deportment
a slender hand ; in
short,she possessed
the charms
of a goddess such were
which
could gaze upon with impunity."*
none
Immediatelyafter the accession of Henry IV.,
had been sent by his mathe duke de Bellegarde
jesty
to M. d'Estrees.
on
a mission
Bellegarde
"

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

Henry III. The charms

made
profoundimpression
declared that
rapturously
moiselle
beautyso perfect.Madeof

then affianced
however, was
d'Estrees,
Andre de Brancas sieur de Villars,brother of

marquisde Villars,who had espousedher

elder sister,
Juliette Hippolyted'Estrees. M.
who
became
de Villars,
of
eventually
governor

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 heart of the young

sulted
beautyhad been conalliance; for Gabrielle received
on this proposed
with visible pleasure.
Bellegarde
and accomplished
duke so
gracefid

the suit of
The

insinuated himself into her favour,that Gabrielle

with tears, besoughther father to bestow

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

in his presence the duke

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

the beautiful Gabrielle.

Meanwhile,
Montmartre

amongst the
the
to

at

as

presence of the abbess of

Mantes
offence to some
gave
the

orthodox
rigidly
determined
kingspeedily
more

of Henry's
jects,
subto

sendherback

to
Senlis;and desired the duke de Bellegarde

lead the escort.

asked
Bellegarde

the

permission
royal

afterwards to visithis fiancee

at Coeuvres;and,
remark then made by Henry on
jesting
the alleged
Bellegarde
beautyof mademoiselle d'Estrees,
was
imprudejit
enough to reiterate his

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

the king beingin the immediate

surprise,
at Senhs.
Gabriehe, accordingly,
neighbourhood
hand;
presentedherself to kiss her sovereign's
and to offer his majesty
refreshment. Her beauty
and innocence charmed the king,who discoursed
ever,
merrilyduringthe repast; on takingleave,howthe admiration of the king was
openly
demonstrated.^
M.
Henry then complimented
d'Estrees on the beauty of his daughter;and
commanded
him to bringher to grace his court
His
at Mantes.
majesty,attended by Bellegarde,then returned to Senlis in very pensive
mood ; from whence
he proceededto Mantes,
create

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

by king Henry did not, however, shake the

of Gabrielle towards her betrothed,
to
allegiance
duke's
whom
The
she was
attached.
sincerely
matrimonial proposals,
to which so many ladies
'

old

Au
"

says of Gabrielle :
qui baiser peut sa bouclie ceuabrine

rhymingchronicle

llcurcux

Scs ievrcs dc

"

denture ivoirine !"

sa
corail,
Sable

"

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

Paris,to confer with Biron

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

necessary, as the subtle

observed, "per acquistar

prelates
tempo, e haver
alia difesa." On
piu commodita d'apparechiarse
the part of the king,Biron was
accompanied
present,
Revol, and a
by the secretary-of-state
whom
the
was
great suite of gentlemen,
among
commandant
of the district,
Anne
d'Anglure,
sieur de Givry. The Jesuit Bellarmine opened
the conference.

cold and dictatorialtone

The

his address, though much

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

the horrors to which

tlic distress and

concluded

articles
"

the realm

was

forbearance of his holiness

his oration

which, the

and

the following
by proposing
cardinal said might be re-

1590.]
ceived

HENRY

OF

REIGN

THE

basis for solid peace.

should be
of the realm

as

states

mutual

1st. That

consent

and

155

IV.

the

the

convoked

by

decision of

the

of the nation be considered final

representatives
and bindingby all parties,
royahstand leaguer.
2ndly. That a truce should be proclaimed
of this proposal.
for the better consideration
the dishonest intents
at once
Biron appreciated
what
of the legate."For
purpose should we
The affairs of kingHenry
agree to a truce?
flourish. We
eminence

will not

can

propose
the
recognises

which

truce, unless your

terms, the first articleof
make

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

your orthodox Parisians ; novv,

absolution
for all the evil that I

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-

qui s'est passe en I'armde du roy depuisla bataiile

a Tours, 1590.
pr^sci'Ivry,
Mettayer,

de

ce

"

1590.]
suite

soon

THE

REIGN

OF

HENRY

157

IV.

withdrew,and returned

to Paris

highly

with the result of their mission.

chagrined
On Thursday,
April 9th, Corbeil surrendered
to
to the king. The
royal army amounted

fifteen thousand

men,

well

armed, furnished

with

ammunition, and inspired

plentiful
by the
of the fields of Coutras,Arques,
glorious
memory
and Ivry. The terror of the peopleof Paris was
indescribable. The duke de Nemours
hastily
took measures
for the preservation
of the city
;
and the legateprivately
the bishop
despatched
of Ceneda on a mission to Biron, againto propose
conferences

"

overtures

declared

himself

eminence

also sent

to hasten

the advance

The
of

which

the

His
willingto promote.
his nephew,Peter Gaetano,

of the

council of Union, at which

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

their gates to the heretic Henri

tremity,
ex-

de

Bourbon, and save themselves by subscribing

a
act pleasing
an
treaty? Also, whether it was
and meritorious in the
the

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

benediction,and exhorted them, while rendering

true service to their king,to

the faith.

The

remain

moreover,

pope,

constant
wrote

to

to the

that
his displeasure
cardinal-legate,
expressing

had

Gaetano

established himself in Paris

and

commanding his eminence to retireto Mantes,

and
placehimself in communication with the
and de Lenoncourt.

cardinals de Vendome
old
1

the

when urgedby
pontiff,
Verbal

Journal

du Sorbonne"

de llcuri IV.

primccchez

Jcuu

cu
Baptisie,

Spanishambassa-

jourde Mai, 1590, L'Etoile,

Ce 7cme
Mcmoirc

The

des

1717.

Evoques,imviugt-huit

1590.]

THE

dor the duke

de

granted him
Infanta,flew

OF

REIGN

Sessa

in the

"

159

IV.

onlyaudience

the

sanction

to

"

HENRY

claims

of

he
the

fitof rage, and flatly

clared
dethe civil war
his intention to put down
into

persuadethe king to make

of his heresy. The evident indisposiabjuration
tion
of the pope to proceedto extreme
measures
incensed Philip11.
His ambassadors, Olivarez
his holiness
and Sessa,presumedeven
to menace
with
from his pontifical
deposition
dignities,
in France

if

and

the

he,

to

father

these threats

accelerated the

supposed to have
the malady with
smitten

Christendom, should

heresy.^The rage into

threw the fiery
old pontiff
is

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

io che nol ho fatto

il rey, esseudo di

percheI'era I'ato."

160

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

at Brie,where he spent the festival

day of April,
of Easter.
The bishopof Cenada' arrived soon
after in camp.
The legate
Gaetano, mortified at
the littlealacrity
cil
by the Spanishcoundisplayed
to
; and intimidated by the letters addressed
him by his holiness,
well disposedto
was
now
accommodation
which
Paris
might save
any
from the horrors of the impendingsiege.Nevertheless,
the sole instructions givento the bishop

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
;

and that envoys

"

"

in the camp ; and afterwards conferred with

the duke dc Longueville,
the grand Prior count

mass

other chief nobles."' To several

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

these nobles that the

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.

of the king on the 9th of

head-quarters
May were in the abbey of Chelles ; while part of
his staff was billeted in the abbey de Maubuisson,
The

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

and Rouen, and

all the

hands."
majesty's

The

before Paris from

the

burn

to

Troyes,Paris
and Montereau,

Sens

between

the

bridgeson

Oise

encamped

porte St. Antoine

of the

windmills

the

in his

were

royalarmy

Its first hostile

Montmartre.

eye-witness,

an

Paris and

bridgebetween

every

and

was

"In

Honorine.
"

of the

Corbeil, Pontoise,I'lsle Adam, and

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

kingof the League,the cardinal de Bourbon,

in the castleof Eontenoy. The health of the old
had rapidlydeclined since his removal
prelate
the

of Chacaptureof Lagny, St. Maur, and the bridge

renton shut up the river Marne ; Montereau, where there was
a
strong garrisoncommanded
by M. de Chauliot, closed the
'

"

The

river Yonne

stoppedup
held le

the

the

of Moret, Melun, Bray and Corbeil,

garrisons

Seine from

pont de St. Cloud

above, while the marshal d'Aumont

below.

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

entreated the duke

to intercede with

might be

kingHenry,so that his remains

interred in the chapelof the superb

Chartreuse of Gaillon.^
the duke
cardinal,

After the demise of the

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

and his brother,

de Soissons,

count

princede Conti,nephews of
T)ie Cliartrcuse

is about, three

the

quartersof

deceased
leaguefrom

chapelwas built by the cardinal de

is the superbniansolcuin of the counts

the castle of Gaillon;the

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

with Mayenne in every

Spainto co-operate
for the overthrow of the "usurper."
feasibleproject
Philipwho, in rightof his daughter,already

from

looked upon
to

Prance

as

Parnese, in which

his own,
his

sent
"

majesty

missive

bade

him

good town of Paris,if he wished to

mind the destruction of
obliteratefrom his royal
of
the greatArmada, hastened by the negligence
succour

his

166

HISTORY

[1590

OF

the

viceroyin providingfor the victualhngof

the fleet." Thus addressed by his royalmaster,
vention.
Faniese assured Maycnne of his prompt interHe

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

of the famous orator

son
Balagny,illegitimate
of Valence, espousedfor
Jean de Moniluc, bishop
theologian,
second wife, Diane
d'Estrees,the eldest daughterof the
The

sicur dc

marquis de Cocuvrcs.

1590.]

OF

REIGN

THE

167

IV.

HENRY

ing
stand-

mental

apathyand corpulent person were

jests
amongst the royaltroopers.
blockade of Paris,meantime,

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

abbey of St. Antoine des Champs,

The
soldiers of the
garrisoned
by the enemy.
League,however, incurred greatobloquyby the
sack of the

The sacred vessels of 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

the Spanish ambassador,

cardinal-legate,
1

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

The duke de Nemours

Montpensier.
had littleexperience
in arms
; but he was
young,
and devoted to the orthodox faith.
energetic,
Gaetano, pretendingthat the siegeprevented
him from obeyingthe commands
of his holiness
de

retire from

to

Paris,announced

that, as the

presentative
re-

of the

Holy See, he was ready tc

the office of pacificator.
assume
Nevertheless,
throughoutthe siege,he acted a subordinate
The latter
Mentloza,
part to the ambassador
actively
espousedthe interests of the League.
He
presentedfunds during the month of May
of thirteen pieces
for the casting
of cannon
; and
undertook

pay and furnish rations for the

troop of three hundred horse,under Vitry, The
to

and
spirit,
greatestalacrity,

were

perseverance

demonstrated

duringthe firstthree weeks of the

of Paris kept alive the
siege. The preachers
de Montpenpopularfanaticism ; while madame
sier
issued
revised the proclamations
inventing,
or
so
as
embellishing,
intelligence,
suppressing
"

to

suit the

temper of the Parisians,and the

policyof the League.

season

rendered

the

were

themselves

Lc

who

most

conspicuous,

Pranciscan

monk

Pen-Ardent, and Bernard

called
gaillard,
'

cures,

le

Petit rcuillaut

this

at

Linccstre,Hamilton, Pierre

famous

Cristin,Boucher,
nicknamed

The

petitPeuillant'
"

was

wdio
de

was

Mont-

likewise

the coufessor of the wife of

Acaiie,

170

HISTORY

elevation of her
throne

and

Isabel.

the

nephew M. de Guise, to the

marriageof the latterwith dofia

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
'

de Bar the hand

Catherine

alliance with the rich heiress of Bouillon.'

Cliarlolte dc

Marck

of madanie

duke

dc

la

Marek, only daughter of Charles

Bouillon

princedc Sedan, and

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

his sister from

1588, and, by will, prohibited

1590.]
Such

THE

the

were

OF

REIGN

HENRY

171

IV.

interests which gathered

conflicting

pretext of zeal for the faith,

composedthe Great League,when Henri Quatre
under

elastic

the

invested the

malcontents

the

strongholdof

"

Paris.

May, the decease of Charles

of the
X. was
proclaimedin the thoroughfares
the Parisians were
again
capital
; after which
with a
in fashion
gratified
grand procession,
On

the last day of

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

wdien eacli person

ascended

the

steps of
enthroned,

the

highaltar,w^here the legatesat

the gospels
and swore
to submit to the
on
never
then issued
Ordinances
weve
princeof Beam/
for the sale of provisions.A baker in each
the government
districtwas
to whom
appointed,
agents delivered wheat
on

condition

espousinga
the hand

Catholic.

of mademoiselle

"who assumed

four

crowns

that he retailed the

Roman

friend
personal

at

de Bouillon

Henri de la Tour

IV.
on

bread

made

bestowed
eventually

his faithful servant and

viscount
d'Auvergne,

de

Turenne,

the title of duke de Bouillon.

marriage
^ This
title was
II. and his
givento tlie kingto pleasePhilip
ambassador
Mendoza, as the kingof Spainwas
defacloking of
Upper Navarre.
on

his

Henri

the bushel

172

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

therefrom at tlierate of

deniers the pound.

thirty
Meanwhile, to mflame rehgiousenthusiasm,it
resolved to place the city under the prowas
tection
of an
ecclesiastical militia,composed
of the monks, priests,
abbes, and wandering
fanatics congregatedin the capital.
The proposal
made to the duke
de Nemours
was
by a
of priests,
on
deputation
Saturday,June 2nd,
in the greathall of the Augustinianmonastery,

where

he often held

and

grotesquedevice

the

authorities.

"

council.

ridiculous

This

sanctioned by
actually
Posterity,"
says de Thou,
was

will

believe that which I cannot myscarcely

self
indite without
laughter." The famous
of Henry TIT.,with their sacks and
penitents
than did these
less madness
rosaries displayed
fanatics ; who
disgracedthe dignityof their
manhood
A procession
by despicable
buffoonery.
ensued, marshalled by Rose bishop of Senlis,
dished
and the priorof the Cistercians ; who each bran"

'

in

hand

one

halberd.

Then

crucifix,in

followed

the

the other

ecclesiastics of

Paris,marchingfour abreast,armed

with

pikes.

Ecuillanpriorsof the Capuchins,

Dominicans, and Carmelites,
tines,Pranciscans,
Next

the

came

followed

by

their monks, each

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.

displaya militaryiiniforni beneath.

cuirasses of

the ecclesiastics wore

Most

of

steel; and

plumes. The old monks,"

of the scene,
eye-witness
says de Thou, an
with
marched
a
pretendedmenacino- gait,
with fury,and gnashingtheir
their eyes rolling
well as they were
teeth ; imitating,
as
able,the
helmets with

some

"

"

gesturesof warriors. The

followed these, armed
juvenilemonks
attitudes and

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.

Thou, liv. 98.

"

up
Le

Dupleix.

close to the

Grain,Vie

L'Etoile, Journal

Chrou. Nov.

march, and directed his

de Henri

d'Henri

houses,so
le

as

Grand, liv. v.

IV., annee, 1590.

Cayet,

174

HISTORY

to allow

as

much

space

[1590.

OF

as

forthe
possible

passage

of the

procession/As soon as the ecclesiastics

perceivedthe legate,
theyshouted in transport,
and fired their arquebuses
with so frantic an aim
that a discharge
entered throughthe windows
of

the

cardinal's coach, and

who

sitting
by

was

in

to

his
to be

much

his side.

greatalarm, made

returned

of the

killed

wounded

and

accident created

The

panic, however, was

declaration from the legate
to

effect, that,inasmuch
"

as

his death while

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

with the kin";,and

made
nate

have

sewn

that

peace

should

seizins;these unfortu-

the leaders of the rabble caused

np

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

by way of example. Afterwards, the

peopleproceededto the hotel of inadame de
of
and sang beneath the windows
Montpciisier,
her apartment. The fate of these nnhappy men
in the
greatlyintimidated the Italian priests
snite of the legate. The Franciscan Panigarola,
had caused him to be
whose
oratorical facility
to
domestic
chosen as preacherand
chaplain
of the famine,
Gaetano, moved
by the severity
ten
ventured to say, some
days subsequently,
of Lyons, that,in his opinion,
to the archbishop
with king
it would be better to open negotiations
Henry, than suffer the populaceto starve."
officious
This speechbeing reportedby some
sent word to Panigarola,
medler, Bussy-le-Clerc
recalled that observation,
that,unless he publicly
theywould also tie him in a sack,and send
him floating
down the Seine to St. Cloud, where
he mightlayhis propositions
before le Bearnnois."
In great alarm,therefore,
the bishop ascended
the pulpit
at Notre
Dame, and conti'adicted the

Seine

"

"

reportthat he had counselled submission

Navarrois.

"

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

Grand, liv.iv,p. 350.

son
garoleelait obliged'interroinpre

grand verre

the

the

! I

guerra !"^
'

Such

to

de vin, tant pour

Prendre haleine."

se

donner

auuom
Scaligeriania

sermon

des

en

"

Pani-

buvant

forces,que pour

Pauigarole.

un

re-

176

HISTORY

yet quelledby famine

had

made

[1590.

OF

the

serious attack

no

of the

city.The

king,moreover,
even

on

royalarray

the

bourgs
fau-

encircled

blockaded

and

every avenue, it was true ; but no

disasters had yet shaken the confidence
military
of the

people.
the 17th of June,the sieur St. Paul

On

captured

boat laden with

the river Marne ;

on
provisions
and succeedingin passing the outposts of
under Givry,entered Paris in
the detachment
triumph. During the next few daysprovisions
and the populararrowere
gance
cheap and plentiful;
in proportion.
rose
vantageous
king Henry,havingadDuring this interval,
postedhis army, concentrated his
the town of St. Denis
and on
attacks chiefly
on
of the
the castle of Vincennes
strongholds
quarters
Union.
The king frequently
changedhis heada

"

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

of the abbess of Maubuisof Chelles,

or

son.^

Ilenryjourneyedto
Occasionally,

'

d'Estrces,abl)css
Annjclique

life;the
prolliu^iito
an

enquiryto
which

and

moreover

scandal of the

Maubuissou, led tlicmost

to

her

caused

the

favour

retained her

of Maubnisson

nuns

be instituted into their

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

lord high chamberlain

the hereditary
Longueville,
of Prance, and a princeof royaldescent,
did the allianceof Bellegarde
seemed superior,
as
ahove

that of M.

de Villars. M.

declined to interfere with

of his

daughter,and

reallyattached
to

she

the
knew

the

preferences

referred the duke

Mademoiselle

belle Gabrielle.

however,
d'Estrees,

to

la

d'Estrees,being

dulously
listened increBellegarde,
sides,
suit of M. de Longueville
; beto

that the duke

was

affianced

daughterof the duke de Nevers.

d'Estrees could not
mademoiselle
Nevertheless,
totallyrepress the exultation inspired
by this
illustriousconquest; and, without intending
tive
posithe eldest

to

treason

to

the duke

her affianced,
she

sented
con-

with
correspondence
platonic
who promisedto recount the events
Longueville,
to enter

into a

of the camp before Paris,whilst she retailedthe

d'ltsof Mantes.
on
Presuming on the power of
self
herpermitted
the susceptible
on
termed
irreverently

her charms, mademoiselle d'Estrees

and bon mots
many jests
heart of the king,whom
she

;" while she often condescended

grise
of a vaudeville very
to quote verses
popularamongst the royaltroopers,in which
Henry's numerous
satirically
conquests were
"

Majestea

la barbe

recounted.
of Paris
Meanwhile, Henry'srebellious lieges
were

beginningto

feel the chastisement which

]590.J

THE

REI45N

had provoked.
On
tlie}^
stores of vvheat

were

OF

HENRY

the .20thof

June, the public

exhausted.

To relievethe

distressof the poorer classes,

a

openedfor

179

IV.

the establishment

was
subscription
drons
public
soup caul-

of

in the streets of certain districts.Meat

sold

As the dearth increased,

forexorbitant prices.
the

of the factions augmented. Crowds

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

the persons present

took oath to accomplish

their knees, and

on

the

raisingof the siege.'

Stillfurther to reassure
the public
mind, Mendoza
drove duringthe same
day throughthe streets,
a small
flinging
Spanishcoin to the populace
also
bearingthe effigyof king Philip
; he
engaged to givethe poor the sum of twenty.^ The cardinal-legate,
six crowns
likewise,
daily
1

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

Sixtus,the cardinal handed

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

increased the difficultiesof the crisis.

ambassador

ambassador, accompaniedby Espinac,

was

The

passingone day close to the Palais de Justice,

when theywere
beset by a famishing
multitude,
asked
who clamorously
for bread or for peace.
in vain haranguedthe mob, and
The archbishop
Mendoza
scattered his coins ; overtures
profusely
which

excited

shouts of

"

Give

turbulent
us

bread

demonstrations
'

This

and
is

money

less
use-

nothingto buy. Give us bread !"*

the relieving
Espinac thereupon summoned
! We

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

maugcrent devinreut euflos,

donna
IV.

moycu

d'avoir de meil-

1590.]

THE

OF

RETGiV

HENRY

181

IV.

commanded

officersof the ward, and

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-

the less fortunate

on

in
or
dunghills,

of

gutters; others, in consequence

the

insufficient

contracted
food and its pernicious
quality,

deadly

disorders,or suffered from horrible distension of

^

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-

feed the poor of

fortnight
; at the

during the space of a

of which perioddeliverance might be
expiration
from M. de Mayenne. An ecclesiastic
at hand
observed, that the brethren of
present,sullenly
Paris

"

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.

day paid officialvisits to most

following
and monasteries of the capital.
convents

They were directed to make

of provisions
gatheredin

estimate of the stores

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

IV., edited by Picric I'Etoilo,

1590.]

REIGN

THE

1S3

IV.

HENRY

OF

of all kinds greetedthe longing

provisions
fathers
eyes of the inspectors.The provident
and
biscuit enough to
had accumulated
corn
of

for the space of

the estabhshment

maintain

year ; there
salted meats,

found,

M'^ere

one

of

stores

moreover,

and hay. Large accumulations

vegetables,
of grainand biscuit were
also reported
in the monastery of the Capuchins
; indeed,the
houses
report shows that most of the religious
than
in abundance, and
had provision
more

would

suffice for the sustenance

for six months.

issued

by

an

of the

nity
commu-

Chapehe Marteau,

ordonnance, which

was

fore,
there-

ratified

the council of state,directing

that the
establishments of the

the poor of their districtsonce

roll containina;
the
relieved
order

was

was

names

ventual
con-

should feed
capital
a day ; and that a

of the families to be

givenat each monastery. An

likewise promulgated,
orderingthe
to

be

poor of the various districts to collect their cats

and

from
In

dogs, and deliver them at the monastery

which they respectively
obtained relief.
the

court

of

most

the
of the monasteries,

monks, after the issue of this decree,erected

largecoppers, in which a porridge

composedof
dog flesh,
barleymeal,and dried pease, was daily
served out to applicants.^
A few weeks
longer,
'

Keliitioue dell' assedio

Roma, 1591.

di

di Filippo
8vo.
Parigi,
Pigafetta,

184

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

and the miserable Parisians had

cences
longingreminis-

of this unsavoury mess.

The compulsorydistribution of the

having

stores

monastic

necessaries of all kind

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

goldplateof the churches

used for the celebration
not actually
capital,
the silverand

of

The

mass.

duke

de

tained
Nemours, also,ob-

of the council to melt down

the assent

the

jewelsleft in the Louvre

A
golden crucifix,weighing
nineteen marks, of exquisite
workmanship,and
and sceptre of gold,given by one
a
crown
to the treasuryof
of the monarchs
of France
St. Denis, were
also delivered^by the abbot of St.
of the
settings
by Henry III.

'

Journal

of the

devint

Henri

IV.

L'Etoile.

peopleof Paris at this season,

furent trousees, les
reliques

"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 rentes de I'Hotel de Ville furent

solitaire;

les terres

d'alcutour

le siege
de Paris,Mem.

de la

en

desolation."

Ligue.

"

Discours

sur

ISG

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

his holiness alluded to the

of his nuncio
position

shut up with the rebels in Paris, was

a fact very
adverse
of the malcontents.
to the prosperity
the lifeof Sixtus been

Had

prolonged,
many

of

tracasseries doubtless would have

subsequent
been obviated.
But the crowningact of Henry's
recognition
by his great nobles,was the arrival

the

of the

in camp at the head of

horse. During the preceding
reign,

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

the church, his

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

resolve to remain neutral.

He

the dnke

mation
proclain his

had, however, on

bienveillance
several occasions testified personal

for the
of

sum

king;

and

had lent him

33,000 gold crowns

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

offer his services to his

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

prince de Conti, also,after

due de Nevers, edited

vol. i.
Sully,

attended

by Gomberville.

De

Thou

18S

HISTORY

[1590.

OP

Charenton,brought the king levies

recapturing
The greatest
from Poitou,Anjou, and Maine.
and the most
accession of strength,
rencontre
joyful
for

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

the line and

succours

were

levied

Henry'spatrimonyof
ture,
mostlyof lofty statheir prince,
and ready

laydown their lives in his service. When

their king,
these hardysoldiers saw
theygathered
him ; some
round
kissinghis hand ; others
clingingto the folds of his cloak,and weeping

to

even

in the

transportof their enthusiasm.

Bearnnois felt his throne

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

"

such valiant hearts and

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,

claimants of fiefs within that fair

other

province/The duke left madame d'Epernonat

not to
her strict injunctions
Angoulerae
; giving
pay her devoirs duringhis absence to her feudal
suzerain,king Henry.
to
The king at this period,
came
moreover,
resolution of recalling
the chancellor
the sagacious
prived
de Cheverny,
who
had been so summarily deof

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

Epernon," says Sully,

"

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

s'accomniodoit pas trop avec

lui-

hard
Sullyis especially

iu his

duke

de

the celebrated favourite of Henri

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

proverbialduring the late reign.

accesssion of Henry,the great seal had
intrusted to the cardinal de Vendome

"

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.

d'O and the marshal

valiant soldier and

financier failed in the

the acute

duty imposed on them ;

and
their knowledge of jurisprudence
being
sealed documents
limited,theyoften ignorantly
containingclauses opposed to the established
codes of law.
Besides,the greatestdissension
between
Biron and M. d'O ; and the
prevailed
to a longwranglebetween
king,after listening
the two, was
often inexpressibly
provokedon
to detect flaws
perusingthe edict in question,
which would have furnished high delectation to
His
his rebels of the privycouncil of the Union.

1590.]

OF

REIGN

THE

HENRY

191

IV.

majesty,therefore,wiselydecided on recalling
Cheverny; and sent the brother-in-law of the
to invite the

the historian de Thou,

latter,
to

heartyassent
luxurious

Clievernyreturned
from
delightedto emerge
office.

resume

retreat

cellor
chan-

at

his

the chateau d'Eclimont,and

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

bound the chancellor for ever

to the
expressions
king'sservice. Henry ever asked Cheverny's
acted
advice, and, what was
generally
more,
the council given: while the legalknowledge
on
and integrity
of the chancellor,added
his thorough knowledge of all branches
to
Mem.

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

day that Chevernyarrived at

of the garrison
commandant

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

than the royalassaults.

more
men
destroying
He selected thirtybold troopers,who
quitted
each with a sack of meal
Paris at nightfall,
attached

shadow
To

to

his

saddle, and

under

the

of the walls in the direction of St.Denis,

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

capturedor went boldlyto the nearest

royalist
picket,and offered to serve the king.
The relation made by the soldiers to their comrades
condition of
in St. Denis of the desperate
that on
atfaii's
in Paris,so alarmed the garrison,
the fohowingday proposals
of surrender were
made to the king. Henry,sensible of the" advantages
of
from the possession
to accrue
likely
either

194

HISTORY

he entered
decrepitude,
and

refused to
His

admit

monasteryas

boarder,

stranger to his presence/

any

affairs in France

administered

were

his brother, Gondy, cardinal-

by his wife^ and

bishopof Paris.
and able

[1590.

OF

Madame

de

Retz

learned

was

and, like the cardinal her brother-in-

law, she recognized

Henry's legalclaim
crown

but refused her

Catholic and

orthodox

the

to

allegiance,
except

to

Cardinal

monarch.

de

received favour in his episcopal

Gondy,therefore,
both from the king and the League ;
capacity,
and

suffered

was

to

enter

and

retire from

the

to
capitalat pleasure. Gaetano's proposition
that the
the marquis de Pisani^ demonstrated

miseries of the

and the forbearance

citizens,

the

had

king, who

yet refrained from

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

limbs,at the head

he enlisted for the service of

de Clermont,

firsthusband

was

deperemptorily

againin the year

he

body

Pisani, who

daughterof

the baron

de

the mar^chal d'Annebaut.

Vivonne, seigneurde St. Gouard, marquis de

Pisaui,scuuchul de Xaiutongc.

1590.]

REIGN

THE

legate smiled

and then

195

IV.

HENRY

the bearer of such

clined to be

The
proposals.

commenced

discourse

the affairsof

on

OF

Rome, and put many

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

All the horses,

mules, and cattle of

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

July. The legate,

the Spanishambassador, and the princesses
sent
their horses to the slaughter-houses.
The dead
and the dyingfilledthe streets ; for the pestiferous
atmosphereof the houses of the poor caused them
to be

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

animals, mice, rats,leather;even

exuvise

of

blood

human

mingledin the horrible compound. Little cakes

were
exposedfor sale,made of rye mingledwith
powdered slate ; white bread sold for a gold
a
a
crown
pound ; butter for three crowns
pound ; eggs for twelve sous a-piece. I have
with my own
seen
eyes,"says Pigafetta,
many
and the enwretches devouringraw
trails
dog-flesh
of beasts which
had been flunginto the
"

"

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

occasion,I witnessed the furious

one

flesh,when

miserable

prey."

It

to find two

savage

the shouts and

drove the brute

wretches

was

conunon

hundred

Little children and

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

Tiie streets echoed Avith the groans

pestilence.
of the dying. The plaints
and
and the agonies

lamentations of the miserable

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-

of these fanatics found response in the

-the hearts of the people,
in the midst of
even
so
suflPerings
appalling.On the 24th day of
de
July,a favourite waiting-womanof madame
died of famine in the hotel of the
Montpensier

Six

duchess.
herbs

was

the

now

of bread

ounces

fare of
daily

and

handful

the late

of

pampered

of the great nobles in Paris.

A few
hirelings
occurred,M. d'Orlan,
daysafter this catastrophe
Marteau, fell sick of
cousin-germanto Chapelle
the fever which ragedin Paris.
His physicians
of
one
pronouncedhis maladymortal,excepting
the

doctors,who

with the

preciouselixir

might prove
made

declared that broth

for

useful

dog;

but

of the brain

restorative !
in

vain.

troopsin Paris,"says de Thou,

these

animals

scarce.

They

seasoned
of

Search

dog,
was

"The

German

soon

rendered

"

watched

at

the

19S

HISTORY

caughtall the dogs

of the streets,and

corners

[1590.

OF

that

passedwith a noose ; then, without further

delay,they devoured the flesh and sold the
de Montpensier,
skins." Madame
however, had
breed so prizedby the
a littledog of the
rare
deceased king,upon
which she lavished many
his cousin's life,
endearments.
To save
Chapelle
Martean
her

waited

casket of
for her

precious
ringsand chains,in
If you had asked me
dog.

believe,monsieur, that you

have been

welcome.

famine

wdl,

for my
ere

as

you

tell

as

all,unless the

long,slayus

me

excuse
must, therefore,

your
me

to

time, a horrible fact

same

She

then

Conieio.

ibid

"

dog

came

de

the

About

light. A
children during
to

the coffins,
which
and

L'Etoilc,Jouniiil dc Henri IV.

Assedio
Pigafctta,

as

You

does.

salted the

miscrcs de la ville dc Paris,t. iv,Mom

*

my

caused

de la

gave

Brief traitedes

Ligue.

in Konui,
Parigi

to

bodies,and

and
of the flesh,

day ate a morsel

pieceto her servant.^
every

'

and it may

him."^

she afterwards filled with rubbish

interred.

cousin

ladyof rank who had lost two

stole the bodies from
the siege,
be

should

for my little dog,

privateconsolation. The

But

kingof Spainhastens his succours

be that I myself shall need
much

in

influence with those

cousin for all my

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

threw themselves durincr the nio;ht

headlons;from
the rampartsinto the fosse below; and
up wounded

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

the feet of the

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

these individuals made

of the

recounted

torments

the

they had

tyranny of the
St. Cloud, where

they were escorted to

this piteous
Henry was sojourning.On hearing
fell from the eyes of the king.
tears
recital,
Raisinghis hands, his majestyprotestedthat
not the author of such calamities,
he was
being
willingto receive and pardon the Parisians ;
Seize

"

"

but

that their

oppressors

in Paris washed

to

Spanishking." The poor

fed, whilst the
bountifully
council assembled to debate on their petition.
Many of the chief nobles joinedin imploring
this rigorous
Henry not to push to extremity
boldly asserted,must
siege. Paris, it was
of Mayenne
the army
eventuallysuccumb
and Camin the environs of Laon
imprisoned

givethe realm to
were
supplicants

the

200

HISTORY

bray,in
which

vain waited the

after

greatSpanish succour,

the
encountering

alone could avert

[1590.

OF

of the

army

the fall of Paris.

Not

king,

one

of

Henry'scouncil, includingthe king, believed

that the duke

of Parma

the

This

realm.

would

in person

conviction, added

prompting of Henry's noble and

nature
prevailedthe king desired
:

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

St. Germain; while to

faubourg
his brave Huguenots,Henry gave

of the force destined to storm

the command

the

faubourgsSt.

St. Michel,St. Marceau, and

Jacques,

greatestsecrecy

was

prise
sur-

led the assault on

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 horrors of the scene."

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

their assailants attacked them

fled back

attack lasted two

to

their

down

majoritythrew

the gates of the

hours

time, the faubourgswere

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

for the sick and wounded.

hospital
The king then rode to Chaillot,where
received an
informinghim that
express

yenne
sons

had moved
to

La
de

The

Ma-

quartersfrom Soisduke, however, still

qui s'est passe en I'arraee du roy depuisle

23ine Juillet,jusques au
7ine d'Aoust, 1590
^a
Tours, chez
Mettayer. De Thou, Cayet, Matbieu, Sully,vol. i. Davila,
1

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

heretic usurper from France.

The
deepestdespairreignedin Paris

the

the

captureof the faubourgsaugmentedthe severity

of the blockade. No

arrived fromMayenne;
tidings
and the people,
tired of endless processions
and
and driven frantic by the increase of the
services,
assembled
pestilence,
tumultuouslybefore the

Palais and demanded

or

relieffrom the Chambers;

that peace should be concluded.

members

aloud

In vain the

presentspokesoothingly
; and
letter said to have been

even

read

by Mayenne from Peronne, in which the duke spoke

of liis prompt approachto raise the siege,
supported
of the Catholic king. The
by the legions
peoplestillclamoured, "lapaix,ou du pain ! vive
a

le roy .'" and

La Chambre

threatened

batter the doors of

Doree, within which

assembled.

were

to

written

Arms

were

the

members

produced; and
people hurried

parts of Paris the

the rumour
to take part in the fray. On
of the tunudt, Goas
captainof the wai'd,a
vehement
partisanof the Seize, appeared.
all

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

the hall ; upon

well-aimed
blow
The

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

them, the duke

d'Aumale

with

troop of

and

the

German

appeared,and surroundingthe Palais,

and conveyed
arrested the leaders of the mob
mediately
imthem to the nearest prisonwhere theywere
hanged.^ By such prompt severity
midated
intithe tumult was
subdued, the peoplewere
sullen
their deportment w^as
so
; but
and defiant,that a council was
immediately
soldiers

"

assembled

to

consider

whether

it would

not

be

expedientto make overtures of negotiation

districts of
to
king Henry. Indeed, many
the citywere
by this time depopulated
; the
inhabitants being either dead or
starving
along
the great thoroughfares,
to
their houses falling
ruin, and swarmingwith noxious reptiles
rated
genefrom
the
surrounding corruptionand
malaria. The publicmiserywas
so
great,that
of turbulent demagogues
at lengththe knot
lives ; besides,
began to tremble for their own
the cardinal-legate
endured
his long
impatiently
detention in Paris. The expected
demise of the
and
the subsequent
conclave,
pontiff
supreme
now
occupied the ambitious
aspiringsof
1

Mathieu, livre 1. p. 49, et seq.

de Heni'i IV.

De

Thou

liv. 98.

"

Journal

20G

HISTORY

the

to
prelate,

the

Seize.

[1590.

OF

the exclusion of his protegesof

In an
assembly,therefore,of the

notable personages in Paris,it was

at lenoth
imanimouslyresolved to send a deputation to

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

council of ecclesiasticsto examine

Gaetano
rector

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

the learned doctors

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-

a passenvoy ; and despatched

port
the morrow,
the prelates
to
on

conference in the

abbey of St. Antoine, where

they might speak at leisure with his majesty."
The duchesse de Mayenne likewise wrote to the
king, describingthe desolation of the once
she also prayed that a safe
capital
flourishing
;
conduct might be grantedto her envoy, who was
also chargedto deliver a missive to her husband,
^

"

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

have not been

liitherto permitted
it beingdecreed
to send envoys
to your camp,
that this town
must
make separatecomposition,
before a general

treaty is couclu'led with

within

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;

bringyou? as for myself,I freely

neve-theless,pitythe children I have borne

you, who without fault of their own,

misfortunes.
Believe,believe,that
us

joinedyou,

preciseinstructions

us

need indeed

Monsieur, if

destruction

our

my

said week.

Parme

it is all

experience
; and

we

most

hearts of all here fail

duringthis
not, bat

us

obey you perhapswe

succour

terms

the
rigourand castigation

dire miseries which

period M.

of

name

the

can

we

said; also,that if

might inflict. Monsieur, the

from

them

acceptthe

expect the

to

are

do not

we

it is

as
yourself

within

inform

the

periodI

without

me

involved in

are

horrible

lost if you do not

this impossible,
If you deem

are

we

state !

loss of

our

time

what

am

to

do.

Delay not ! No exteiiuations will be accepted

; but all the evil
and calamitywill fall principally
those nearest allied to you.
on
Monsieur, I conjureyou, think

helpus

all !

Written

this 3rd
"

few

what

be

fate may

ours

God

day of August, 1590.'

Henkiette

de

Savoye

Villars."

days previousto the resolution taken

of the League
by the legislators
clemencyof the king,the duke

to

appealto

de Nemours

the
on

Mayenne a monseigneur le due de

Mayenne. Discours de ce quis'est passe, en I'armee du roy de
depuisle 23 Juillet jusqucsau 7n\e d'Aoust, 1590. Chez Jamet
'

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

ramparts during the armistice.

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

Disappointmentof the populace. Public

anguishand misery. Letter of kingHenry to M. de Nemours.
of the duchess de Mayenne. Philip
II. orders
Discontent
to aid the military
the duke of Parma
operationsof the
The cardinal de Gondy and
League. Reluctance of Parma.
of Lyons visit M. de Mayenne at Meaux.
the archbishop
of the ambassadors.
They return to the royal
Negotiation
Camp. Treacheryof Mayenne. The kingrefuses to change
His
his religion.
Entry into Prance of the duke of Parma.
Resolves to raise the
march.
Henry holds a council of war.
siegeof Paris,and march to meet the invaders. Pecuniary
of the king. M. d'O.
King Henry raises the
annoyances
to

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

siegeof Paris,and encamps at Chelles.- Advance of Parma.

His stratagemto avoid a battle. Parma
surveys the royal
Reasons of the
Henry resolves to divide his army.
army.
king. Gabrielle d'Estrces. Violent passionof the king. He
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

forbids her

with

union

BcUcgarde,and

Anger of mademoiselle d'Estrces.

She

king.
"

retires to the chateau

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.

King Ilonrypursues the Spanish

army.
Pont-Avere.
Sojourn of the kingat La Pere.
"

Skirmish of
He

"

visitsthe cliateau de Cceuvres.

of the interview.

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

Triumphal entry of Henry IV.

Quentin.
\

Early

duringthe morningof Sunday,August

nobles assembled at St. Denis
5th, the principal
to escort the king to the abbeyof St. Antoine,
where the deputies
from Paris were
mitted
to be adto audience.
The abbeywas
situated
about

mile from the porte St. Antoine.^

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

present the baron

de

favoured by
greatly

L'abbayede St. Antoine des Champs, couvent des Pilles

founded in 1208, by Fouquet de Nully. The
was
Pepenties,
abbeywas of the Cistercian order.
1

212

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

Henry, but whose rash braveryand unbridled

involved his royalmaster
in
tongue continually
difficulties. Biron,hov^^ever,
was
in

merry

converse

himself; and, what

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

after the demise

sovereignty
the son
of Charles IX. and
count
d'Auvergne,
Marie Touchet, mingled in the royalcortege;
also Chatillon,Givry, Pardaillan-Segur,
the

secretaries of state
suite of

thousand
on

Beaulieu

gentlemenand

Revol, and

officers which exceeded

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

producedby the majestic

presence of the
of his unpopularity
and mislate king despite
his sumptuous apgovernment. Henry wore
parel
with royal
ease
; while his kingly
aspectand
deportmentenchanted the courtiers of the late
his majesty
w^ho had. seldom seen
arrayed
reign,
of faded olive green
other than in his pourpoint
velvet. The collar and badge of the order of
St. Esprit
was
worn
by the king. A cluster of
diamonds
claspedthe plume of his hat ; and on
of immense
diamond
his finger,
a
Henry wore
which
value engravedwith magicalcharacters,
effect

lO'JO.]

had been

o'clock

one

of the deceased

the hours of twelve and

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 Bastilleand the arsenal heralded the

of the

The

ambassailors.

observed,seemed
horrible

tiers
Henry'scourwas
first,
irrepressible.

recitals of

however, as
Parisians,
of the

salute and ceremony

ludicrous to

so

that their mirth,at

The

approach

the

miseries

recounted

had
faubourgs,

by

kindled

of the

ants
the inhabit-

the strongest

the turbulent factions of the

indionation ao;ainst

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,

than their fellows,

ventured
"Vive

[1590.

OF

to

with

more

the

hardy

raise the cry of

le roy !" These individuals were, however,

seized by the myrmidons of the
instantly

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-

suite,and upon all the

and applaud the pageant and
traitors congregated
to witness
its consequent overtures
Ilibt- do
for jjcace. Liv. i,p. 49.
"

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

"

where, in the Salle de St. Louis the members

the executive

take leave of their deputies,

to

were

of

Espinac,and givethem their last

instructions. The legate
joinedthe assembly,
Gaetano
made
with his attendant priests.
no
his Spanish
in confessing
the
scruple
predilections;
and the power
mortal illnessof the supreme pontiff,
the conwielded by the Spanishcabinet over
clave,
and

Gondy

convinced

hira that the future

St. Peter's chair

of his

ifthe tiara were

"

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,"

zeal for the faith. As for the

"

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!'"

the unfortunate Parisians sickened

horror.

many

[1590.

OF

HISTORY

de

then

de

givento

was

named
nick-

cument
A doMontpensier.^

the ambassadors, sealed

signedby

the

lieutenant of the duke

de

seal of the Union, and

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

'

insolent disdain,which, under

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

Etoile,Journal de Henri IV.

notes

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

Gondy, meantime, appearingto forgethis dignity

minister plenipotentiary
of the League,
as
while accepting
the greetings
of his friends,
and
in the facetious rejD^irtee
in which he
indulging
excelled,was sharplyreminded
by his colleague
of his want of gravity
and
decorum, as, side by
side,theyfollowed his majestyto the chamber
There the king took his seat beneath
of audience.
a superbcanopy, the chief nobles forming
semi-circle.

The

rightof Henry'schair
Nevers
then

of state,and

opened his

the duke

cardinal de

his left. The

on

on

He

mission.

spokeat

the
de

Gondy
length

the miseries of the realm,and declared that

on
"

chancellor stood

he

was

of

deputed by MM. de
the king, and
learn

Paris to visit the

from

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

qui s'cst passe

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

obedience to the statutes,he had

Gondy was then summoned

king. Henry conversed for
the condition
his

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

the council of the

made

League,still Spanishat heart,

and with no
tention,
inconcessioiis unwillingly,
unless driven to the direst extremity,
to

acceptthe articles of any convention

which

he

The
might propose.
secretaryof state Revol,
dentials
command, exhibited the creby his majesty's

of the ambassadors.

The

careless and

in which these documents

irregularmanner

drawn, convhiced the council that it

intended to

deny

the

was

were

wards
after-

officialcharacter of

arrived from the

embassage,in case succours
de Mayenne. Biron, Tnrenne, Chatillon,
duke
Rosny, and others of his majesty'sfaithful
dismiss the
counsellors advised the king to
the city,
to storm
ambassadors, and immediately

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

army. The duke de Nevers, d'O, the duke de Lonthe

Givry,and others,however, implored
gueville,
citytliehorrors of pillage.
kingto spare his capital
These noblemen, though theyrecognized
the
warm
royaltitleof the king,yet served him with lukezeal. Henry'sreligion
the abysswhich
was
them and his kingly
claims. To
yawned between
stillmore
avoid calamity
vivid,theyhad hailed
his joyous
Henry as king his valour,his victories,
of past insults,
nature, and generous forgiveness
attached them
to his person.
The
tocracy
proud arisof France despised
the plebeian
Leaguer
with chivalrous ardour it also repelled
the thrall
of Spanishusurpation.The abjuration
of the
king,however, the nobles felt to be a political
future
necessitythe condition of their own
Therefore, though
preponderanceand power.
the victories of the king elicited enthusiastic
admiration,the nobles throughoutthe contest
threw the weight of their influence and
ever
to restrain his final triumph over
the
power
:

"

factions

which

convulsed

the

Henry,in
theyhad proclaimed
his

valorous

realm.

King

virtue of his right

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

king, and the League driven forth,the

terminated ; as in the
contest
was
virtually
battle field,Mayenne was
no
competitorfor
Henri Qnatre. Equalitywith the latter must
surrender of rights,
be then purchased
therefore,by
from PhilipII, the hereditary
foe of Prance;
and victory,
of the
by the shameful prostration
banner of the fieurde lis before the red cross
of
of the greatnobles
therefore,
Spain. The policy,
the sanguine
to temporize to exhaust
was
hopes,and weary the courage of their king by
thing
writedious campaigns; to tempt him, when
under
the mortification inflictedby their
or
ment
tardyco-operation,
by their gross mismanagehis
of the finances,with proofthat, on
abjuration,
body
every noble and every corporate
of the realm
would
Vive le
joyfullycry,
insinuates,that in
Roy .'"' The duke de Sully,
defiance of their true opinionand military
savoir,
the nobles presentat the council in the abbey of
St. Antoine, advised the king to abstain from the
that
the
of Paris
and
storm
anticipating
of the

"

"

'

Mayenne and the duke de Nemours wrote at

this period
to king Henry stating, que rien ne les empechoieut
doutez
dc le reconnoitre que la diversitede la religion."
"N'en
de
pas," replied
Henry, qu'avecla grace de Dieu, et la justice
yenne
raes
amies
je ne vieune a bout de Paris,et aussi des dues de Maduke

The

dc

"

"

ct

liv.i. p.

Nemours."

48, et seq.

Mathieu, Hist, du Kcgne de llcnri IV.

]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

into the presence

tlic

king, on

the tender

"

heart of

this occasion,responding
to the

counsel of his insidious advisers.

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

she shall alone

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 miserable death of 10,000 of my

the
refrained from
poor Parisians ; and have
of compunctionfor fear of
smallest expression

offendina;the leo-ate and don Bernardo

Monsieur

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

Mayenne,or the king of Spain as

mediator between
myself and my cityof Paris.
The absurdityis great indeed,for the envoys of

receive M.

stricken with

town

de

M.
articles

de

INIayenneto

I could

as

famine,

You
pacification.

talk of

to

to

consent

suading
persuch

accept as the basis of a solid

have,however, my permission

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

annoyance." Gondy at once

admitted the probabledesignof the ambassador,
which, sire,it only needs your return to the
faith of your fathers to frustrate."' Henry re-

me

"

'

De

Kov.

liv. 99.
'J'liou,

de la

Mem.

Mathieu, Hist, de Heuri

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

accompaniedthe ambassadors,the king said,

You
give me a miserable opinionof your
M. le cure, when I see you and others
religion,
"

of your

order

indifferent to the eternal and

so

temporalwelfare of your peopleby provoking

regard
by showingsuch dis; and
malignant
passions
for bodily
!" His majestythen
anguish
mounted
his horse,and waving his farewell to
the ambassadors,departed
for St. Denis.* As
the envoys acknowledged
of Paris
that the city
of
had no alternative but to acceptthe proposals
the king,
Chevernypromisedthat the passports,
the prelates
to visit M. de Mayenne,
authorizing
should be sent into Paris by M. d'Andelot
earlythe following
morning.
The
the

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

with their friends,but

approachedto converse
more
at
mademoiselle
to
de
especially
gaze
Guise," candidlywrites the young
princess
herself,in her brief history
of the court
of
Henry IV. The handsome person and gorgeous
were
equipments of the duke de Bellegarde
and
from
greatlyadmired by the princess
;
"

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

havingshared in,or connived

deprivedher of a husband.
to

the crime which

the assassination of the duke

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

Parisiens moyennerent leur sortie

plusicurs
iu
de la ville." Discours veritable du siegede Paris, printed
!Moiii,d(! Yilicroy,
t. ii.
en

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

her wit and grace then

duke," as
the

believe the words

placedimphcitfaith

Accordingto
Guise,

to

so

d'Estrees,and

vote
de-

alluringpresentobject."
"

selle
the duke's flirtationwith mademoiNevertheless,
de
him

Guise

had

not

the

from his fiancee,

whom

effectof
he would

alienating
willingly,

this

married, but for

period,have privately
his dread of the extreme
of the king.
anger
M.
de
Givry, also,appeared,to greet the
de
duchesse
whose
colours he
Montpensier,
With
wore.
pale and downcast comitenance
the duchesse
de Mayenne,accompaniedby two
of her daughters,
herself in the hope
showed
of seeingthe king, or
the duke
de Nevers,
her eldest daughter
to whose
betrothed.
son
was
Henry, however, had retired to St. Denis ; and
at

the duke

de Nevers

abandon

his

was

far too skilfula courtier

royalmaster, wiiom he had so

with contumato hold converse
cious
recently
joined,
Parisians. The duchesses de Mayenne and
d'Aumale
openlydeploredthe rebelhon ; and
to

230

HISTORY

subscribed

themselves

exchangedas
maudile."
the

on

crown
were

[1590.

OF

in the
"

letters

les victimes de

The charms of the duchesse

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

d'Elboeuf excelled them

all in the

opinionof the late king and after the demise

of the princesse
de Conde, but for the opposition
of the queen-mother,
he would have elevated her
to the throne.
After Henry's union
with
Louise de Lorraine, Marie espoused the duke
d'Aumale.
she ever
mained
reThroughout his reign,
Henry's faithful subject;and on the
decease of the king, repaired with
her only
daughterto her husband's castle of Anet and
:

there

led

life of seclusion.

retired before a discharge

of
princesses
from
the heightsof Montmartre
artillery
claimed
pro-

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

awaited the ambassadors

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-

cityof Paris. During the nightthe

for
executive government took active measures
of publictranquillity.
Guards
the preservation
in the
were
postedat the hotels of the princesses,
Palais,and in most of the pubhc edifices. The
following
day,Monday, August 6th, Gondy and
of Lyons, before a great asthe archbishop
the

pecherfut blesse. Le due de Nemours

Mathieu, Hist, de
cinquautelansquenets.
"

y vint

avec

deux

eent

Henri IV. livre i.

28.2

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

sembly,made relation of their ambassage; and

had been
explainedupon what terms permission
grantedthem to repairto the camp of M. de
Mayenne. The sieur d'Andelot' at the same
time presented
the passes ; also letters from the
kingto the duke de Nemours governor of Paris,
and to his mother.
Mon
cousin,"wrote Henry
to the duke, you have sufficiently
demonstrated
valour and courage.
Do not imaginethat
your
If you compel me
Paris will be succoured.
to
take the cityby assault,you well know
that I
the citizens from ruin, pillage,
cannot
and
save
arrive which
calamity.Even should the succour
it cannot reach you without a pitched
you expect,
"

"

battle.

Your

last encounter
would

brother

too

to venture

on

well
a

remembers

third.

Your

our
dition
con-

did the Almighty

even
improve,
will that I should experience
defeat. You would
fallunder the yoke of Spain that most galling
and tyrannous of all bondages. Reflect,therefore,
I pray you : recognise
me
as
your kingand
friend while I may owe
you obhgation.Take
cousin,and improve
warning by the past,mon
the future."' This pithyand sensible letter pronot

"

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

his brother Cha-

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

the neo;otiationtedious, and

tained the duke

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,

Parma,^ commanding him at whatever risk of

the duke de
the peace of the Netherlands,
to join

Mayenne and aid him to raise the siegeof Paris.

The
Parma
reluctantly
obeyed the mandate.
of Planders were
aflFairs
in precarious
position
made
able move
one
during his absence by
princeMaurice^ might be followed by a general
insurrection. Besides,Parnese, justlyproud of
his great repute as the first mihtarycaptain
of
"

the age, had

to

no

desire at the close of his

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

Parma, viceroyof the

Earnese

of Parma

firstduke

Low
of the

Farnese, and of Marguerite,

illegitimate
daughterof

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.

great princeof Orange, Guillaume

the heir of his father, his elder brother

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

that the duke

rumour

march

reliefof the Parisians.

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

peace, and would

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

die than conclude

was
acquiescence

from
at

to

Parisians not

as
assault,

Meaux

rarchcvequcdc Lyons

be

peace, the

ruse

the duke

in four

9ine tlu mois

to

for that

in his
stillpersisting

Navarre

that his

would

answer

the

heresy;
to

save

of Parma

days.'The

am-

d'Aout, le Cardinal de Gondy

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

his first audience

on

the favourable

of the duke ; though he was

disposition
of the letterswritten by Mayenue,and
cognizant
held intelligence
with the hostile factions
secretly
in the city. Gondy, on
the contrary,
informed the king,that in his opmion
honestly
M. de Mayenne was
too far engaged with the
without the
Spaniardsto render peace possible
lieved
that he beassent of the Spanishcabinet ; and
the duke of Parma
his
was
on
already
his
The cardinal then requested
way to Meaux.
majesty's
permissionunder these circumstances
to retire to Noisy,which requestHenry granted.
Espinac,however, boldlyproposedto take a
second journey
to the camp at Meanx, and make
a final effort to
a general
negotiate
pacification.
stated to his majesty,
that unHe, nevertheless,
less
he

could

of his
news
convey the welcome
the minds of the ultra-orthodox party
abjuration,
w^ere

the

that he dreaded to return

exasperated,
of evil tidings.Henry hotlyretorted,
messenger
Mon seigneur,
be silent on that subject
!
so

"

yenue, qui les renvoya

desiroit que la paix; et
de

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

tlie reformed faitli!" The

professing
of the king in persisting
in his refusal
pertinacity
concession Avhatever,forms
to make
any religious
the most inexplicable
at this
feature of his career
period. His majesty,while steadilydeclining
counsel which,
to avail himself of that priestly
his accession,he had solemnlypromisedto
on

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

and had exhorted them

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-

privatecabinet ; bnt who, ere many

months
elapsed,ruled the camp, and enabled
his master
their peculations
to triumph despite
and

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

to the Protestant creed

motives
actuating

of his conduct.

and
were

The

king, therefore,committed a grave politicall

not
to tender an
error
which, a few
abjuration
months' subsequently,
effort more
cost him
no
arduous than a few caustic jests. Once before,
after the
he

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

presence of the duke of

deemed a fact so incredible,

to

challengedisbeliefof

de Nevers
of the

offer battle to the

report of

his second

critical condition of affairsin

the
considering

truth.

alliances.

at Chelles after the

summoned

was

departureof
to

greatreformed party

and its Protestant

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

deliver the miserable and

entrenchments, than

to

deluded

their tyrants
by one

from
people

masterly

242

HISTORY

the

On

marched

the duke

the

van

clayof August, the

at Meaux."

arrived

Parma

his

22nd

[1590.

OF

From

duke

of

Valenciennes

in battle array,

flagof Spain.

"

at
displaying
brilhant body of

Elemish,and Italian nobles formed the

Spanish,
duke's body guard. Amongst these Avere
the
princesde Chimay and d'Arschot,counts Aremburg and Barlaimont, don Antonio de Zuniga,
don Sanclio de Leyva, and Juan
Baptistade
Taxis,

Villa Mediana.

of

count

received with

was

he

duke

The

greatpomp." On

his arrival

proceededto the cathedral,

service was
wdiere a solemn
performed. The
duke then publicly
that the sole motive
protested
for which the armies of his Catholic majestyentered
France was, to extirpate
heresy; and that,
he was
personally,
readyto devote lifeand everything
that could be deemed
for the same
precious
afterwards
This declaration was
holy cause.
the realm.
over
printedand widely dispersed
The dukes of Parma and Mayenne then retired
Meaux,

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

of the duke's suite

with

great disdain.

Les

de

etre tons angcs les desdaiguoieut

Espaguolsqui pcnsoient
telle sorte qu'ils
ue
pernietloient
que autre que M. de Ma-

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,
"

"

that he had arrived,

not

"

to treat

with

the heretic usurper, but to deliver the orthodox

from extermination,
of Paris.
and to save the city

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;

Mayeune," says Villeroy,est si

n'etoit pluscapable
de la paix."
qu'il
"

11

eurage

de

ce

244

his assent

[1590.

OF

HISTORY

and that his said

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
;

this division with

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

in vain urged Henry to givethe

chivalry
His majesty,"
says M. de Perefixe,

these entreaties and

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

the citizensof Paris,

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

feignedto ignorethe notorious

; and
poor people
fact that his officersand soldiersoften introduced

1^90.]

245

IV,

HENRY

OF

REIGN

THE

into the cityfor the reUef of their

provisions
friends;or, by way of barter, for their own
benefit. The king believed that he shonkl,
secure
therefore,

He

the

deceived

himself, however

arrival of the duke

the

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

forwards and meet

We

of the

himself

suffer himself to be
"

for after the

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

by the Imperialarmy." The nobles

hailed the prospect of a fourth
enthusiastically
conflict,
thoughtheyshowed themselves so little
ardent for the

capture of Paris.

also,partookin the excitement

of the

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

for the pay

by

hich the orthodox

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

master, that but for occasional aid derived

the elaborate wardrobe
of the

gentlemenin

from

of the late

the suite of

king,the least
the greatnobles

would have disdained to appear in the habiliments

of their king. The
king, however, good-

humouredlybore these annoyances ; laughingand

and consoling
nessed
witM. de Rosny, who
jesting,
with indignation
the discomfort of his
One
royalmaster.
day, at tliis period,
Henry
asked
of

his first valet-de-chambre,

in the presence
d'O, Avho bore the title of master of

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

"

"

"

linen to the amount

said the
you

king,

treat

me

"

as

of G,000

"

IJccucil

dc

ITeuri lo Grand.

These

ready

said

when

we

shirts then,
enter

the

Half the afi'ronts to which, at this

jnu'iod,
Henry
'

1"

while here in the camp

perceive,
a
schoolboy frozen at college

monsieur, will be
?"^

Ah

then roasted at home.

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-

August,the king raised

marching from Chaillot,

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

persuaded Henry, againsthis better

The royal
at Chclles.
judgment, to encamp
occupieda risingground which
army, therefore,
in the midst of
slopeddown to a marshy valley,
castle of Brou.
which
stood the dilapidated
by this marsh from the royalcamp,
Separated
rose
heightssimilar to those over which Henry's

spread.^In

army

of the

army

a
heights,

without

march

commanded

of Parma

MS.

Lettre

du

opposite

the

roi

9045, fol. 57.

au

would

be enabled

obstacle upon Lagny which

river Marne.
Biron, however,

refused to be convinced
*

the

impossiblefiom the
fore,
ground; and, thereintervening

that the duke

to

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

of his troops was

dicipline

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.

to assert the hereditary

Philipforbade his viceroy
the
claims of the prince.
Parncso obeyed. When

ducal coronet
of his

of Parma

fellto Parnesc

on

mise
the de-

father,the former requested

Wiilip's

1590.]

THE

UtIGN

IIENKY

OF

251

IV.

his command, and retire to

to resign
permission
spendthe remainder of his life in the peaceful
returned
exercise of his sovereign
Philip
riglits.
refusal to this request. Tarnese,
a
positive
though broken in health,and burdened with
the mandate of
domestic care, again respected
his liege
lord,and continued to the last day of
the armies of Spain.
his life to command
crossed tlie Marne
allied army
over
bridge of boats, and advanced slowlyand
The

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,

quautitede grands cliariof,scadenassez, etc."

venue

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
"

about to assault that

division of the army was
held his majesty
town, while the duke of Parma
a

trumpet and a herald

battle,so as to terminate

September,sent
the duke

to

engagement the dissensions

"

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

eightdays the armies

the opposite
:
heights

dailyskirmishes ensued, but no defiance on the

part of the king and his cavaliers could tempt
Farnese

from

shelter of his entrenchments.'

the

compared this duke in wily

the military
craft to Ulysses,
were
so
many
achievements
which he perpetrated
thereby,"
says a contemporary historian ; who expatiates
the duke's obstinate determination
on
impatiently
not
to quit, son
marais," which shielded
him from the attack of the king.
On the 9th of September,
Lagny capitulated,
and was
and destruction.
given up to pillage
Many wealthypersonages, who after the battle
its siege^
of Ivry fled from the capital,
foreseeing
and had soughtshelter in Lagny, were captured,
and purchasedtheir lives by ruinous ransoms.
At the same
which Henry
time, an enterprise
and Chatillon planned to surprise
of the
one
gates of Paris failed,owing to the vigilant
watch maintained by the Jesuits,
whose monastery
abutted on to the citywalls.
Tliis enterprise
"

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

suffice to lure the

even

25o

IV.

Cayet,
"

dukes from

nor

their

captureof Lagny having opened

the river Marne, and therebyabundantly
supplied
marsh."

The

Farnese took good

provisions,
not to risk that important
advantage; or the
of the
of the prestige
invincible Spanish
chances
of the battle
the precarious
on

Paris with

heed
loss

"

"

army

field.
In

Paris, meanwhile, the factionstriumphed,

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

sheepleft by individuals of the army for their

friends in the capital.At mid-day,the priests
marshalled a solemn procession
to Notre Dame,
deliverance.
the

for their miraculous

thanks to Heaven

to return

Te Deum

legatepresided. The

and the duke

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

qui s'est passe

this fact in

missive

addressed to

il y restoit fort peu de soldats ;

quiallat aux niurailles que les prelres
"

says

n'y avoit pluspersonne

ce

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

the dukes, and harass

fol]o\A'

them

into

offering

they left their encampment on

the heightsof Pomponne. The king observed,
that the raising
of the siege
of Paris had created
excitement in the provinces
that
painful
; and
unless the garrisons
there was
were
reinforced,
the royal
towns, believing
danger lest many
lost,
cause
might join the Union. His majesty,
in
therefore,
proposedto double the garrisons
battle whenever

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

"

form his council of

to

All these

war.

illustrious officers applaudedHenry'sresolve :

reculer pour
under

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

accession,to cause himself to be instructed in the

catholic faith. The lords,tlierefore,
demanded
their dismissal
and

on

his

tliat of their retainers from

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

majesty abruptlyto abandon

The
career.
king, who was
1

All these authors

reasons
strategic

de

Bclhunc

wliich

9045

state

now

his

caused

his

victorious

unable

to

their belief that the

visit
Bibl.

king from

alone
"

disbanded his army.

MS. Bibl. Imp. F.
Lettre du roi au due de Montpensier
in
:

Henry expressly
givesthese

meut

the

Dhona,

Thou, liv. 9'J. Cayet,Davila, Chcvcruy,MSS

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

marquisde Cocuvres to joinhim at Senhs witli his

under pretextthat M. d'Estrees might
daughter,
take the oaths of a privy counsellor,and his
seat at the council-board. This command
greatly
mademoiselle d'Estrees,
then
who was
chagrined
from a triple
of annoyance
source
suffering
the reported
passionof her affianced Bellegarde
:

for mademoiselle
made

the

by

would

de

Guise

duke
his

restore

de

and

the

demand

that
Longueville

letters,which

"

the

she

duke

compromise him with the

the duke de Bellegarde,
and with his own
kino-,
betrothed bride. Lastly,
mademoiselle d'Estrees
endured
with illdissembled anger and chagrin
the attentions of king Henry, which she bitterly
feared

might

declared

alike

ruined her fame

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

agreed to the request

on
dition
conLongueville,

latter

Mantes
The

time received back

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-

future influence of the

latter with

262

[1590.

OF

HISTORY

letters of
king,kept the most imj3ortant
Gabrielle's correspondence,
while receiving
back
the

every line which

transaction

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

father received the

in

Senlis, went

no

royalcommands

to

very amiable

mood

attributed the conduct

his

artifice."^

ungenerous

of ]\I. de

repairto
; as

Loneueville

knowledge of Henry's pursuit.On

arrival at

Senlis, Gabrielle

her

she
to

her

therefore offered

of the king, and unite

defythe displeasure
to
herself privately
Bellegardeas the only
of
means
evading the evil designsof his
of
hesitated ; the wrath
majesty." Bellegarde
tion
the evident love of admirathe king, and
which
had been
evinced
by Gabrielle
had
in acceptingthe homage of Longueville,
somewhat
quenched the duke's ardour. Neverto

"

'

dc

Drcux

du Radier.

Ileuri IV.,

"

Vic do Gabrielle d'Estrees.

Merits par Louise

Elzevir,
Leydea,1(3G7.

de
Marguerite

Les Amours

Lorraine-Guise

1590.]

HENRY

OF

REIGN

THE

d'Estrces in

the conduct of mademoiselle

theless,

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

her affianced husband.

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

kindred, she demurely begged Henry

hasten her union

she

could, alienate. The

honour

ever

whom
Bellegarde,
affection which nothing
an
king,whose rectitude and

with

regarded with

to

succumbed

M.

de

before the enchantments

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.

that the duke

his
"

de

aware

of

for the latter: that,in short,he

king,and was minded to snifferno rival."

de Bellegarde
!neither in war, politics,
in
nor

love will I tolerate a rival. Heed

The

was

words !"

my

duke

of
surveyedthe irritated countenance
was
royalmaster ; obedience he perceived
Dreux

Henri

du Radier

"

Vie de Gabrielle d'Estrees.

"

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

informed of this interview and

was

she abandoned
results,

herself to

its

transportsof

passionand tears, She lamented her unfortunate

destiny
deploredthe charms which had
; and
attracted the fatal notice of the king. In vain
M.
d'Estrees respectfully
remonstrated on the
his
injury which his majesty inflicted on
her of so desirable an
daughter,by depriving
alliance: Henry persisted
in demanding the
absence of Bellegarde.
The same
afternoon,the
king visited mademoiselle d'Estrees,to console
moderate
her anger.
and, if possible,
Sire,it
"

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

recorded, wept, and

feet in the ardour

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

angrilyrose and left the apartment.

During the night,Gabrielle,with great spirit,
quitted Senlis, and retired to her father's
castle of

Coeuvres, near

to

Soissons; and

the peremptory letters of

steadily
disregarded
recall which, during the followingday, -were

266

[1590

OF

HISTORY

and tliere spend one

cityincognito,
night. Vitry offered to attend him, and to
entertain his highness. Allons !" responded
Farnese
will then visit a city which
we
honours ns
of Liberator."
with the appellation
The dnke was
attended by the marquisde Renty^
and by a suite of six personages.
He entered
Paris on
Saturday,September 22nd, by the
in
at a hostelry
porte St. Antoine, and alighted
the

to enter

"

"

the

de la

rue

Calandre, called the Iron Cross.

passed the remainder of the day in

ridingthrough the streets, attended by the
marquisde Renty and by Vitry. His incognito
but the people offered
was
soon
penetrated
;

The

duke

him

no

enthusiastic

cold

His

ovation.

and

haughtydemeanour confirmed the reportswhich

his
had alreadyreached the capital,
respecting
dissensions with Mayenne. The following
day,
the duke visited the princesses,
and went over
the
and attended
of the Louvre, the Tuileries,
palaces
at Notre

mass

with

de

M.

Dame.

Vitry,and

afternoon for his camp

^

Emanuel

de

He then dined tete-a-tete

at

departed during the

Provins.'

Lalain,marquisde llenty,commander

of the

horse.
Spanisli
light
-

Vie

Mathicu
du

"

Hist, du

Eegnc

de

due de Parme, Alexandre

Henri

IV.

"

The

Farnese.

duke

autlior, le

his

with Paris,but says an

disappointment
alors la capitale
devoit produire
cet
qu'cdVait

dcs tribuueaux

liv. i.

(^toit avilie. Lcs

"

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

of the Seine as far as jMelun.

navigation
his colleague
consulting
Mayenne,the

the

Without

sat down
duke, therefore,

of

siegewas
as

During

before

longerduration

Corbeil.

than Farnese

The
pected,
ex-

it lasted from the 24th of

the sixteenth

to

recoiuioitred Cor-

conquest, vvoukl augment

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

that the terror of his

courage
the

of Frenchmen

name

!"

Spanishtroops likewise

the

did not subdue

The
gave

the

foraysmade by
greatoffence to
the surrounding

peasantry. Farnese treated

district as hostile; and, therefore,
a fair prey to
wholesale pillage.Henry,on the contrary,
spected
rethe

issued the severest

and
villages,
orders againstrapine; while his purveyors paid
for all provisions
The unbrought into camp.
meuts.

etoit si rare,
L'argent

ii'en pouvaicntobteuir

la

que Ics marchands

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

from his Gallic allies; and

experienced
and enthusiasm
disgustedat the littlegratitude
his resolve
demonstrated
for Spain,announced
Winter was
to return into Flanders.
ing
approachof princeMauof the enterprises
rice^
; and news
he

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

excited serious apprehension

fortresses.

back

tiers
to the fron-

November, with the

of

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

joinhim with the army of

Champagne. His majestyalso wrote to M. de
to his letter,
Givry,and by way of postscript
he had expatiated
thoughirrelevantto any subject
Chdits margin the words
upon, inscribed on
tillon flitreprisavec
quatre eschelles." Givry,
who was
Henry's
governor of Melun, interpreted
de Nevers

the duke

to

"

words

refer to Corbeil

to

and

royalcause,
which

Paris

"

the

had

somewhat

he

resolved

;'and

zealous for the

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;

bloodyfightof five hours the place

and the banners of the League
was
reconquered,
and of Spainwhich crowned
the summit
of the
fortress,hurled to the ground ! The Spanish
was
massacred; the inhabitants of the
garrison
retribution on their
town
aiding in inflicting
^

"

Cela

d'en
a Givry la pensee
inspira

teur de bonne

de Heuri

Henry

IV.

voloate euteud
Tiie town

vol. ii.

; un

demi-mot," says Mathieu.

of Chatillou

in the campaignof 15S6.

faire autant

or

Castonel,was

Henry III. his Court

"

serviHist,

taken
and

by

Times,

270

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

"

foreign
tyrants."After the conquestof Corbeil the gallantGivry attacked Lagny. which
surrendered

at

tlie first summons.

Thus,

ere

Farnese

quittedthe districtround Paris,his two

importantconquestswere
recaptured
; and

most

the condition of the citizensof Paris remained

same

before his arrival

as

of Corpossession
the blockade
Lagny,againre-establishing
"

beil and

the

of the riversMarne

the

and Seine. This event renewed

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

left in Corbeil was

insufficient,
garrison
thanks to your jealousies
and suspicion
of the
good faith of his Catholic majesty. I deemed
to be the best judgesof your
you, nevertheless,
own

"

affairs; therefore suffer me

in

turn

my

to

for the safety

of this greatarmy." The
])rovide
that no posiwilySpaniard,
tive
perceived
moreover,
benefit v\^ould ensue
for his royalmaster
by
the continuance of that campaign.
I perceive,"
that the prince
of
said he to Mendoza,
"

"

Beam

wears

out

more
'

Dc

boots

Thou. liv.99.

than

shoes

we

1590.]

THE

UEIGN

OF

him

exhaust
therefore,
iiuist,
at

ITElNRy

while

cost,in all the

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-

yieldedso far to the solicitations of

if
IMayenne that he condescendingly
promised,
his road to
that another triumph on
possible,
his campaign.
Valenciennes
should
signalize
Farnese
alluded to Chateau-Thierry,
town
a
castle filledwith
a
fortified,
strongly
possessing
treasures
of art.
Henry,however, apprehensive
lest a
in that quarter,
blow might be aimed
hastily
despatchedthe veteran La None with a
detachment
of

Parma

to

therefore

arrived at Pimes
retreat

was

duke

The

garrison. The duke

continued his march, and

reinforce the

the 1 6th of November.^

on

conducted

with

and
regularity

de

Mayenne and
League accompaniedParnese
to the frontier.

escort

been
where

impeded in its march

the Spaniards
crossed
at

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,

the Aisne,Henry peared

apband of eighthundred
meanwhile

of
village

d'Alexandre

Plaisance,
Amsterdam, 1592.

method.

the troops of the

yet the

As

His

layin

Bazoche

wait
with

Tamese, duo de Parma

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

advantageon either side. The kingpassed

and earlythe following
the night at Pontarsy
;
day his majestyproceededto La Fere, where
the duke de Nevers, Givry,and the marquisde
Parabere/ awaited him with reinforcements.
decided

It

here, that

was

Henry'slife

occurred

incident in

romantic

most

The

Cffiuvresto visitGabrielle d'Estrees.

solicitude had been

since the

extreme

of mademoiselle
Gabrielle sent

d'Estrees stated that his

M.

irritated at the

rapture of

and
Bellegarde,

refused to

concerned

in

resistance

offered

the

to

the

suit, which
considered

was

his missives

ladies of the court

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,

passionof the king. The desire to

Gabrielle,and to hear the words of
propitiate
pardon from her hps,distracted the mind of
Henry ; moreover, his majestywas haunted by
the fear lest the duke de Bellegarde
might yet
the

'

of

Jean

de

Baudrans, marquisde Parabere, created a marshal

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

close at hand, and

amazement

fresh

receive his

preparedto

of Gabrielle,

escapade

in

the part of the

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

high road from the officers of

the
About
enemy'sdetachments
the wood, Henry was
met
by
his majesty the welcome
gave

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

Gabrielle feltthat every

had vanished
Bellegarde
the

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.

elle etait attiree ;

indomptable

coeur,

king

her alliancewith

ce

of

hopeof

of the

combattre,en

sou
jeuuesse,

heart

and

pouvoirsi grandqu'eutpu

chartue

avait

woman

the

jour,

heros,et I'amour !"

Hetiriade.

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

to fix her eyes

after the space

of ten

majestyrefreshment. Henry

of wine

the fair hands

other

nothing

majesty,who

not endure

him,'" returned

upon

de Villars

that she had

"

to debate with his

or

madame

and

and

slice of bread

of Gabrielle,but

The

king

declined

afterwards

took

for the

panic Avould have been great

at La
the
Fere
after nightfall,
king being
I have good heart after
absent.
mysteriously
this interview,that nothingwill go wrong
with
all thingsprosper,"
but
said Henry to
me,
madame
I am
de Villars.
goingto pursue the
belle will hear
ma
enemy, and in a day or two
w^hat gallantexploits
I have accomphshed for
;

"

"

love of her l'"* In

changewdiich Henry
the

addition

the

favourable

fancied that he detected in

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

Hist, de Henri IV. Le

Louise

Margueritede

Grain,Decade de Henri

raine.
Lor-

IV.

1590.J

REIGN

THE

OE

HENRY

277

IV.

offend his majesty,

might thoroughly
offered Henry plausible
by which she
excuses,
perience,
prayed the king to pardon Gabrielle's inexher want
and
of courtlyreverence
shy reserve, which she said proceededfrom
coldness

dread of the anger of her father and of M. de

de Villars resembled her
Madame
Bellegarde.

sister,the abbess of Maubuisson

and

jealous
;

and

as

she

afterwards

events

believed that the favour which her

the

was

desirable

most

artful

was

boon

proved,
sisterrefused,

of fortune that

any lady of the court.

character of mademoiselle d'Estrees was

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

mademoiselle d'Estrees ; which

and libel,
more
proclaims
intrigue
virtue in
who

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

might not have entailed upon France ! Luckily,

Henry returned uninjured,less restless in
mind, and burning to perform some
mighty
feat

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

sont pas des yeux,

Non,

Et le movement

ce

sont

sounet

on

the eyes

says,

lis ont dcssus !es rois la

Dieux !

composed a

ce

sont

des
plutot

dieux

puissanceabsolue.

des cieux,ils ont la couleur bleue !

prompt, commc
Muses

cclui des cieux."

Frangoiscs,
J). 286.

1590.]

On
La
army

THE

llEIGN

OF

Henry againset
pnrsnitof the enemy.

the morrow,
in

Fere

consisted of three thonsand

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

frontier called I'Arbre de Guise, close to Marie.

His

eager

desire for the conflict

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

which by the command

army
duke, continued
steadilyto advance

body of the

of

[1590.

OF

the

"

towards the frontier

threw

"

down

their arms

and

pursuitof their comrades, leavingon the

and
field,
baggage waggons, tw^o cannons,
arms,
the bodies of the slain.
If the royalcavalry
fled in

"

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.

following day, December

The

1st, 1590,

reached the bourne so

Spaniards
eagerlyanticipatedthe Flemish frontier. The
retired to St. Quentin,and made
king,therefore,
in military
The
state.
his entryinto the town
each
and de Mayenne bade
dukes of Parma
other farewell near
Landrecy,and ceremoniously
Farnese
in sightof the armies.^
embraced
oration to the regiments
delivered a pompous
which were
to remain in the pay of the League ;
and promisedto return
earlyduringthe followand his

Earnese

"

'

"Ainsi

d'estrc entrez
saut

avec
frayeur,

en
eu

le boil due

retour

ce

Discours

la

avec

Frauce, Ic diet due dc Parme

de

venue

dc M.

!"

un
a

aigrercpentir
etc cliasse ; lais-

quel il adviendra pour son

writes the author of the
ironically

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

"

death of the chevalier d'Aumale.

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

king with madame de

Gregory. Nomination

Guiche.

"

of Landriano

"

of the

Overtures
as

cardinal-

of the cardinal de Bourbon

legatein France. Negotiations
with the Holy See.
The Tiers-Parti.
Its designsand prospects.
the
Succours
League.
grantedby pope Gregory to
"

"

"

"

"

Surrender

of Chartres.

mission.

Embarrassments

The
entrance

"

"

Entry of
of the

into Paris.
legfite
duke de Mayenne.
the

failure of tlie blockade

of the duke
which

of Parma

"

His

of Paris,and the
into France,

were

retarded the progress

temporarily
the duke de
In Lauguedoc,
of the royal
cause.
Montmorency was
arming slowly.The most
of the southern
powerfulof the belligerents
events

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

the close of the year 1590, was

the captureof Grenoble by the latter.
at

Provence, the territorialfeuds between

In

the

d'Epernon,his brother La Valette,and the

terminated in the temporary
de Sault,^
countess
duke

triumph of the duke de Savoye, who made

into the
his entry with
extraordinary
pomp
of Aix.

town

This

invasion

aided

was

and

promotedby the Spanish cabinet ; the Cathohc

levies to be made by the duke
king permitting
also
de Savoyethroughoutthe Milanese.
Philip
furnished his son-in-law with a fleetof forty-seven
galleysto blockade the ports of Toulon and
1

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.

died, and left his immense

bequeathedit to
Crequy,princede Poix.

mother, who

de

Janvier,heir of the cardinal de Crequy,

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

arrested the advance

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

prosperous citizen into the fierce marauder,

whose bread was
the daily
gain of rapineand
of violence.

escapedthe
The

Few

horrors and

churches
;

of the citiesof the realm had

were

the

desecrated

by

used
priesthood

advocate rebellion and

in the

devastation of

siege.

seditious

their

semblages
as-

to
pulpits

to sanction crime ; while

confessionals of the realm,absolution

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,

affairspreventedthe harassed mind

domestic

of the

king

from

with satisfaction on this comparadwelling

The
intimate liaison which
pativeprosperity.
existed between
and the count de
the princess
Soissons,and which Henry apprehended might
terminate in the secret marriageof his sisterand
excited his apprehension.
heiress, continually
The subtle and enterprising
temper of Soissons,
rendered the latter peculiarly
disliked by the
suspected
king.^Moreover,the count was rightly
designson the crown.
by Henry of entertaining
in his faith,a princeof the blood
Orthodox
royal,and the only brother of the deceased
the
to wear
princeof Conde who seemed eligible
of the count
the intrigues
de Soissons
crown,
in the mind of the
had long excited misgivings
inherited her mother's stern
king. The princess
her recharacter ; and had repeatedly
expressed
'

"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

Henry IV. The tact and good

humour
served his cause
of the king eminently
the
duringthese complications.
Henry possessed
of demonstrating
rare
faculty
completeforgetfulof injuries
when oblivion suited his interests.
ness
He could jest
overwhelm
cate
with, and even
by deliroyalclaims

of

distinctions the individual,to

defeat whose

hostile machinations the whole power

of his arms
his diplomacy
had been recently
directed. He
or

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

Sixtus V.," meanwhile.

took

the

ofBourbou,

name

the

on

the demise of iiisuncle,the

-

Pope

Sixtus

king of the League.

died August 27th, 1590.
Heury exclaimed

learningthe demise

of the

pontiff Voila un tour de

Espagnole;j'aiperdu un pape quietoit a nioi."

used to assert,that there

were

"

"

but three true

himself,Henry IV., and Queen Elizabeth.

nioinc dc taut
to the

!"
d'argcnt
treasures.
pontihcal

often exclaimed

la

on

tique
poli-

Sixtus

kingsin Europe
"

"

Que veut faire

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

to the disorder and

year 1590.
The

OF

the

took

placeon Saturday,
palaceof Monte Cavallo.

event

death of the pope was

hastened,it was said,
draughtof iced sherbet,which his holiness

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

of the siegeof Paris,that turbulent

raising
The ardour with
prelatedepartedfor Rome.
which he had espoused
Spanishinterestsrendered
the

cardinal anxious

to

intervention
all-powerful

claim his reward

"

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.

resolved to model his

predecessor
; and appeared
in his
policyon that of Sixtus, especially
tenacious guard of the much-coveted
treasure
his
coffers of St. Angelo. The
day following
election,Urban
complainedof slight
indisposition.
The maladyof his holiness augmented;
and
after the expiration
of thirteen days,
he expired. The
sudden
demise
of pope
Urban
sensation.
occasioned
extraordinary
the
Rome
filled with sinister speculation
was
;
Spanishfaction in the conclave,headed by the
cardinal Madrucci, intrigued,
naced.
bribed, and meCardinal Montalto, nephew of Sixtns
cardinals created
v., at the head of twenty-six
of Sixtus, entered into
duringthe pontificate
with the duke de Piney-Luxemcorrespondence
bourg, and claimed the political
support of
Henri

Quatre. The

8th of October,
influence

The

conclave assembled
most

exercised

open and shameless

sador.
the Spanishambas-

by
Philipespousedthe
was

the

on

interests

of

the

cardinals

Santorio, Paleotti, Madrucci, and

Gaetano

and

excluded, by name,
expressly

and
cardinals de Medici, Salviati,

election

"his

the

Lauro, whose

Spanish majesty could

never

notorious for its

in." After a session,
acquiesce
during which the cardinals
stormy intrigue,
Marco
were

Colonna, Julio Sanotrio,and

the
on
respectively

eve

of

Paleotto

beingelected

to

294

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

of the asthrone, the suffrages

sembly
pontifical
suddenly united for the elevation of
of Cremona
Sfondrata cardinal-bishop
ese,
a Milanthe subjectborn
and
of Spain. Sordid
cupidityand lust of dominion was the spirit

the

"

which had actuated

the

of the sacred

members

of that divine
rather than the promptings
college,
which, it was
pretended,
guided the
inspiration

election of the universal father of Christendom.

The

first act

of the

new

pope,

who

took

of

name

the

GregoryXIV., was to bestow

of a thousand gold crowns
upon
cardinals,to indemnifythem, as his

said,for the expenses of the conclave.

entered

into

the

faction
bene-

each

and

Gregory
the

for future

reserved

letter addressed

of

hohness

closest relations with

Spanish ambassador;
consideration the

the

to

him

by

Henry's envoy, the due de Luxembourg, who,

during the conclave, had visited T'lorence to
confer with
the

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

Holy See would be amply developed.

The propositions
made to Mayenne at Corbeil,

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

of his faithful Parisians.

deputieshad retired,the

duke

and laid the memorial

council,

of Lyons.
archbishop

the

duke's

Mayenne took the

its signatures,
and promised

consider the demands

his

the

recommended.

was

the

its articles.

reconsti'uction of the supreme

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

Paris," said Mayenne

document

to

shreds.

purpose."^ Boucher and his

remained
eightdaysin the camp ; and
colleagues
dismissed
without a replyto their
were
finally
divine

We

their

duke

also

memorial.

The

to
deputies

visitthe duke

forbade

of Parma,

any

of the

This

hibition
pro-

by Boucher, who under pretext

with the legate
of conferring
Sega,the latter
being then in the Spanish camp, obtained
was

evaded

several interviews with Parnese.

In
'

Paris,meanwdiile,the party termed

Etoile,Journal cleHenri IV.

t. i.
Cayet,Villeroy,

Les

296

exhibit

began to
Politiqiies,
The

and

dearth

[1590.

OF

HISTORY

pubHc

of revival.

symptoms
discontent

imparted

greateracrimonyto the feuds of the chieftainsof

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-

diplomacy of Mendoza, and the

intemperatezeal of the chevalier d'Aumale
that
further complicated
affairs. The suspicion
the adherents of the king,and those personages
ledge
who
headed by Villeroy
were
ready to acknowHenry'sroyaltitle on his conversion,were
secretly
plottingwith Mayenne, infuriated the
demagogues of the Hotel de Ville. At the
fore
thereof January,1591, it was
commencement
the town
of St. Denis,
resolved to sin-prise
which had just received a new
governor, in the
The

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,

residence in Paris had

and

the town.
broad

all the

moat

imprisontliem within

become
the

of
precincts

The chief defence of St. Denis

:

venient,
incon-

of the town
the fortifications

was

its

Avere

298

In

HISTORY

the melee, the chevaher

with

[1500.

OF

d'Aiimale

twenty officers. His body was

ha Raverie.

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

Denis, filled the citizens of Paris with

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

in the church of St. Jean-en-Greve.

raisingthe

On
it

found

was

circumstance

to

corpse to
have

Mem.

liv.1-2.
"

de

Cheverny,annee

Chevernystates

in the liouse of madam

-

the

See

Etoile,Journal

in the coffin,

mutilated

been

by

rats ;

afforded the Parisians

which

for innumerable
1

placeit

ject
sub-

epigramsand witticisms,*
De Tlioii,
liv. 101.

1591.

that the chevalier d'Aumale

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

before the arrival of the officer

hour

an

de Vic, false intelligence

had reached

by M.

Senlis of the

defeat of the

kingcommanded
in the

solemn Te Deum

cathedral,which

attended; while Henry

service
Amours.

The

royaltroops.

the

was

to be chanted

orthodox

present at

performedby
kingbestowed

brave de Vic.^

the

chevalier

giving
thanksDes

wealthyabbey

of Bee, in the diocese of Lisieux,which

to

nobles

the minister
the

The

d'Aumale,

had
on

pertained
apthe

majestyalso wrote a letter

to the duke de Nevers, highly
commending this
valiant exploit.
was
Henry's domestic tranquillity
again
troubled duringthe month
of January, 1591,
by his attachment to mademoiselle d'Estrees.
The king had so publicly
avowed his sentiments,
that all France was
cognizantof the fact,from
her rock of Usson, to the
on
qneen Marguerite
countess

de

His

Guiche, in Beam.

the beautiful Gabrielle

'

was

The

fair fame of

sullied,
irrevocably

Dominique de Vic, seigneurd'Ermenoville,died in 1 610,

His consort was
without
Jeanne de Maramleavingposterity.
dame
villiers,

de Mareuil.

300

as

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

few persons credited the report of her reluctance

The duke de
to accept the royalsuit.

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

left the issue to the

The

personage
his son-in-

Nicholas d'Armerval,baron de Liancour,

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

her lover Belle-

her to her fate

individual

an

of

She

to

every

she beheld herself

these circumstances,

resolution

succumbed.

d'Estrecs

301

IV.

and

compulsory
she

whom

pised.
des-

to the king.
vain,in her distress she appealed

In

Henry replied,he felt that as yet his sceptre

not potent enoughto enable him to interfere
was
in the private
affairs of subjects
authoritatively
"

such

as

Estrees

and

Liancour; but

on

her

command, he gave her the word of a

slightest
her to be carried
king,that he would cause
within one
hour after
away to a placeof safety
with
M. de
the celebration of her espousals
Liancom*." From thenceforth Gabrielle accepted
of her royal
her destiny the blandishments
:

lover, the counsels

Villars,and

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

Vie de Gabrielle d'Estrees.

from
to

her

assume

St. Simon.

302

[1590.

OF

HISTORY

which his daughterthen

deportment,
failed to comprehend. The
nuptial
day passed,
however, and no token indicated that Henry
austere

an

about

was

promise/ In

fulfil his

to

vain

the

gazed eagerlyfrom the windows

apartmentto descrythe white banner of

beautifid bride
of her

the escort, which

from

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

The broils consequent on

Paris !

to

to

was

of the chevalier

the demise

d'Aumale, and the failureof the

St. Denis, offered a favourable

enterprise
against
to surprise
juncturefor the execution of a project
the city,long contemplatedby his majesty.
His love,
Henry hesitated not a moment.
the distress of Gabrielle all yielded
to his sense
of the magnitudeof the proposedtriumph,now
that its execution was
deemed expedient.
Immediately,after the attack on St. Denis,
raised the siegeof Prothe duke de Nevers
vins
and retired to
Lagny, under pretext
too feeble to endure the prithat his health was
vations
the same
of a winter campaign. At
'

name

Du

Perrou

composed some

of mademoiselle
of his

tliaii by any
with the line :
"

verses

on

the

occasion,in the

applaudedby his majesty

virtuously
disposedsubjects,commencing
d'Estrees,
more

"

qui mc

donnez
Muse

vous,

vous

quije me

donue."

liecueilpar Espinelle.
Fraiu/aise.

1591.]

OP

REIGN

THE

HENRY

who
d'Epernon,

time, the duke

now

desn^ed to reinstate himself in the

notable

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

capital.Belin had several able officers

under his command, including
M. de Tremblehe was
and not
court
independent
moreover,
of Lorraine
amenable,like the princes
Mayenne
excepted to the dictation of madame de Montinfluence which more
than once
had
pensier
; an
exercised.
been
perniciously
Apprehensive,
of the

"

"

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

train of carts, waggons, and

whose
by soldiers in disguise,

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

horse;while strong detachments

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.

took the command

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

desired that the merchants

the

river, and

cross

at

interval of suspense, a
The
forth in the town.
flittedin
lights
swarmed
a

with

every
men.

would go lower down

the ferry.After an

great tumult
church

broke

bells

pealed,
and the ramparts
direction,
after
The king thereupon,

brief conference,resolved to retreat.

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

is stated to have been indicated

presence
missive.

The

tears

and

the

enter

by

the

threats of his reluctant

hatred and contempt

bride,and her undisguised

dayswhich M. de Lianof halcyon.

the reverse
cour
passedin her society
He, therefore,yieldedobedience to a mandate
which he dared not dispute,
and
repairedto
Chauny. The following
day,a royalorder exiled

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

thenceforth Gabrielle d'Estrees

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

her cousin mademoiselle de la

Madame

de Sourdis

initiatedher

niece in the arts

to maintain her favour.

requisite
Gabrielle ruled the kingby mingleddisdain and
submission ; and from the periodof her instalment
at court, no other lady
presumedto dispute
her empire. Her lighthumour
and badinage
enchanted the king her jealousy
afforded infinite
amusement
while the splendid
to his majesty;
de Liancour eclipsed
that of
beautyof madame
:

every other
most

in

of the court.

woman

of madame
obsequious
the earlydays of her

du

Perron, who

reader to the late

cardinal had
master

in the

had

art
poetic

in the licence of his

romantic

The

abbe
;

the abbe
office of

future famous

as
Desportes

Henry;

who

his

and rivalledthe latter

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

the discourse of the abbe, that he sanctioned his

nomination

as

Gabrielle. Du

and
chaplain
Perron

was

confessor to madame
and
eloquent

in the science of the casuist.

He

friend of Bellarmine;and
X

was
so

versed
the intimate

is
perfect

308

HISTORY

said to have been his

deduction, that in

and
of equivocation
faculty
breath

evil that which

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

amongst the ladies

Queen Margueritelaughedderi-

of the court.
1

decorum

Heuri

IV

"

Etoile.

Vie du cardinal du Perron.

n'est pas docte, mais il plaitau

dames," says
"
JosephScaliger, Da Perron faisoit de grands discours aux
'Du

dames

Perron

de

la cour,

de la flux et du reflux de la mer,

de I'etre

de I'inviduation ; mais il ne parlait

metaphysiqueet du principe
jamaistant que quand il sc mcttoit sur la maticre de je ne sais
quel concile ; il ue linissoil pas,""Lettres de Guy Putin, t. i.
Letlrc

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

incidents which occurred

tragical
about this periodcreated great publicscandal
the
made
and even
on
temporary impression
of the king. This catastrophe
versatile mind
Two

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,

long survive his victim,being

arquebuseball at the siegeof Ham.

at

not

his

demise, the marquis d'Humieres

wealthynoble

of France.

was

most
al-

310

HISTORY

Madame

cle Chaulne^

[1590.

OF

murdered

was

with

remorseless

more

with

her

of masked

own

cruelty. She was

hair by her husband

who
assassins,

of the unfortunate

night.

entered

countess

still

strangled
and

party

the chamber

in the dead of the

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

Before his departure

from
besiegeChartres.
Chauny, Henry wrote to his faithful allyqueen
Elizabeth,to apprizeher majestyof the invasion
of Bretagne by the Spanish force under don
and to ask for a succour
Juan
of
d'Aquila
;
2,000 Englishtroops. The king also wrote to
in England,M. de Beauvoir
la
his ambassador
detailed
Node, in which despatchhe minutely
the position
of military
affairs; and desired him
to

de la Harde Chaulne, seigneur

count
d'Onguies,
count de Chaulne, and of
the sou of Louis d'Onguies,

Charles

was
gerie,

Antoinette de Rasse, dame

de la

Hargoric.

The

unfortunate

lady,wii'e of Charles,count de Chauhie, was Anne Juvenal des

Ursiiis,daughterof Tranyoisbarou de Traiuel, and. Anne
I'Orfevrc.

1591.]
to

THE

use

REIGN

hazard

will.

good

HENRY

decisive

some

there

the

English

indication of

is evidenced

Elizabeth,as

took intense interest in the

letters,
was
rarely

311

IV.

induce

to
persuasion

every

council to

OV

contest

of

movement
military

achieved but the queen

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

its defects under

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-

king eminent service in aidinghim to

in
raise an auxiliary
army in Germany, especially
the Saxon
provinces.With her own hand the
the

queen

wrote

letters to

exhortingthem
princes,

most
to

of

the

German

aid the Protestant

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

Xivrey,p. 285, t. ii.

in which

de

Henri

IV

"

Edited

by

M.

Bergcr de

312

HISTORY

[1590.

OF
,

accredited the viscount de Turenne

sador
his ambas-

as

the levyof the mercenaries.

superintend
Turenne first repaired
to London
to comphment
queen Ehzabeth ; and to requestthat an Enghsh
him
to the electoral
agent might accompany
demonstrate
her Britannic majesty's
court
to
interest in the negotiation,
Henry, moreover,
wished to borrow 30,000 goldcrowns
from the
to

states

of the Low

Countries,a loan which

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

Spaniardsfrom Bretagne. Turenne

elector of Saxony at Dresden ;
the courts

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

and Hesse Cassel.

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:

before Chartrcs. Madame

her aunt
'

madame

de Liancour

de Sourdis^ were

Isaljcllc Biiljou (Ic la IJourdaisierc.

niadainc dc biourdis rivalled that of qucca

The

and

in the camp,
scandalous

Marguerite.

lifeof

1591.]

THE

REIGN

OF

HENRY

and

the smiles of la belle

the

king'smind

all

315

IV.

elFaced from
Gabrielle,

relative to
misgivings

hostile confederation of the courts

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

furnished his roval

chancellor,

with

master

for the
of the funds requisite
greaterportion

siege.
which

The

lands

included

to Cheverny,
appertaining

considerable part of Chartres

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

his able financial capacity,

the latter,
and

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

recapturedby Rosny he asked for its

at first acceded to
government. Henry gladly
the petition
overcome
by the
eventually
; but
insinuations and bad temper of d'O, his majesty
ungenerouslyrescinded his promise. Rosny,
excused himself from following
Henry
thereupon,
to Chartres,and asked permission
to visit the
dower-lands
to his wife near
to
appertaining

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

visited the camp

of Mantes.
town
THE
"

Kosny;
"

felt

was

on

KING

affairrelative to

some

TO

M.

All the advices which

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 your brother,wlio will tell you

siege.From before Chartres,this 15th

after the return

of our
particulars
day of February.

"Henry."'
'

Bibl. Imp. F. de Bdthune, MS.

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

for six weeks, when

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

with his sister,

madame
to

her liaison with

Catherine,relative

the count

de Soissons.

refused to sacrifice her

contumaciously
she said, first attained
as
inchnations,
having,

Madame

"

her brother's express desire,

that he had fallen from the royal
favour and

to like the count

now,

become

an

abandon

at

she
objectof suspicion,

him."

It

was

with Madame

would

not

in vain that the

;

and

monstrated
king repointedout the

while he extolled the

of Soissons,
designs
disloyal
princede Dombes, whose valiant feats in Bre-

tagne,and whose
^

Mem.

du due de

character and

immense

t. i.edit, de
Sully,

1822

riches

Paris.

818

HISTORY

[1590.

OF

for the sisterof

rendered liiiii
a suitable parti

said his majesty, has

Montpeiisier,"
his retainers
hundred
noble gentlemen,
seven
has only twelve !"
Soissons, at the very most
The count de Soissons,vi^hen prohibited
by the
king from aspiringlonger to the alliance of
Madame, sarcastically
replied,that to obey his
majestywould be an insult to the royaldignity,
received permission
for
to sue
he having once
the favour of that peerless
madame
princess,
Catherine."
The irony of this replygreatly
rumoured
nettled the king ; the more
so, as it was
that a written promise of marriagehad been
between the princess
and her lover.
interchanged
Madame
Catherine, when
questionedby her
brother did not deny the implication
; and seems
altogether,
actingon the advice of madame de
much
Guiche, to have displayed
contumacy in
explanationor concession.
refusingto make
pondence
Henry,who stillmaintained a frequentcorresde Guiche, thereupon
with madame

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

filledthe office of head-cook

319

IV.

Varanne

had

in the household

of

the accession of kingHenry,

princess
; and on
he followed his majesty
in the same
to the camp
his habit
was
capacity.One of Henry'sfoibles,
with his domestics and other
of familiar jocularity
subordinate persons.
La Varanne
Accordingly,
had been employedby the kingin carrying
to
Coeuvres the billets^which Henry addressed to
Gahrielle d'Estrees
and as the agent proved
obtained promotionin
he soon
acute and zealous,
the royalhousehold.
On
the return
of La
Varanne, his reportof the mutinous deportment
of madame
de Guiche,^
irritatedthe king,
greatly
who accordingly
the following
wrote
letter
severe

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

great regret,have been

very

head-cook
tu

COMTESSE

(La Varaune) to

observed, in
wittily

of La

du

KING

the matters

on

miens !"

hold,
house-

porter les poulets

de
Genealogies

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

mooted between my sister and myself. Far, however,

recently
from finding
and desirous to believe and aid my
you willing

statements, I understand
blame

rae,

that your discourse tended utterly

to
and to incite and support my sister in a course
highly

1 could
improperand injurious.
and therefore have only,madame,

not

counsel,which

pardonany person who tries

sister and myself. Upon tliis

foment

to

is,that I will

between
quarrels

fact I have the honour,

never

my

madame,

have believed this of you !

word of
to address to you one

hands.

to kiss your

"

Henkt."i

with others addressed by the king

letter,
added
to Madame,
to the formal interdiction
to M. de Soissons,to
which Henry forwarded
This

presume
with the
of the
count

in the

fm-ther

of his alHance

matter

caused a temporary retardment

princess,
measures
by the pair. The
contemplated

de

period on

Soissons,moreover,

was

intent

at this

the realization of those treasonable

desio-ns which, had

thev been

would
successful,

have rendered his dictation paramount

ultimately
throughoutthe realm. The cardinal de Bourbon,
filled the
had nominally
since Henry'saccession,
of the council ; but his adherence
office of president
alone prompted
to the royalcause
was
spiritwhich
by self-interest; and that aspiring
the cardinal to accept office under a
induced
rather than vegetatein
regimehe disapproved,
within his archiepiscopal
see.
During
obscurity
'

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

to the ex-coimcil of the

wrote

Seize,laudingits

and fervour for the faith.

zeal,capacity,

beloved," wrote

the

holyfather

"

Dearly

to the turbulent

demagoguesof Paris, ye who have made so glorious

take heed lest ye faint ere ye
a beginning,
have accomplished
the holyAvork for which
ye
"

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,

sublime resolution and courage ; add

thereto the virtue of heroic constancy!"

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

of that very noble personage

Sfrondrata,to aid in the righteous

the

"

Ercole

don

the

to
proceeds

pope

excluded,the cardinal de Bourbon

open
an

his

envoys from
received in Rome, and the royal

with
negotiations

the

Holy See.

elaborate missive to the pope, protesting

to the faith; and excusing
fidelity

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.

coiitre Ileuri IV.

Lettres

Moni-

1591.]
of

THE

HENRY

323

IV.

his errors," The

to abjure
prince
apostate

an

cardinal

his hohness that he

in the order of succession to

renders
procrastination

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

"

being the youngest

neither followers
infant in

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

Temps, DeThoii, liv. 101.

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

abbe of the wanton

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

Henry misuspectScipionBalbani, a wily

pope.
one

to

be

well initiated in subtle

selected for the mission.

statecraft,
was

the arrival of Balbani in Rome

letters at

he

On

his
presented

audience ; he also laid before

private
his holiness a pamphlet,
favourable to the claims
put forth by Bourbon, vvhich Balbani falsely
assured the pope
circulated
was
extensively
afterwards ascertained
throughoutthe realm. It was
that the pamphletin question
had been
written by persons of the cardinal's household,
and secretly
printedin Angers. M. de Souvre
far too zealous for tlie royalcause
to have
was
a

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-

Meanwhile, the private

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-

of his niissioii; and

liim the secret

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

jointhe ranks of the Holy Union, and

example to other Cathohc peers in the

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

Elizabeth,to whom, while before Chartres,

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,

nephews of the pope, the

his inauguration,
he invested
day following

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

of the church,and bestowed

as

Hercules Sfondrata,
who

on

the title of conde

borne
previously

had

de Riviera.

the investiture of the

suitable dotation

ceremony of
ciano,
de Monte-Mar-

The

duke

new

Holy See, was performed

in the basilica of Sta. Maria Maggiorewith extraordinary
standards of the papal
The
pomp.
who delivered
blessed by his holiness,
army were
them to the general.The firstbanner was
blazoned
emand the legend,
with the pontifical
arms
as

"

of
general

Dextera

Domini

exaltavit me."
mth

the

Paul, and
vincit mundum

reviewed
of

and

the

fecitvirtutem
The

"

dextera

second banner bore

figuresof

the

motto,

the
"

Domini
a

Peter
apostles

H(BC

est

Fides nostra." The

fix
cruciand

victoria qucB

troopswere

by Gregoryat Lodi. They consisted

body of 6,000 Swiss,2,000 Italiantroops,
of horse 1,50^^strong.Amongst
a squadron

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

"

chests of the Vatican.

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

ecclesiasticalalienations the extent

if once

his holiness

licence from

demand

the

his ambassador

instructed
majestyartfully

of whijch,

estimated

"

to

the king of Spain with a loan on the

gratify
papaltreasury. So that the six miUions amassed
of which put
by Sixtus dissolved" the possession
it in the pope'spower to menace
any day the
of Naplesby the Spanish
crown
tenure
Philip
cared not as to the method devised. Throughout
echoed with indignant
the pulpits
Rome
lifeled by the heretic
the profligate
comments
on
"

330

HISTORY

the

to
advancing

the duke

of the

beleaguered
city,
so that in the
Chateau-Thierry,

rescue

invested

[1590.

OF

of the fall of Chartres,the

event

river Mame

for the transport

of promight stih be navigable
vision
to the capital.The governor of Chateaude Comblisy,son
M.
of the exThierrywas
Claude Pinart.
The latter,
secretary-of-state,
to be totally
fearing
impoverished
by a lengthened
the
Pinart was
as
siege of Chateau-Thierry
most
of the district made
wealthyproprietor
agreement with Mayenne for the surrender of
the city,
condition that his son
received an
on
yenne
Maindenmityfor the loss of his command.
acceptedthe condition,and encamped
before the town.
assault was
An
givento save
the honour of Comblisy,
who had secretly
tioned
sanchis father's treason ; but, accordingto
at the first summons.
compact, he capitulated
The parliament
cited Pinart
of Chalons instantly
"

"

and

his

to

son

for their treasonable

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-

lose their heads and confiscated

a

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

universal distrust inspired

by his treacherous

render.
sur-

Chartres,meanwhile, opened its gates to the

king. Henry made his solemn entryinto the

reinstalled
attended by Cheverny,who was
city,
of 1500
in his government. A garrison
men
under
de Biron, next occupiedthe
the baron
fine on
The king imposed a pecuniary
town.
them to furnish a
the inhabitants ; and compelled
largecontribution of wheat and other grainfor
M.
nominated
the army.
de Sourdis,was
of Chartres,an
resident lieutenant-governor
made

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

Guitry has well beaten my

enemies in a fight
of Savoy;
within the territory
while my cousin the prince
deDombes, vanquished
horse and 500 infantry
a body of 200
appertainmen.

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

taken in the presence

stormed, and

was

de

duke

of his

majesty. This capture was one of the most

of the
importantof the campaign; the vicinity
of the
chief stronghold
to Rouen, the
town
League, rendered its possessionserviceable for
the accumulation

and

of the stores

ammunition
the

necessary for the great enterpriseupon

former
town, meditated
by the king.

bishopof

Evreux

in
prisoner
Bibl.
"
-

de

one
Saintes,"

fanatic leaders of the

most

Claude

Louviers.

Imp. F.

Uii dcs

The

Seize

crimes

The
of the
taken

was

and

malevo-

de Bcthunc, 9104, fol. 57, MS.

plusdangcrcuxbrouillons

de revolte et
iudcl'ati''able

un

doctcur

do

du royaume,

regicide."

un

agent

]5'Jl.]

THE

OF

RKIGN

HENRY

lence of this turbulent churchman

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

her of the safe

EngHsh troopsunder Sir Roger

Williams at Dieppe. The king also addressed
the following
to M. de Larchant,
playful
epistle
his veteran captain
of the guard,
whose estates in
the vicinity
of Louviers,had been appropriated
by the League
landingof

some

"

KING

THE

"

MONSIEUR

de Larchant

Monsieur

unfortunate

TO

news

that

we

"

DE

This note

have

taken

LARCHANT.

is to

apprize
you

of the

Louviers, for which

however, you will shed no tear. Your brother is with

that
here, and he says that now
you both possess something;

wager,
me

you will enjoythe substance which those said rascals

deprivedyou of so long! I requestthat you will journey

henceforth
had

cousin the cardinal de Bourbon.

my
Louviers is a miracle ; to God alone do we owe
this
hither with

"

other

Our

capturewas

likewise well done

The

fallof

success.

; my

envoy

will

you every incident you may wish to learn. I would

fain kiss the hands of madame
de Jiarchant,'
but I fear you

recount

'

de

to

Diane

de Vivonne

de la

consort
Chastaigneraye,

of Nicholas

Grimonville,seigneurde Larchant, d'Auteuil,and

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

told that she weeps whenever she hears

word whether these said tears are tears
!

Bonjour!

From

Vernon, this 8th

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

majesty'ssanction, the decree

the attorney-general
to institute a prosecution
the
againstthis prelate
; and authorized
his

of his property, and

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

liussc vii. MS.

de Henri

IV., t. ii. Bibl. Imp. F. Leydet,

1591.]

fall of

The

Gculis

REIGN

THE

HENRY

force already
Englishauxiliary
approaching

the shores of France

Essex

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

array of reiters levied

vast

'JVirenne,with the aid of the

of queen

335

IV.

CImrtres, Corbie, Louviers, and

the

"

OF

The

involved

for

the

growth

of

disaffection in

the onlyhopeful
was
royal house itself,
sign
be descried. Nevertheless,the well-known

characters of the cardinal and

sons,

his brother Sois-

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

de Bar' took part in

and Mercoeur, and the duke

the conferences at Rheims
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

de Lorraiue ; he also bore the title

of the duke

sou

of the

League. The
complicated
; but as each

cherished

leadingmember
1

were

Mendoza, the cardinal Pelleve,^

hot adherents

were

there

also sent
preLandriano, the ambassador
;

or

Pelleve,bishopof Amiens, 1553, archbishop

in 1503, cardinal in 1572,

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

Isabel for himself

Guise.

colleagues,
adopted. Mayenne

supplantboth

Nemours

bis

Quatre and

the allianceof

for the young duke de

de Lorraine soughtto obtain

duke

or

of his right to the crown

of
recognition
tach
Prance
Mercceur,to deby the states-general,
Bretao'ue from Trance ; Mendoza
to intrigue
II. to toy with the formidable
for the pohcyof Philip
puties
Seize, and to deceive Mayenne. Defrom the Paris Leaguers againpresented
of titles of
articles demanding the suppression
of every rank, and the prohonour, the equality
clamation
! The legate
the
of a republic
regaled
orations,provingthat
assemblywdth sonorous
the fate of Prance depended on the Holy See ;

the

"

and that the chieftainswould

in

degreeas theydeferred
of the church.
was

Spanishambassador
wqth

to

The

unanimous

meet

wdth

success

the maternal

upshot of

the

dance
guiference
con-

resolution, that the

"

shovdd be

his Catholic

to confer
requested
majesty on the aft'airsof

League ; and to representthe extent of the

about to invade the realm in
foreignsuccours
also
support of Le Bearnnois." Mendoza was
that the states should be
empoweredto promise,
tory
convoked without further delaywhenever
a vic-

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

in the council chamber.

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

the viscount deTurenne.

of the

ma-

duke

from

Guise

"

"

"

duke

the

tlie cardinal de

"

and
king at Cassine-le-Duc,
Bouillon.
King reviews the

Entry into France of the

of
papallegion.Nuptials
of

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
"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

the assassins of Brisson.

firmness.

"

"

Return

of

Mayenne

Execution of the assassins. Laws

"

to Paris.

"

His

to
promulgated

The duke makes overtures

preserve the peace of the capital.
to the king. He
throughVilleroy
departsfrom Paris.
"

"

Death of

GregoryXIV.

"

"

Election of his

successor.

King

Henry, after the reduction of Louviers,

of Mantes, where he conto the town
repaired
z

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

wise resolve to unite the council

of
intrigues

mandate

mained
re-

to

the

its session in
to

and

on

the
count
ac-

the Bourbon

transfer it to Chartres.

sent

the

the other half,with the chancellor

come

to

had

and de Lenoncourt

Chevernyand M. d'O, held

Mantes.
His majesty had now
of the

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

took occasion to recommend

"

his

majestyto conform without delayto the faith

of his subjects. Your majesty
of the majority
"

cannot

M.

arrest

le Cardinal

condition of affairs it would

one

of your
at such

veniencyto

own

arms

in tlie present

off
be like cutting

yet,if you

nive
contacitly

doings,it will giveyour

their plots.By
perfect

conversion you may

inevitable dangers." The

shun

words

two

foes

con-

jesty's
your maotherwise

of La

Noue

1592.]

THE

REIGN

OF

341

IV.

HENRY

the mind of the

on
impression
deepest
and
king; for Henry distrusted the temporizing
elastic policyof his
magnificentchancellor.
"Your
majestyknows," said La Noue, that
I have been of opinion,
that
from the beginning
to the Roman
unless you turn Catholic according
de facto king of
become
view, you will never
the

made

"

'Tis a lamentable strait

France.

"

; your
tacy or deposition

assured

be

that

such

that of apos-

majestymay, however,

is the

alternative before

you." Henry had alreadymade concession to

of his most trusted counsellors ; and
the opinion
which
celebrated in the palace,
was
a daily
mass
de Liancour, who
attended by Madame
was
affected great devotion. The choir of the royal
and other innovations
chapelwas reconstituted,
sanctioned.
with

Madame

indignation
; and

her brother for his

to

heard of these concessions

she wrote

bitter reproaches

with
compliance

of evil counsellors ; and

tations
the solici-

for the scandal

from the presence of Gabrielle d'Estrees

resulting
also vowed that
residence. Madame
at the royal
the court ; or submit to
she would never
approach
the degradation
of an ignoble
with
competition
madame

de liancour.
cardinal de

Bourbon, attended by the

and by du Perron,arrived
abbe de Bellinzona,^
The

'

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

Tours, from whence

his chateau de Maille.

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

and rode out

and

escort

of the council

the views of the junior

suspectedof favouring
likewise courteously
princesof Bourbon, were
received.
Henry had made his resolves ; for
the

measures

which

he intended

to propose at

the

meeting of the council,would, he believed,

compel the open declaration of their disaffection;
or
by the tacit assent of these personages to
edicts likely
obnoxious to their party,
to prove
to neuso
tralize
impairtheir influence,as altogether
The
of ambition.
any privateprojects
king had well weighed his position he was
his so-called
ready,it was true, to renounce
errors
; but he resolved to render such abjura"

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

"

indicated that the restoration

Liancour to her husband,
as

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

counsel of his adherents.

the 5th

assembled.^
'

MS.

council
day of July,the important

There

were

presentthe cardi-

Cotton,CaligE. VIII. fol.52.

344

nals de

HISTORY

Bourbon

[1591.

OF

and

Lenoncourt, Chevemy,
Biron, d'O, Souvre, Estrees,Nevers, and the

bishopsof Mantes, Maillezais,

Bayeux,Chartres
the archbishop
of Bourges,and other eminent
The recent
papalBull was the
personages.
firstbroughtunder discussion. The intrusion
subject
into the kingdom of the nuncio Landriano was
unanimouslycondemned as against
the fundamental

laws of the Galilean church,

and the concordat of Francis I.

"

still the ecclesiasticalcode

thus far

the latter being

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

"

in what your conscience is

learn,monseigneur,

to

offended?

If your

father^ could hear

deceased

speak as you have just done, he would

hands !" hotlyretorted
strangle
you with his own
God, sire,in his mercy,
king Henry.
rage,"
has, you perceive,
exemptedme from such outthe cardinal feebly. In granting
replied
this decree I perform
said his majesty.
my duty,"
draw
avocations withMonseigneur,your priestly
of bloodshed
you from the dreadful spectacle
this evil. I will,moreover
; I desire to mitigate
of
privateenterprises
repress your own
which I am
well as those of your
as
cognizant,
you

"

"

"

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

all those whom

yours delude !"

cardinal stammered

The

few incoherent words

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

I., princede Condc, killed

for the Protestant

while fifrhtin''

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

realm, received the

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.

the council board.

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

beinga Huguenot,he intended to

enjoythe publicexercise of his faith,until""
continued his majesty,
by way of temperingthe
of his expressions,
until the
previousvivacity
submission of all parties
in the realm to our
lawful authority,
shall permitus to attend to the
of religious
A few other
matter
controversy."
**

"

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

of the cardinal is attached

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

and witticisms had caused his

learning
valued by the king; who
to be highly
society
The
see
applaudedhis liberal sentiments.
of Evreux

was

the

revelations.

bribe offered for du

He

also received the

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

had she established

firmly
her power
the king. From
the day that
over
the fate forced npon
Gabrielle d'Estrees accepted

her,her aim

matters, so

seems

to have

been

sooner

or

later

Henry's throne. She dailyreceived

of a queen
with the ceremony and dignity
in
publicthe kingstood hat in hand while in her
indulgedin gusts
Henry occasionally
presence.
of jealousy
whenever the duke de Bellegarde
entranced as of yore, in the fair preappeared,
sence
to

share

of the favourite.
that

Gabrielle
audience

admitted

story was

circulated

Bellegardeto

vate
pri-

during any temporary absence

of his majesty. One
said that,
day, it was
the duke
was
Henry returning
unexpectedly,
compelledto hide himself in a small garde-robe
de
opening from the apartment of madame
Liancour.
The king purposely
asked to taste
rare
some
sweetmeats, which he knew were
kept
in this closet. Finding the door locked,his
was
confirmed, and he inmajesty's
suspicion

350

HISTORY

sisted

the
entering

on

had
therefore,

no

the duke,
had

was

chamber.
but

resource

from the window

[1591.

OF

Bellegarde,

to throw

beneath which, fortunately

for

flower-bed,the mould

himself

been
recently

turned/

foundation for this

story,or

Whether
the

of which
there

was

king resented

its

certain it is,that about this

propagation,
periodhis majestyamicablydismissed the duke
de Bellegarde
from court, prohibiting
him from
returningthither until after his own marriage.^
de Liancour's intimate associates
Amongst madame
lor
were
Rosny and his brother,the chancelde Cheverny,d'O, and M. de Balagny,who
espoused Diane, her eldest sister ; a
eventually
ladywhose repute was notorious almost as that

of the abbess of Maubuisson.

All the illustrious

ladies of the court of

Henry III. stillpaid their

homage by letter only to the sovereign. The
prudery attributed to Madame, rendered her
service as littledesirable to these stately
dames,
as
they deemed it to tolerate the equivocal
tion
posiof Gabrielle d'Estrees,or the undisguised
of queen Marguerite.
levity
An event, meantime, happened which at first
1

Histoire des Amours

Lorraiue.
"^

The

de Henri

IV. par Louise

de
Marguerite

Elzevir,Lcjdcu, 1G67.
did

enforce this mandate.

strictly
The
duke
de Bellegarde
espousedin 1595, Anne de Beuil,
daughterof Honore sicur de Fontaine,and Anne, daughterof
Louis

de

king

not

Beuil,count

however

de Sancerre.

1592.]

THE

REIGN

OF

HENRY

351

IV.

consternation. The young

producedunmitigated
duke de Guise,who from the period
of his arrest
after the

of Blois,had been incarcerated

massacre

in the citadel of Tours, made

The

duke's

was
jailer

his escape thence.

de Rouvray,a staunch

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
"

archers and twelve Swiss

soldiers : six of these

watched
the prisoner
night
persons alternately
and day,and followed him wherever he stirred.

night,this illustrious young princewas

of his servants,who were
locked up by
deprived
the guardsin a separatechamber, while his own
"At

apartment the door of which

chained

"

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."^

marquisde Souvre was

regard of Henri IV.
addressed
by the kingto

nobleman, who

and

flambeaux,

numerous

each in turn,

archers,who

barred

was

"

honour

severe

honoured
Numberless

by

the most

short

this valiant and

to the age and

espionnage

the

tionate
affec-

letters

are

trulyexcellent

reignin which

he lived.
2

Discours

Guise

"

veritable de la delivrance miraculeuse

Archives Curieuses,t. xiii.

de M. de

352

HISTORY

had been

adoptedat

[1591.

OF

the command

of the late king

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

influence of the duchess had declined.

which
Spanishinclinations,

resented her
to

the

and

Mayenne
tended

elevation of the infanta to the throne

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

of the first martyr of the

realm," the idol of

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

to baffle for a brief

as
cleverly
occasionally
interval their search. On the eveningof the
concealed in a
18th of August, a cord was
SO

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

by the duke's valet,who

After matins
to share his master's perils.
was
the eventful morning,M. de Guise proposed
on
to his guardsa trialof speed up to the clockdeclined.
tower of the castle. This pastime
was
The duke then himself suddenlystarted off at
the corridor
great speedto an upper gallery,
upon
of which his sleeping
apartment opened.

This cord

secreted

was

thick door studded with bars and bolts closed

the entrance

to

the door and

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,

mistress of the robes

Sclioinberg,
connected with the house
to queen Louise,wiio was
intimately
This lady's
maiden name
Jeanne
of Guise.
was
Chateigner,
d'Oisel ct de Villeparisis.
of Ilenri Clutiu,seigneur
daughter
1

Probably
by Madame

de

1592.]

REIGN

THE

HENRY

OF

355

IV.

greatestresolution and promptitude,

who chanced to be in his
aided by two valets,
bed-chamber, attached the cord to the bar of the
the

with

window, and tyinga poleto the end of the rope,

descent.
a
commenced, a califourchon,
perilous
of
The window overlooked the river,at a height
feet.

100

the
Fortunately

low, the bed of the river

feet,when

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

the foot of the tower

ran
rising,
sent by M.

towards

at

closed ; and

to
compelled

were

waited.^

Fortunately

mid-daythe gates of
as

but

spot where the agents

de la Chastre

for the duke

were

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

the river bank, Guise

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-

uproar from the citadel. The

of his consternation,
sprang

the

horse

the

and

upon
gallopedat full speed towards

ford at St. Avertin. The

a

state of fierce

town

by that time

was

in

commotion, and the soldiersof the

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.

gesturesof the duke finally

of the party rode
their attention,
one
attracting
back and demanded,
Qui vive ?" The duke

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.

the fortunate evasion

to be

dral;
chanted in the cathe-

to

Te

and

then set out

at
Bourges,

The

"

The

the head of

conduct the duke

to
an

escort

of 600

to

men.

of the escape of Guise was

brought
Noyon.
Henry while he was besieging

news

king

to

Deum

La Chastre firstcommanded

enemies

more

med
exclaihave," valiantly

king, greaterhonour will their defeat

confer !"
The political
consequences of the
alarmed the king;
event, nevertheless,
seriously
but after reflexion,
Henry exclaimed, We
for we have no longer
have heard evil tidings,
chief hostagefor the lives of any of our
a
fall into the fangs
faithful servants wdio may
of M. de Mayenne: but attend to my words,
of M. de Guise is the ruin of the
the flight
League!" Henry alluded to the dissension
between
the
to ensue
and bitter rivalry
likely
of Mayenne
uncle and the nephew; the policy
evitably
while that of Guise would inbeingself-interested,
H. The throne
follow in the wake of Philip
de lis,and the hand of the comely
of the fteurs
the

"

"

infanta

vistastoo brilliantnot to dazzle the

were

of
imagination
^

ueur

Discours

Thou, liv. 101.

MMS.

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.

Perefixe Hist, de Henri IV.

Bibl. Imp, Beth, ct

Dupuys.

Le

Grain

"

Decade

de

Journal de Henri IV.

358

HISTORY

of
kingreceived intelligence

tiaie that the

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

head of this brave officerwas

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-

of the age. La None, like other of Henry's

suffered
ancient adherents,had, nevertheless,
much

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
"

"

I believe his escape is to be attributed

of his guards,
rather than to
to the negligence
Tours.

'

Amyraut
"

Vie de

Leyde, 1061.

Franfoisde
M6m.

militairc."Basic,1599.

MS.

la Noue

de la Noue
Bibl.

dit Bras de Fcr.

et discours

"

zevir,
El-

et
politique

Imp.Suppl.fr. 1009.

1592.]

THE

REIGN

OF

HENRY

I should bear this bad news

disloyalty.
but for worse
which
patiently,
tidings
it ; namely,
the death of M. de

from

wound.

359

IV.

more
panied
accom-

la Noue

I had sent the latterto

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

persons for the most part whose interests

as diverse as their religious
principles.
In Rome, the escape of Guise

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

"

exclaimed Gaetano. Madame

^

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

since the rise of madame

of mademoiselle

abated for the

Gabrielle ;

king
though she

often expressed
and sonally
to see the latter,
curiosity
perlauded.
to judgeof the beautyso highly
The

which

successful issue of the

carried

was

August, in

by

siegeof Noyon,

assault

on

the presence of the

the 17th of

king,greatly

elated the

The duke de Maroyalpartisans.^

the duke
yenne advanced to Ham, and joined
in military
in the hope of
d'Aumale
operations,
drawingoff the royal
troops. The duke's forces
consisted of 10,000 infantry
and 2000 horse.
Henry showed greatreadiness to offerbattle ; but
counters
Mayeune who had alwaysbeen worsted in enwith his majesty,
withdrew to the opposite

bank of the Somme,

and contented himself

with

menacingdemonstrations. Noyon had

attacked by the king,because
been ostensibly
sorties of its garrison,
the predatory
moded
incomof St. Quentin,Corbie,
the royal
towns
and Compiegne. It was
however that
believed,
de Cocuvres were chiefly
the wishes of the marquis
consulted. The town
of Noyon was
wealthy
and

considerable ; and

M. d'Estrces desired the

which
government of the district,
'

Discours

au

dc
vray dc la prise

Noyon.
"

Mem

at the solicide la Ligue,

t. iv.

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

letters addressed to Gabrielle were

The
the

sans

command

Rosuy, by
which the

ne

kingto Rosny ; who

exacted.
sent

by

after the arrivalof every

with great formality

upon her
them.
Often the king sent messages
to present
express, waited

besides,which Rosny was

impart.^
of
the neighbourhood

to

During his sojournin

Noyon the king received the earl of Essex, who
attended by a suite of sixty
gentlemen,
presented
himself to kiss his majesty's
hand ; and to oflPer
of 4,000 Englishtroopsand
the noble succour
500 horse on behalf of her Britannic majesty.
arrival of Essex, then

The

favour with Elizabeth,was

friends and foes as

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

in the zenith of his

cth. MS.

ce

"

A M.

de Rosny. J'ai

pourrons fournir d'hommes.

Si

a vous
prcscnte,je n'oublicray

ad-

fuitcs m'cu tciiirla response,

resolution do I'adorer. Bousoir !"

maitrcsse
ma

follows

of her de-

9129. fol.3.

1592.]

THE

OF

KEIGN

HENRY

3C3

IV.

uphold the king under every

Henry was besieging
possiblecombination.
the approachof the earl was
Pierrefons when

termination

to

announced.

de Chaulne received the

The count

Compiegneon the 29th of August.

of the earl's retinue excited admiration.
The splendour
He was
by six pages dressed
preceded
and
in liveriesof orange velvet,
by six trumpeters,
by six footmen. The attire of the earl,and the
ambassador

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

the earl of Essex.

madame, surpassed
my

though I
you
who

have

therein,

daringaspirations,
presumedto ask from

most

should not have

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

"

took leave and

England. The Englishauxiliaries

of Sir Roger Williams were
command

to

'

Life of

Egertonp. 415, et

seq.

364

HISTORY

therefore sent into

of queen

[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

September,king Henrydepartedfrom Chauny to receive the great

German
escorted
His
majesty was
army.
by a troop of 800 horse. He passedthrough
the towns of Crescy,
and
Poliot,La Capelle,
and on the 21st of September
Maubert-Fontaine,
arrived at Cassine-le-Duc,
a
strongholdand
The
to the duke de Nevers.
palace
appertaining
the neighbouring
castle
duke, who was besieging
of Aumont, received the kingwith magnificence.
Nevers was
accompanied
by the dukes de Lonand Moutpensier,
the count de St. Paul
gueville
and MM. de Gramont, Biron,Larchant,d'Auchy,
and

of

other chief nobles.

welcomed

king was

by the

The brilliantduchesse
the

Within

reignof Henry HI.

de Valois,had

the ca"tlethe

duchess

de Nevers.

of
the coquette
Henriette,
and

guerite
the friend of Mar-

now

subsided

into the

conversant with the

politician,
Henry thanked the duchesse
helpin the recaptureof the town of

grave and earnest

vicissitudesof war.
for her recent
LaVarenne

andthe castleofLaFcrte from theduke

de Nemours.
sent

the

join the

Madame

promptly
to
protection

de Nevers had

guard left for her own

royalforces; and 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

the inhabitants and

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

for his faithfulservant

the king destined

heritage
M.

was

succeeded

Marck

was

Amongst
eldest

son

Nevers

to

the

of
princely
heritage

La

that she should espouse a Protestant.

her suitors were
de Bar
the duke
of the duke

M.

de Lorraine,the heir of

de Rhetal, the duke

de

Nemours,

and

the first cousin of the young princess,

the
Turenne,however,the king
princede Dombes.
selected from

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

de Bouillon died at Geneva

under

Dhona

at

after the defeat of the

Vimory by the

duke

de Guise

in

1587, leavinghis sister heiress of his immense

possessions.

Anselme

de France

Du

"

Hist,

Bouchet

"

des

grandsOfficiersde

la

couronne

Genealogiesdes comtes de la Marck.

"

366

HISTORY

health of the duchess

[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
"

in her castle of Sedan

been

the overtures

made

and countless had

to
princes
by foreign

obtain the rich fiefsof Bouillon.

de Turenne

arrived at Sedan

on

The viscount

his return from

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

leave of the duchess.

The

German

battle array

on

army, meanwhile,encamped in
mas
the plains
of Vandy on Michael-

It consisted of 16,000 men,

Day, 1591.
under able chieftains. In the
all picked
soldiers,
cadets of the
of Anhalt were
staff of the prince
chief Protestant houses of Germany ; and the
celebrated Rokendolf was
camp-master. When

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

collation in the tent of the

accepteda splendid
general-in-chief
; after which
Henry returned to
at Grandpre.*
head-quarters
with the entrance into
Almost simultaneously
France

of the

German

troops,the

succours

by pope Gregoryfor the service of the

dition.
League arrived,though in a very broken conThe cavalry
amounted
to 1,000 horse ;
and
but the foot regiments,
decimated by rapine
along their
by the plunderof the vineyards
passage, entered Lorraine in miserable disarray.
had risen high amongst
Dissension,moreover,

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-

rather than deference.

by Mayenne
by the

duke

zucchi,commandant

de Lorraine,and

by CapiSpanishregiments

of the

in the pay of the League. The advance of the

king on the 1st of October at the head of

4,000

men,

ludicrous

caused

the Italian camp,

consternation amongst the

to reconnoitre

levies of his holiness.

Henry offered battle

precipitation,

the chieftains; but with the utmost

after

slightskirmish,the

Marciano

to

duke

de

entrenched himself in the

Montetown

of

panicwhich he had inflictedappears

the king,who
to have deHghted
greatly
the encounter
wrote
a
graphicdespatchdescribing
I keepcarefully
to the duke de Nevers.
all the helmets of the slain to shew you,"
his majesty.On the 6tli of
wTote
ironically
October Henry paid a visit to Nevers, who was
stillbesieging
Aumont, a castlewhich though
capturedby the League,was the duke's private
with his own
hand,pointed
property. The king,
The

Verdun.

"

'

Who

seems

to have

been sent

the turbulent cundotticri. Matteuci

gencral.

as

generalbetween
titleof conunissary-

mediator

bore the

370

HISTORY

[1591.

OF

necessary to insure the success

which his
an
siegeof Rouen
enterprise

of the

measures

"

at

lengthresolved

upon,

partlyout

of deference

for the counsels of queen Elizabeth.

The affairs of the League, since the
of Louviers

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

his council had

their forces and

for the elevation of

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

liands of his ambassador.

fruit for

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

Catholic faith; but

of Parma

leave the

have

doled in secret,but every

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

king; but until that preliminary

he felt not disposed
to make
was
accomplished,
increased donations of men
or
money." Philip
lauded

zeal of the council of 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

Isabel,on condition of her

marriage with

Davila, lib.12. Mathieu

fore,
interview,there-

second

"

Prench

Eegne de

Henri

et seq.
B

prince.

IV. liv. i.p. 69

373

HISTORY

[1591.

OF

Amongst other demands, the duke had desired

his agent to stipulatethat he should retain his
until after the coronation
presenthigh command
gundy
of the new
sovereign
; that the duchy of Bur"

should be ceded to him

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

the states had

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

beheld himself bound

yenne
Ma-

and foot

terprise,
preventedfrom undertaking
any great en-

and

except on

publicsupport
"

hand

of

condition of his active and

the

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

rendered it at this perioddoubtful

those rebels would

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

Rhetal, and demanded

at

the re-establishment

of the council of

Fortyand the seals for

Sesnault.
censured Villeroy,
They also severely
de Brisson,and the
Jeannin, the first president
they
governor of Paris M. de Belin,allof whom
accused of being royalists
and hostile to the
ambassadors of the Catholic king. Mayenne,as
with
usual, dismissed his brawlingpetitioners
undissembled
contempt.'On the return of the
to Paris a secret
vened,
condeputation
meetingwas
and
mously
address to king Philipunanian
voted.

"

We

thank

your

Catholic

majestyfor your most benign favour," wrote

these demagogues. We
trust that the united
of your majestyand of his holiness will
arms
enemy
archdeliver us
of our
from the oppressions
"

;
our

who for

cityin

one

than

more

mode

or

year has blockaded

We
another.
sure
ascan
a

that the aspiration

your Catholic majesty,
of all true Catholics is to behold your majesty
*

Journal de Heuri IV.

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

to select without delaya sonpleasure,

in-law whom
we
pledgeourselves to acceptfor
our
king. We trust that the benediction of the
Almightywill rest on the aUiance of the serene
Infanta,as aforetime on the marriageof the very
and Christian princess
Blanche
madame
puissant
de
Castille,the mother of our
mighty and
king St. Louis. We will receive the
religious
daughterof your Catholic majestyas the representative
of that august princess
; for the virtues
of the most
dona Isabel alreadyrivet
serene
universal admiration."
The letter was
signed
by all the leaders of the Seize,and sent to
Madrid
by an ecclesiastic named Le Pere Mathieu.^ This overture was
not made
so
secretly
but that it came
to the knowledgeof Brisson,
first president
notified
of the parhament,who

your

the

fact to

the governor of Paris M. de Belin.

Belin,in his turn, sent an express to the duke
de Mayenne. The rage of the malcontents was
excessive :
Brisson

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

his entry into Paris.

375

IV.

HENRY

streets

of the

dukede

Guise

members

of the

that theybeheld the advent of

Seize,imagining
Philip'swell-beloved son-in-law,received the

noisy demonstrations and tedious

chilled the hot
harangues. Guise somewhat
enthusiasm of these sycophants
by his gloom
of manner.
and haughtyreserve
The paleface,
the tall,
and sombre
attire of the
figure,
slight
de Montpensier;
duke
madame
disappointed
"who descried in her nephew'sdeportment
little
of that tact and
to a
suavityindispensable
popularhero.
Meanwhile, a fresh incident happenedwhich
achieved the exasperation
of the ex-council of
a
pected
susPorty. One Brigart,
municipalofficer,
for his royalist
tendencies,
by these men
bad an
uncle an
officer in the neighbouring
of St. Denis.
domestic
garrison
Having some
to his relative,
to communicate
matters
Brigart
entered
wrote
a
note, in which he imprudently
the condition of the
into details respecting
stituted
inwas
peopleof Paris. The strictest scrutiny
duke

with

at

the barriers

letters and

as

to

the

papers leavingthe
therefore,rolled his note

placedit
was

contents

of

gart,
capital.Briin tow,

and

which his servant

stopperto a bottle,
desired to get filled with wine at a

as

376

HISTORY

shop
was

in

the

the bottle

the

faubourg. At
the

examined, and
was

gate the man

being detected,

ruse

and

broken

[1591.

OF

the lettercaptured.

and the Seize

arrested,
Brigartwas
immediately
for his
to the parliament
a
petition
preferred
trialon the chargeof treasonable communication

with Le

Navarrois.

The

Chambers, however,rejected

the

and dismissed
petition,
the pleathat the letter in
on
culprit
not

be

construed
;

into

and that evidence

had

that such

been

the

the

alleged

itselfcould

treasonable communication

wantingto

was

animus

prove
of the writer.

Upon this decision, a privatemeeting took

place in the house of one Boursier, ostensibly
fresh taxes
about
to
protest against some
be
to
imposed upon the city. The most
violent abuse
the
with

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

put down Mayenne and his party; the first

stepto effect which, would be the inflictionof

to

summary
duke dc

vengeance

Mayenne
of Le

was

on

the

president.The

alluded to under the

Colosse,from his

enormous

briquet
sou-

emhoU'

point; while the marquis dc Belin,governor of

nicknamed
Le Renard.
A few days
Paris,was

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

duringthe earlypartof Mayenne's

dictatorship
met

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

to elect by ballot a supreme

secrecy and unity,
council of Ten, which w^as
to take the initiative

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

Spanishambassadors Mendoza and Evora. These

ministers approvedthe purpose of the Seize;
but
declined to be openly concerned in the
matter.
The following
day ten members were
to w^hose decision the affair of Brigart
elected,
referred. De Lannoy,Pelletier,
was
Crome, and
Martin were
named
as
one
honorarymembers
of the secret council
the treason
of Brigart
being well understood by these personages.
"

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

step without the sanction

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

the oath with

to you

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

During the following

days the same fraud was
that
believing
practised
successfully
; the people
the oath of the Union
theywere alone subscribing
of the
The sittings
a formula familiar to all.
council of Ten were
holden in the apartments
of De Lannoy. The first designof the conspirators

"

was

but

to assassinate Brisson in his house ;

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

the resolve of the malcontents.

shaken

The

duke's

and

obvious

His
was
prestige
gone.
manoeuvringfor his own

indecision

interests,

led the factions to believe that their bold enterprise

as it
unpunished,
especially
was
approvedby the Spanishenvoys.
On
the night of the 14th of November, the
conspirators
appearedin arms, all beingprepared
for the execution of the plot. They met before

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

and lefta memorial

Ligoretto,
signedby Bussy,Louchard, Sainton,Lannoy,
Ameline, statingthe reason
why they liad

taken

made

arms.
a

Hamilton,

similar progress

cure

to

the

of St. Cosmo,
abodes

of the

1592.]

REIGN

THE

OF

381

IV.

HENRY

and of the commander

of the Ttahan
legate,
in garrison.
No
regiments
great demonstration
made ; the few people
abroad accustomed to
was
witness the orators of the sections holdingforth
in the neighbourhood
of the Sorbonne,passedon,
tated.
mediwas
ignorantthat any special
enterprise
Brisson usuallyquittedhis house at
dawn to transact legalbusiness at the Palais.
Bussy, Louchard, Le Normant, and Amroux,
therefore,lay in wait on the pont St. Michel,
needs traverse en route
which the president
must
to the Chambers.

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

throughLe Marche Neuf towards the

protests,
prisonof the Chatelet,which he was finally
compelledto

enter.

There every
had been made

for the cruel tragedy

preparation
by Cruce, who boughtover the
jailer
JacquesDanton by a bribe,and the promise
office in the
of promotionto the same
also had been despatched
A summons
Conciergerie.
Jean Boseau.
for the public
executioner,
Brisson
of the

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

correspondedwith the king of

lately
Navarre?"
The
president shortlyreplied,
Have you not givenyour silverplate
No."
Brisson replied
to the said Navarrois ?"
ficantly,
signihad been mysteriously
that his plate
stolen from his abode."
Why," asked Crome,
had

not

"

"

"

"

"

did you 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

had been arrested

liya partyof

as

tents
malcon-

He entered,and
pistols.

was

1592.]

THE

REIGN

OF

HENRY

3S3

IV.

placedbefore the tribunal of the Seize as

and
Hamilton
quittedthe chamber.
troop

of

confederates

broughtM.
that

was

the

another
time

same

whose
Tardif to the Chatelet,
he

the

crime

recentlyblamed the proceedings

Seize in a public
harangue; and

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

for the executioner.

"

this tribunal,decree the death

of the

Brisson.

him

hang him

He
!"

"

I dare

"

unless you

not

is below.
was

Fetch

the laconic command

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

d'etre le chef des

tiquesde Paris; Larcber

comme

Tardif

la salute

comme

emiemi

de

un

fauteur

Ligue,et

et poliberetiques
des beietiques,
et
des princes
catbo-

Lettres,t. ii. p. 304.

liques
qui la soutenoient. Pasquier,
du Sieur
Coufessiou Catbolique
Brisson.
mot
au
Scaligeriana
"

de

Sancy.

"

384

HISTORY

[1501.

OF

Cruce tlien read aloud the sentence

havingfirst compelledBrisson
of his hat and

robe,and

to

listened with composure

concludedHe then rose,

of the Seize,
divest himself

to

kneel.

The

dent
presi-

until the document

and

with

eloquent

fervour,protested
againstthe cruel and lawless
He

for a trial; and appealed

to
petitioned
the justice,
the religion,
and the humanityof his
hearers.
A loud laugh shook the assembly.
act.

"

Ilfaut mourir, President,il faut mourir !"

Cruce.
then

was

seized and

further

bound

by

Brisson
parley,
the executioner.

given him to confess

priestly
demagogues present. A

moment

the

Without

to

was

then attached to

iterated
re-

ladder lashed to

of

one

w^as

rope

beam, and

from this rude

realm

of the
the firstmagistrate
gallows
plished,
accomhanged.'This catastrophe

was

the fate of the two

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

rcucontrc dcs assassinalcurs.

"

"

Discours

Ensemble

sur

la raort de

les arrests donues

Paris,1595, cliez Jean Kichct.

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

tilled with spectators

publicsquares were
; but
movement
no
was
attempted.
insurrectionary
Brisson was popular,
exceptingwith the faction
His varied gifts
were
guiltyof his murder.
remembered
with regret; his learninglauded ;
and his lamentable fate deplored.'The Seize,
meantime, harangued,menaced, and caballed.
At

one

time, the sections threatened

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

sections will have

"

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,

unless the duke could

"

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

regaltitleto Henry IV.

The

marquisde Belin,the chief members of the

and
the
duchesses, despatched
municipality,
to the same
eflFect. Monseigneur,
envoys hourly
"

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

assassin into his army

to kill him
from a poniard. When
this position
prodiscussed,one of the zealots rose
c

388
and

HISTORY

cried

honour

"

of

Confer

[1591.

OF

messieurs,the

me,

upon

first blessed blow.

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

support the sections. Nevertheless,the

resolved
rising,

on

body
the

to

tlie hotel de Guise

of the

sentiments

demand

proceed in

first to

of Lyons.
archbishop

de

headed
democrats,therefore,

of the

array of

by Crome, during

of November

de Nemours.

the hotel of madame

then to

and

tumultuous

the afternoon of the 22nd

Belin

ascertain

princesses
; and

of M.

audience

"

to

sembly,
as-

invested
The

chiefs

into the presence of the duchess

behaved
with great
daughter,who

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

the Hotel de Ville

action.
pacific

as

The

sons

Crome

de

boldly

should remain

at

guarantee of his father's

duchess

de

Montpensier,

1592.]

THE

REIGN

however, well versed

seemed

so

OF

HENRY

in

populardeclamation,

thoroughlyto

sentiments and deeds of the

and

before her,that Crome

389

IV.

fraternize with
crew

his

of

the

demagogues

troopwithdrew,

enrapturedwith her assurances.

himself with extreme
Belin expressed
serve;
reand leftthe right
and justice
of the summary

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

temper of the chief amongst the Parisians,

neglected.Mayenne beheld the

greatLeague on the eve of extinction by its own

not

to

be

internal dissensions and rivalries.His

adherence

390

HISTORY

[1391-

OF

thereto had

him ; his lands Mere

impoverished
mortgaged; and his rich personalty
pledged

for the

payment

The

war.

of debts

heritageof

in the south

parties
; her

was
revenues

madame

desolated
were

contracted for the

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

quartersof the army

placeabout

of the duke's

at

Montcornet,

On hearing
leaguefrom Laon.
and of the
precipitate
departure,

in Paris,Evora set out to overtake

catastrophes
plomacy,
Mayenne ; hopingby the adoptionof that diwhich had
half menace,
half persuasion,
often })roved
to arrest measures
so
efficacious,
of severity. He
a
representedthat when
and in a state of
disorganized
government was
that political
crimes ought not to
transition,
be punishedwith the rigourwhich they merited
in times of peace ; that the Seize were
loyal
Frenchmen
and
good citizens; that Brisson
and his colleagues
had givengreat provocation

1592.]

THE

KEIGN

OF

to the sections ; that

HENRY

391

IV.

doubtless

plotexisted to

deliver up the

cityto the princeof Beam

that Mayenne could not punishthe
finally
without exciting
a sedition.
The

to

crime

duke

listened with his usual stolid froid.

sangand M. de Vitry,aide-de-camp
Villeroy

the

the logicof
resolutely

duke, combated

wily Spaniard.
to

and

These

"

said miscreants

the

wish

abolish allrule ; have

abohtion of

they not proposedthe

and the plunderand division
royalty,

of all the castles and

lands of the realm ?

Mon-

said Vitry, I myselfwill arrest these

seigneur,"
wretches !" Mayenne arrived at Vincennes
on
the 28th day of November.
of
A
concourse
"

citizens there met

he entered

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

the coimcil had assembled to welcome

chief.

debate

ensued, before the duke

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

to insure the peace of the realm

necessity
of Paris ; the chieftainsof
namely the preachers
the soldiers of the Spanish
the Seize ; and
the
whose disaffection and pillage
were
garrison,
The following
of countless excesses.
source
day,
Mayenne sent to demand from Bussy-le-Clerc
the keys of the Bastille, The consternation was
"

from the army of

the city
at dawn,
Laon entered and had occupied
excessive

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.

the duke, then

Bastille. Cannon
arsenal to the Place

timelysubmission, and retired to his own

house.
During the subsequent three days,
the
made
secret
was
investigation
respecting
in the
murder
of Brisson and his colleagues
time,
presence of M. de Mayenne. The duke, meanaffected greatdeference for the Seize
chroniclers assert

and

invited Bussy,
actually
to a banquet
Crome, Boucher,Cruce, and others,

some

394
who
sections,
tion/

now

[1591.

OF

HISTORY

humbly imploredher protec-.

At the solicitationof the duchess, an

act

of

amnesty was issued by Mayenne on the 10th

of December, from the benefit of which Cochery,
Crome, and Bussy-le-Clerc
cepted
exwere
specially
-^

and

were

doomed

form

or

if arrested within the realm, they

to be broken

on

the wheel without

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
'

theirlivesand the confiscationof their substance."

The

decree concludes

by

an

under
injunction,

perilof life,to all persons to denounce such

and
to
give notice, should it
assemblages
;
their knowledge, that such
were
to
come
without one
meditated. The edict was
registered
dissentient voice by the parhament
of Paris. From
thenceforth the arbitrary
power of the turbulent
Their
demagoguesof the Hotel de Ville expired.
1

"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,

Bois, Oudincau, Godon, Poteau, Luppe, Loyau, Thomassiii,

amnestied at the requestof

Regis,Bourtiu--all eventually
to return
dame
de Monlpeusier,
without permission
thougli
France.

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

their iron rule hateful.

of the Seize

was

the first stroke

the dissolution of the

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

of the Hotel de Ville

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

"

adherents of the Seize

"

on

the

duke

of
degradation

de

Guise

even

the

cityorators.

refused to

The

communicate

longerwith a party deprivedof the power of

moving publicsympathy; and whose leaders
either exiled from the capital
were
or
subjectto
rigidsurveillance. The licence of the cures of
The duke
the capital,
checked.
was
moreover,
de Mayenne caused it to be intimated to all the

396

HISTORY

[1591.

OF

that political
priests,
haranguesin
would

their churches

visited with

for the future be

deprivation

of benefices and exile ; and he bade the turbulent

churchmen

that the virtues of

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

the late duke

the

had

been

de

faction,whose

firmness

this crisis by

downfall of the Seize,or

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

beyond future palliation.

Mayenne felt
the difficultiesof his position too soon
the
bitterness of his success
was
developed. You
have heard," wrote
the king to the duke de
selves
Montmorency, how those rebels who call themtreason

"

"

'

Le

Conseil des Seize

'

put

to

death the

de Brisson and two counsellors.

president
duke de Mayenne,since his arrivalin Paris,
and
hanged ten of these said incendiaries,

first

The
has

taken the Bastille from

has

caused

Paris.

the

It does

another.

Moreover, he

Spanishgarrisonto
not

appear

to

me

evacuate

that

such

be well

to the king of Spain;

pleasing
and it is my opinionthat there will soon
be a
breach between
the confederates. How
1 long
for such an event, you may imagine. The said
duke de Mayenne has now
Paris to give
quitted
the rendezvous
of Parma.
If they
to the duke
will try to
down
come
we
straight
me,
upon
to the meeting; which God, by his
giverenown

doingscan

grace, will order for the welfare and repose of

this realm.'"
Henry was then before Rouen ;
and
'

Mayenne, when
A

Et. MS.

mon

cousin le due de

1009.

called

the

by

uproar

in

Montnioreucy.Bibl. Imp. Su]jpl.

"

398

HISTORY

Paris,was
Parma

his way to confer with the duke of

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

"

"

decree the election of the infanta

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

"

of himself take the initiative,

nor
for in that

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

for the facile manner

and
flowed

at

command

upon

in

which

the most

his

trivial

which friend and

sensibility
duke also gave
to provoke. The
foe delighted
licence to the High Court
decree
to execute
a
of Roseau
voted,for the decapitation
unanimously
had hanged their late first
the headsman, who
M. de Brisson.
president,
occurred at this
Other political
compHcations
season
owing to the unsettled condition of affairs
The death of GregoryXIV. happened
in Rome.
The papalpolicy
the 15th of October, 1591.
on
havingbeen but the reflex of that adoptedby
sinister rumours
the Spanishcabinet,no
were
the demise of his hohness.
current
respecting
The kingof France, by the death of the pontiff,
lost an inveterate enemy ;'while the Leaguewas
further hamperedby the refusal of the duke de
occasion

"

maudlin

Monte-Marciano

to

move

from

the environs of

Le pape Gregoire,"says de Thou, " etait credule,simple,

la bouche ouverte et rioit saus
cesse.
et facile;il avait.toujours
^

"

Cette mauvaise habitude

le rendoit ridicule."

400

HISTORY

Verdun
the
met

until he had

new

some

Giovanni Eachinetti
of

received instructions from

pontiff.The

when, after

Tuesday,the

[1591.

OF

was

29th

conclave

immediately

clamour, the cardinal

elected

the

on

of October.

evening

The

new

of Innocent IX. ; but as his

pope took the name
holiness survived his elevation to the tiara only
two

months, being all but bed-ridden

periodof
as

supreme

his election,
his virtues and
ruler

of Christendom

were

at

the

capacity
not

monstrate
de-

previouslifehad been one of

of
chief publicacts
learned seclusion.
The
to promise the continuance of
Innocent
were
for
the monthlysubsidyof 50,000 goldcrowns
of the war
in France, granted
the prosecution
by his bigotedpredecessor.He also sent a
cardinal's hat to Sega bishopof Placentia ; and
mission as papal
a confirmation of that prelate's
in ordinary,
resident in France.
legate
The meetingof the third conclave within little
than the space of a year, was
more
distinguished
by scandalous broilsand contests. Each potentate
date,
beingresolved to effectthe elevation of his candigree
and intimidation prevailed
to a debribery
His

before unknown.

The cardinals in conclave

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,