The memorialls of Margaret de Valoys, first wife to Henry the fourth, King of France and Navarre compiled in French by her owne most delicate and royall hand : and translated into English by Robert Codrington ...
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Title
The memorialls of Margaret de Valoys, first wife to Henry the fourth, King of France and Navarre compiled in French by her owne most delicate and royall hand : and translated into English by Robert Codrington ...
Author
Marguerite, Queen, consort of Henry IV, King of France, 1553-1615.
Publication
London :: Printed by R. H.,
1641.
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Subject terms
Marguerite, -- Queen, consort of Henry IV, King of France, 1553-1615.
France -- Court and courtiers.
Cite this Item
"The memorialls of Margaret de Valoys, first wife to Henry the fourth, King of France and Navarre compiled in French by her owne most delicate and royall hand : and translated into English by Robert Codrington ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/a51922.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 9, 2024.
Pages
descriptionPage 77
The Memorialls of Queen
MARGARET. The Second Booke.
CERTAIN dayes after,
some faithfull servants of
the King my Husband
having made him under∣stand
the artifice by the
means whereof he was
led unto destruction, by estranging him∣selfe
and his affections from my Brother,
and my selfe, from whom he ought to ex∣pect
his greatest succour, and growing
now into neglect, as the King began to
undervalue him, they caused him to
speak unto my Brother, who since the
departure of Bussi had no way amended
descriptionPage 78
his condition; for every day Le Guast
caused him to receive some new indigni∣ties,
and knowing that they were both in
the same condition at Court, being both
out of favour, and that Le Guast alone did
govern the world, that they must begge
to him for whatsoever they desired to ob∣tain
of the King; and if they chanced to
demand any thing they were rejected
with contempt, that if any one had made
himself their servant, he forthwith was
cryed down, and laden with a thousand
slanders and complaints, perceiving also
that their disunion was their ruine, they
resolved to unite and retire themselves
from Court, and to assemble their ser∣vants
and friends together, to demand of
the King a condition and respect worthy
of them, my Brother having not yet the
exhibition for his maintenance, and main∣taining
himself on certain ill assigned pen∣sions
which came unto him onely when it
pleased Le Guast, and the King my Hus∣band
no way rejoycing in his government
of Guyenne, he being not permitted to go
unto it, or to any other of his Principa∣lities.
This resolution being taken, my
Brother spake unto me and said that they
two were now made perfect friends, and
that he much desired that the King my
descriptionPage 79
Husband and I should be the like, and
intreated me to forget whatsoever before
had passed betwixt us, adding that the
King my Husband told him that he was
heartily sorry for it, and now perceived
that our enemies were too strong and sub∣tile
for us, that he was resolved now entire∣ly
to affect me, and to grant unto me all
desired satisfaction, he besought me also
that for my part I would love him, and in
his absence assist him in his affaires; they
both agree on this resolution, that my
Brother should depart first, stealing away
in a Caroach, and that certain dayes after
the King my Husband should follow him
under pretence of going to the Chace, be∣ing
both very sorry that they could not
take me with them, neverthelesse assuring
themselves, it being known they were a∣broad,
that none durst offer any violence
to me, intending to make it speedily ap∣peare,
that their intention was no way to
trouble France, but only to establish a
condition worthy of their quality, and to
secure their persons, for among these
late troubles they alledged, that they
were not without great danger of their
lives: whether this feare of theirs were
well grounded or no, or whether they
who desired the ruine and division of our
descriptionPage 80
House (the better to prevaile themselves)
had caused such alarmes to be given them,
by the daily advertisements they recei∣ved.
The Evening being come, a little be∣fore
the supper of the King was served in,
my Brother changing his cloake, and muf∣fling
it about his face, went forth attended
only with one Servant, who was not
known, and walked on foot as farre as
Saint Honorius gate, where he found him∣selfe
provided with a Caroach which he
borrowed of a Lady for that purpose, into
which being mounted, he came as farre as
certaine houses about a quarter of a mile
from Paris, where having horses that at∣tended
him, he there planted himself in the
Saddle, and about a mile from thence, hee
was saluted by two or three hundred horse
of his servants, who made there their Ren∣dezvous
accordingly, as he appointed;
they perceived not at Court his depar∣ture,
till about nine of the clock in the
evening; the King and Queen my mother
demanded of me why he was not at supper
with them, and if he were in health or no;
I replyed, that I saw him not since dinner,
they sent into his chamber to know what
the businesse was, forthwith it was retur∣ned
that he was not there, they gave order
descriptionPage 81
that they should search all the chambers of
the Ladies to which he was accustomed to
goe, they sought him in the Castle, and in,
and round about the Citie; but they found
him not; Immediately the Alarme wax∣ed
hot, the King grew into a rage, and
swolne with choler and despite, he sent to
all the Princes and Lords of the Court,
commanding them to take horse, and to
bring him back either alive or dead, ur∣ging
that he was gone to trouble his e∣state,
and to make warre against him, and
that he would make him understand the
folly he committed in opposing a Prince
so puissant as himselfe. Many of the Prin∣ces
and Lords refused this commission, de∣monstrating
unto the King, of what im∣portance
it was, and that they would in∣gage
their lives in the service of his Maje∣stie,
as their duties did oblige them, but to
goe against Monsieur his Brother, they
well knew that the day would come,
when his Majestie would give them but
little thanks for it, and assured him that
my Brother would undertake nothing
that might be displeasing to his Majestie,
or prejudicial to the State, that peradven∣ture
it was some discontent that invited
him to remove from Court, and thereup∣on
it were expedient that the King should
descriptionPage 82
first send unto him to informe himselfe of
the occasion that moved him to depart, be∣fore
he took a resolution to proceed a∣gainst
him with so extreame a rigour; but
others there were that accepted this com∣mission,
and prepared themselves to take
horse, their diligence could not make that
dispatch, but it was first upon the break of
day, which was the cause that they could
not finde my brother, and were constrain∣ed
to returne, as being not in equipage of
warre; The King for all this was not
more favourable to the King my husband,
but looked with the same eye of disregard
upon him as before, the which confirmed
him in his resolution, so that within a few
daies after, he retired himself from Court,
pretending that he was gone on hunting.
For me, the teares which (all that night
after my Brothers departure) were my
companions, had brought on the next
morning so great a Rewme on one side of
my face, that by reason of a fever, I was
constrained certain daies to keep my bed,
being very ill, and overcome with many
sorrows, during which time of sicknesse,
the King my husband, whether he was bu∣sied
to prepare for his departure, or whe∣ther
being about to leave the Court, he
would bestow on pleasure the little time
descriptionPage 83
he had to stay, and delight himself with the
presence and company of his Mistris Ma∣dame
de Sauva, had not the leisure to vi∣site
me, but retiring to his rest at his accu∣stomed
houres, which were about one or
two a clock after mid-night, I knew not of
his comming, we lying in two beds, as our
usuall manner was, and rising before I
was awake to be at the rising of the Queen
my mother, to which as I have said, Ma∣dame
de Sauva was accustomed to goe, he
not so much as spake unto me, as he promi∣sed
my Brother, and departed in the same
manner, without bidding me farewell:
For all this, I was suspected by the King
to be the only cause of his departure, who
was so incensed against me, that if he had
not been retained by the Queen my mo∣ther,
I beleeve his choler had wrought
some crueltie against my life, but restrain∣ed
by her, and daring not doe-worse, he
suddenly whispered in my mothers eare,
that it were requisite, I had a Guard set o∣ver
me; to keep me from following the
King my husband, and to debar any from
comming to me, that I might not adver∣tise
my Brother and him of the occurren∣ces
at Court. The Queene my Mother
willing to doe all things with clemency,
told him, that she held it also to be very
descriptionPage 84
necessary, being very glad that she had re∣bated
a little the first edge and fury of his
Choler, but said withall, that she would
goe and prepare me to endure my bondage
with patience, alleaging that those grie∣vances
would not allwayes continue in
the same termes, that all things in this
world had two faces, that the first which
was darke and frightfull, being turned,
when we should come to behold the se∣cond
more sweet and smiling, that on
those new events, wee would take new
counsells, that then peradventure he
might have need of my service, that as
wisedome did advise him to live with his
friends, as chancing one day to prove his
enemies, and therefore not too much to
trust them, so friendship dissolving, and
being of power to hurt, the same wise∣dome
did counsell him to use his ene∣mies,
as chancing one day to prove his
friends.
These demonstrances withheld the King
from doing me any hurt, to which he had a
great desire, but le Guast assisted him with
an Invention to discharge his choler ano∣ther
way, and caused him (to doe me the
greatest displeasure in the world) to send
some swordmen to the house of Chastelas
the Cosin of Torigny, and under pretence
descriptionPage 85
of bringing her to the King to drown her
in the river that was neere unto his house;
they being arrived, Chastelas gave them
free admission into his house, not doubt∣ing
any thing; they seeing her, the strong∣est
of them using as much indiscretion as
violence in the ruinous charge which was
committed to them, took hold of Torigny,
and binding her, did lock her in a cham∣ber
till their horses were bayted; in the
mean time, behaving themselves after the
French manner, not regarding what might
happen, they crammed themselves up to
the very throates with the best provision
that the house afforded. Chastelas, who
was a discreet man, not caring at all if by
the expence of his victualls, he could gain
any time to deferre the departure of his
Cosin, hoping that who hath time, hath
life, and that God might change the Kings
heart, and countermand those people to
desist from so great a cruelty, durst not en∣terprise
by any other way to hinder them,
though he had freinds and means enough,
but God who alway looked on my afflicti∣on,
to deliver me from the danger and in∣dignities
which my enemies procured me,
prepared an unexpected succour to rescue
Torigny, which was this; Certain groomes
and Chamberlaines having fled for feare
descriptionPage 86
of these spoylers, who kept a knocking
and a bouncing within▪ as in a house of
pillage, being gone some quarter of a mile
from the house, God guided that way, la
Ferte and Avantigny with their troupes,
who were about two hundred horse, and
were now going to joyne themselves to the
Body of my Brothers army, and it happen∣ed
that amongst the troupes of Peasants,
La Ferte beheld a Servant of Chastelas,
with an afflicted and dolefull counte∣nance,
and knowing him, asked if there
were any Souldiers, who passing by that
way, had done his master wrong, the
groome answered no, and that the cause
which so tormented him, was the extrea∣mity
in which he left his Master, for the
violence offered to his Cosin; Immediate∣ly
La Ferte and Avantigny resolved to doe
me that good office, to deliver Torigny,
praysing God, that gave them so good an
occasion to witnesse their service and affe∣ction
to me, and galloping in full speed,
they and all their troupes arrived so aptly
at Chastelas his house, that they found
these rude fellows on the point of putting
Torigny on a horse, to leade her out to
••rowne her; the Horsmen comming all
into the Court with their Swords drawne,
cryed out, Forbeare you Villaines, if
descriptionPage 87
you doe her any violence, you are but
dead! and charging on them, they did fly
away, leaving their prisoner transported
now with joy, as before with fear, and
having thanked God and them for this so
needfull a deliverance, she caused the
Charriot of her Cosin Chastelas to be
made ready, and accompanied with him,
went with this guard of honest men to find
my Brother, who was very glad being
not able to have me with him, to have
there one whom so intirely I affe∣cted.
While the King made this goodly dis∣patch
to sacrifice Torigny to his anger, the
Queen my Mother who knew nothing of
it came into my Chamber to visite me, as
I was then making my selfe ready, deter∣mining
with my selfe, though I was trou∣bled
with the rhewme, yet more sick in
minde then body by reason of the afflicti∣ons
which possessed me, to go that day
abroad to see a little the course of the
world on these new accidents, being al∣wayes
in feare least they should enterprise
any thing against my Brother and the
King my Husband; My Mother said un∣to
me, Daughter you need not make
such haste to dresse you, grieve not I pray
at what I shall deliver, I assure my selfe
descriptionPage 88
that you doe not think it strange that the
King findes himselfe offended with your
Brother and your Husband, and know∣ing
the friendship that is between you,
believing that you knew of their depar∣ture
he is resolved to keep you as a ho∣stage
of them; he knows how your Hus∣band
loves you, and that he cannot have a
better gage of him than you, for this cause
he hath commanded that a Guard should
be set over you, to hinder you that you
should not stirre from your Chamber:
His Counsell also hath represented to
him, that if you were at freedome amongst
us, you would discover whatsoever is in∣tended
against your Brother and your
Husband, and acquaint them with it.
I desire you not to grow impatient at this
restraint, it shall not God willing last
long, grieve not your selfe that I dare
not come unto you as often as I would,
for I am afraid to give suspition to the
King, but assure your selfe I will not
permit that any violence shall be done un∣to
you, and I will labour to the utter∣most
of my power to conclude a peace for
the reconcilement of your Brothers. I
represented to her how great was the in∣jury
that in this I did receive; I would
not deny but that my Brother did alwaies
descriptionPage 89
communicate to me his just discontents,
but for the King my Husband, since To∣rigny
was taken from me, we had not so
much as talked together, that he came not
to visite me in my sicknesse, nor yet did
so much as bid me adieu when he went
away: she replyed these be ordinary com∣plaints
between a Husband and a Wife,
but I know that with kinde words and let∣ters
he will regain your heart, and if he
should send you word to come unto him,
that you would goe, to which the King
my Sonne will no way give consent. She
returning I remained certain moneths in
that estate, having not any, not so much as
my familiar and most private friends that
came to see me, for feare of the Kings dis∣pleasure.
At Court adversity is alwayes
alone, as prosperity is accompanied, and
persecution is seldome any where assisted
with true and constant friends; only the
brave Grillon was he who despising all
prohibitions came five or six times into
Chamber so astonishing and frighting the
Cerberusses that were set to guard my
my doore, that they durst neither grant,
nor deny him entrance: During this time
the King my Husband being arrived in his
government, and having assembled his
friends and servants they did demonstrate
descriptionPage 90
unto him what an unkindnesse and injury
he committed in not taking his leave of
me, nor in so much as bidding me fare∣well
at his departure, telling him that
I had understanding enough to doe him
service, and that it was needfull to re∣gain
me, that he should receive much
profit by my love and by my presence, if
things being reconciled, he could have me
with him. He was easie to be perswaded
to this, being removed from that Circe
Madame de Sauva whose charms had lost
their force by her absence, which in her
presence rendred him without reason to
apprehend the policies of our adversaries,
and that the separation and division be∣twixt
us was as prejudiciall to himselfe as
unto me; he wrote unto me a very honest
letter in which he desired me to forget
whatsoever had passed betwixt us, and
to believe that for the time to come he in∣tirely
would affect me, which he would
make more apparent to me then hereto∣fore
he had done, commanding me to ad∣vertise
him of the passages of the Court-affaires,
and of my own estate, and of my
Brothers, for though they were friends,
they were removed from intelligence, my
Brother being in Champagne and the King
my Husband in Gascony; I received that
descriptionPage 91
letter being yet a Captive which brought
much comfort to me, and I failed not af∣terwards
(although the Guard were com∣manded
that I should not be suffered to
write) being aided with necessity the Mo∣ther
of invention, to send oftentimes my
letters to him.
Certain dayes after my restraint, my
Brother knew of my captivity, which did
so much incense him, that had he not plan∣ted
in his heart as great an affection to
his Country, as he had a part and interest
in the State, he had made so cruell a war,
as he had then the means, commanding a
brave army, that the people had endu∣red
the punishment for the errour of
their Prince, but retained by that na∣turall
obligation and affection, hee
wrote to the Queen my Mother, that
if they used me so ungently they would
throw him into the bottome of de∣spaire,
she fearing to see the occasion of
this warre brought to such an extreamity,
that she knew not how to pacifie it, repre∣sented
to the King of what importance it
was, and found him disposed to receive
her reasons, his anger being qualified by
the knowledge of the danger wherein he
was, being seized on in Languedock, Ga∣scogny,
Dauphine, and Poictou by the King
descriptionPage 92
my Husband, and the Huguenots, who
held many goodly Towns and forts; and
by my Brother in Champagne who had a
great army composed of the bravest of the
nobility in France, and since this depar∣ture
of my Brother, being himselfe not
able either by perswasions, threatnings,
or commands, to make any take horse or
to oppose my Brother, all the Princes and
Lords of France providently forbearing to
put their finger betwixt two grinding
Milstones; All this considered, the King
gave open eare to the Declaration of the
Queen my Mother, and was as desirous
as her selfe to have a Peace established, in∣treating
her that she would be pleased to
be a means thereof. She presently pre∣pared
her self to goe unto my Brother de∣monstrating
unto the King that it was ne∣cessary
to take me with her, but the King
would not consent unto it, believing that
I did serve him as a sufficient hostate,
thereupon she took her journy without
me, and without so much as speaking to
me, when my Brother seeing that I was
not with her, represented the just discon∣tents
which he received, and the indigni∣ties
and rough usage which he found at
Court, adding thereunto the injuries
which were done to me by keeping me in
descriptionPage 93
durance, and the cruelty which to dis∣please
me they more then offered to To∣rigny,
protesting that he would lend no
••are to any overture of peace untill the
wrongs which they had done me were re∣dressed,
and till he saw me satisfied, and
free. The Queen my Mother hearing
this, returned, and declared to the King
what answer my Brother sent unto him,
and that it were requisite if he desired a
peace that she should go back again, but
for her to goe without me, her journey
would be so unprofitable, that it would
rather increase, then mitigate the Evill,
as also to take me with her, without ha∣ving
first contented me, it might doe more
hurt then good, and that it was to be fea∣red
that I would return no more, but
from thence would repaire to the King
my Husband, that it was necessary to
take away the guard that was set over me,
and to finde a means to make me forget
the rough usage which I received. This
the King found good, and seemed as much
affected to it as her selfe. Immediately
she sent for me, and told me that she had
prevailed so much, that she had prepared
things to a way of peace, that she knew
that my Brother and my self did ever de∣sire
the benefit of the State, that she could
descriptionPage 94
conclude a peace so advantagious to my
Brother, that he should have occasion to
rest himself content, and be free from the
tyrany of Le Guast, or whatsoever other
malicious Spirit did possesse the King a∣gainst
him, and that if I would assist her in
making the accordance betwixt the King
and my Brother, I should deliver her
from a great and insupportable cala∣mity,
shee being unable without a
griefe as strong as death to receive the
tidings of the Victory of the one, or other
of her sonnes, she desired me that the inju∣ries
I received might not transport me ra∣ther
to thoughts of vengeance, then of
peace; she told me that the King was sor∣ry,
that she had seen him weep, and that he
would give me such satisfaction, that I
should remaine contented with it: I re∣plyed
to her, that I never would preferre
my private Good to the Benefit of the
State, for the improvement and safety
whereof, I would willingly sacrifice my
life, and that I desired nothing more then a
happy peace, to the effecting whereof, I
would devote my self, and all my indea∣vors;
on this, the King came into her ca∣binet,
and with a multitude of faire words
did labour to give me satisfaction, and in∣cited
me to his friendship, finding that nei∣ther
descriptionPage 95
my deportment, nor my words gave
him any apparence of the injuries I recei∣ved,
which I did more in contempt of
the offence that he had done unto me, then
for any satisfaction to him, having passed
the time of my captivity in the pleasure
and exercise of reading, in which I then
began to delight my self, owing this obli∣gation
not to Fortune, but to the divine
Providence, which then began to provide
me so great a remedy to relieve my self in
the afflictions which were prepared for
me, which served me also as an introdu∣ction
to devotion, reading in that fayre
and universall booke of Nature, so many
wonders of the creator of it; for every
well tempered Soul, rearing to it self a lad∣der
by this knowledge, of which GOD is
the last and highest round, ravished there∣at,
doth addresse himself to the adoration
of the admirable light of that incompre∣hensible
Essence, and making a perfect
circle, delighteth not in any thing but to
follow that Homerick chaine, that exqui∣site
Ring of Knowledge which procee∣deth
from God himselfe, the beginning
and end of all things; And sadnesse, con∣trary
to Joy, which giveth us not leave to
consider our own actions, rouzeth up the
Soul in its self, which uniting all her for∣ces
descriptionPage 96
to reject the evill, and to imbrace the
good, thinkes, and thinkes againe inces∣santly,
to choose this Soveraigne blisse, in
which we may finde peace with confi∣dence,
and these are those pious dispositi∣ons
that prepare us to arrive at the know∣ledge
and the love of God. I received
these two benefits from the solitude and
griefe of my captivity, to addict my selfe
to reading and devotion, of which, before
I scarce had tasted, amidst the vanity and
pompe of my prosperous Fortune. The
King as I have said, seeing in me no appa∣rence
of discontent, told me that the
Queen my mother should return unto my
Brother in Champagne, to mediate a peace,
and besought me to accompany her, and to
doe there all the good offices I could, for
he knew (he said) that my Brother re∣posed
more trust in me, then in any other
in the world, and that whatsoever Good
should arise from thence, he would give
me the honour of it, and professe himselfe
obliged to me; I promised him what I re∣solved
to performe, for it conduced to
the Benefit of my Brother, and the State,
so to imply my self, as he by it should re∣ceive
contentment. The Queen my mo∣ther
did depart, and I with her, and com∣ming
to Sens, the conferrence was held in
descriptionPage 97
a Gentlemans house a mile from thence.
The morning following, wee came to the
place of conference, my Brother was
there in person, accompanyed with some
of his owne troupes, and with the princi∣pall
Lords and Catholike Princes of his
Army, among whom also was Duke Casi∣mire,
and Colonell Poux, who brought un∣to
him sixe thousand Reisters, by the
means of those of the Religion, who were
joyned with my Brother in the behalfe of
the King my Husband. For many dayes
they treated on the peace, and the conditi∣ons
of it, having many disputations on the
articles, especially on those which concer∣ned
the Huguenots, and the agreement
was made with conditions more advanta∣gious
to them, then they themselves could
wish, as presently after it appeared. The
Queen my mother, the peace being con∣cluded,
perswaded my Brother to send
back the Reisters, and to retire himselfe
from those, from whom (being ever a
good Catholick) he had a great desire to
separate himselfe, not willing to be served
by Huguenots, but only for necessitie. In
this peace, there was an Estate assured to
my brother for his maintenance ac∣cording
to his qualitie, in which my
Brother would have me comprised, being
descriptionPage 98
very earnest, that the assignation of my
dowry in Lands might be established, and
Monsieur de Beauvais, who was deputed
there a party for him, insisted on it very
strongly; but the Queen my Mother did
intreate me that I would not give way un∣to
it, and assured me that I should receive
of the King what I would demand, on
which I did request them, that they would
not comprehend me in the Articles, and
that whatsoever I had conferred on me, I
had rather receive it from the grace and
bounty of the King and Queen my mo∣ther,
beleeving that it would be a course
more beneficiall, and as assured to
me.
The peace concluded, and assurance ta∣ken
on the one side, and on the other, the
Queen my mother preparing her selfe for
her returne, I received letters from the
King my Husband, by which I under∣stood
that he had a great desire to see me,
intreating me, that as soone as I saw the
peace concluded, to sue for leave to come
unto him: I besought the Queen my mo∣ther,
who rejected my petition, and by
all means possible indeavored to divert me
from it, saying, That when I received not
her proposition to disanull our marriage,
after the massacre of S. Bartholomew, she
descriptionPage 99
then commended my resolution, because
my husband was made a Catholick, but
now, since he hath abandoned the Catho∣lick
Religion, and is turned Huguenot,
she could not permit that I should goe un∣to
him, and seeing I daily renewed my pe∣tition,
she told me with teares in her eyes,
that if I returned not with her, she should
for ever loose her credit with the King,
adding, that the King would beleeve that
she had taken me with her for that intent,
and that she had made a solemn promise to
him to bring me back, she desired me to
stay till my Brothers return, which she
said should be with speed, and that
suddainly after, she would take order
for my dispatch to the King my Hus∣band.
Some few dayes after, we returned to
the King to Paris, who by reason of the
peace, received us with great joy, yet not
well liking the advantageous conditions
of the Huguenots, and determining with
himselfe, as soon as he had got my Brother
to Court, to finde some new Invention to
begin the war again, and not let them joy
in that, to which to his grief he condiscen∣ded,
to withdraw my brother from them,
who stayed yet behind a moneth or two,
to give order for sending backe the Rei∣sters,
descriptionPage 100
and for the dismissing of his army,
He arrived not long after at Court, with
all the Catholick Nobilitie that assisted
him; the King received him with all ho∣nour,
seeming to have great joy to see
him there, and he made very much of Bus∣si
also, who came with him, for Le Guast
was lately dead, being slaine by the judge∣ment
of God as he was in course of phy∣sick;
he had a body infected with all sort
of villanies, and subject to a corruption,
which a long time did possesse it, as the
Devills did his soule, to whom he did ho∣mage
by Magick, and all sort of wicked∣nesse;
this Brand of fire and division being
taken from the world, and the King having
his thoughts bent only on the ruine of the
Huguenots, intended to make use of my
Brother to command against them, to ren∣der
my brother and them unreconcile∣able,
and fearing also that to prevent it, I
would hasten to the King my husband, he
entertaind us both, as well the one, as the
other, with all the pleasures that the
Court could yeeld, to make our stay there
more delightfull; and seeing at the same
time that Monsieur de Duras was sent from
the King my husband to demand me, and
with so much importunity I urged to be
gone, that he no longer could denie me, he
descriptionPage 101
told me (shewing first it was the love he
did beare unto me, and then the know∣ledg
what a Grace & ornament I brought
unto his Court, which caused him so long
to suspend my journey) that he would
now conduct me himself as far as Poictiers,
and returned Monsieur de Duras with that
assurance.
Certaine daies after, he stayed at Paris,
deferring, and not openly refusing to give
me leave to goe, till he had all things in
readinesse for the declaration of his de∣signed
warre against the Huguenots, and
by consequence against the King my Hus∣band,
and to give a pretence unto it, they
caused a rumour to be spread, that the
Catholicks complained of the advantage∣ous
conditions, to which they accorded
with the Huguenots at the peace of Sens.
This murmur and discontent of the Ca∣tholicks
was blowne abroad, that they
came to League and unite themselves at
Court from all the Cities and provinces
of the Kingdome, enrouling, and signing
themselves, and making a great noise (but
privately with the Kings consent) that
they would choose Monsieur de Guise for
Chiefe; there was no other thing spoken
of from Paris untill you come to Blois,
where the King had called the States to∣gether,
descriptionPage 102
during the overture of whom, the
King called my Brother into his cabinet
with the Queen my mother, and some of
the Lords of his counsell, and presented
there unto him, of what importance for
his Authoritie and estate was this league,
which the Catholicks had begun, especi∣ally
if they should come to make them∣selves
heads, and to choose those of the
House of Guize; that it concerned them
(understanding my brother and himself)
more then all the rest, that the Catholicks
had reason to complain, and that his duty
and conscience did oblige him to discon∣tent
the Huguenots rather then the Ca∣tholicks,
he intreated and conjured my
Brother, as an heire of France, and a true
Catholick, that he would counsell and as∣sist
him in this affayre, whereon the hazard
of his Crowne, and the Catholick Religi∣on
so much depended, adding that it see∣med
to him to cut off all danger that this
League might bring, that he himself ought
to make the chiefe, and both to shew his
zeal to his Religion, and to debarre them
from choosing any other, to signe himself
first as Chiefe, and then to have my Bro∣ther
signe, and afterwards all the Princes,
Lords and Governours, and whosoever
had any charge or power in his King∣dome.
descriptionPage 103
My Brother could not but offer
that service which he owed to his Maje∣stie,
and to the preservation of the Catho∣lick
Religion. The King having taken
assurance of my Brothers assistance, which
was the principall end to which the arti∣fice
of the League did tend, did suddenly
call all the Princes and Lords together,
and causing the roll of the said League to
be brought unto him, he first there signed
himself as Chiefe, and then my Brother,
and after him all the rest, who had not yet
signed. The morning following, they
opened the Estates, having taken advice of
the three Lord Bishops of Lions, of Am∣brum,
and of Vienne, who perswaded him
that after the oath made at his consecrati∣on,
no oath made unto the Hereticks could
be of power, the said oath nullifying all
other oathes and promises which he
could make unto the Huguenots: this
being pronounced at the opening of the
States, and warre being proclaimed a∣gainst
the Huguenots; the King sent back
Genislac, who had been there to hasten my
departure, with rough and threatning lan∣guage:
telling him that he gave his sister to
a Catholick, and not unto a Huguenot,
and if that the King my husband had a de∣sire
to have me, he should turne Catho∣lick
descriptionPage 104
againe; all preparations for the warre
were made, there nothing else was spoken
of at Court, and to render my brother
more unreconcileable with the Hugue∣nots,
the King made him Chiefe of one of
his Armies. Genislac being come to tell
me this sad farewell, which the King had
given him, I repayred presently to the
closet of the Queen my mother, where I
found the King, and complained how he
had abused me with delayes, having al∣wayes
hindered me from going to the
King my husband; and now dissembled to
depart from Paris, to conduct me to
Poictiers, to expresse an effect so contrary.
I represented to him, that I was not mar∣ried
for pleasure, or to satisfie my owne
desires, but that it was the desire of King
Charles, conjoyned with my mothers, and
his owne, that since they had given me to
him, they could not hinder me from run∣ning
my fortune with him, that I would
goe unto him, and if they refused to give
me leave, I would steale away in what
disguise and fashion that I could, though
with the hazard of my life. The King
answered, 'Tis not now a time (my Si∣ster)
to importune me for leave, and I
professe the truth which you have said, that
I have deferred your going for a while, to
descriptionPage 105
denie it in the end for altogether; for since
the King of Navarre hath turned again to
be a Huguenot, I never thought it good
that you should goe unto him; that which
we have done, the Queen my mother, and
my self, is for your safetie. I will make
warre against the Huguenots, and root
out that Religion, which doth us so much
mischief, and there is not the least appa∣rence
of reason why you, who are a Ca∣tholick,
and my sister, should be in their
hands as an hostage of me, and who knows
not, but to procure unto me an irreparable
losse, they may revenge themselves on
your life for the evill which I shall bring
upon them; no, no, you shall not goe, and
if you steale away, as you say you will,
understand that you shall have me and the
Queen your Mother for your cruell ene∣mies,
and you shall feel our anger to the
uttermost of our power, and shall rather
impayre, then amend the condition of
your husband. I retired my self with
great displeasure from that cruell sen∣tence,
and taking the advice of the prin∣cipall
of my friends at Court, they decla∣red,
that it would ill become me to be re∣sident
in a Court so contrary to the king
my husband, and from whence so openly
they made warre against him, and coun∣selled
descriptionPage 106
me, as long as the warres continued,
to retire my selfe from Court, and were it
possible, it were more honourable for me
to finde some pretence to goe out of the
kingdome, under the colour of pilgri∣mage,
or to visite some of my kindred;
Madame de Roche-sur-yon was one of those
whom I assembled to desire their counsell,
who was then upon her departure to goe
to the waters of Spau. My brother was
also present, and had brought Mondoucet
with him, who was Agent for the King in
Flanders, and being lately returned, repre∣sented
to the King, with what griefe the
Flemmings suffered the usurpation which
the Spaniards made on the Lawes of
France, for the dominion, and soveraign∣ty
of Flanders; that many of the Lords
and Commons of their cities had expresly
commanded him to acquaint his Majestie
how much they stood addicted to the
French, and that they would lend him all
their helping hands. Mondoucet, seeing
the King gave no eare to his advise, having
nothing in his head, but the Huguenots,
who were now to feele the vengeance of
his displeasure, for assisting my brother a∣gainst
him, talked no more unto him of it,
but addressed himself unto my Brother,
who having the true nature of a Prince,
descriptionPage 107
loved onely to enterprise great and glo∣rious
things, being borne rather to con∣quer,
then preserve; he suddenly imbra∣ced
the enterprise, which pleased him so
much the more, because he perceived no∣thing
of injustice in it, willing to regain
that unto France, which was usurped by
the Spaniards; Mondoucet for this cause
became my Brothers servant, who sent
him back to Flanders under the colour of
accompanying Madame the Princesse of
Roche-sur-yon to the waters of Spau, and he
observing that, during these warres, every
one sought a faire pretence to withdraw
me from France, whether it were into
Savoy, or into Lorrayne, or to Saint Clau∣des,
or to our Lady of Loretto, whispered
these words into my brothers eare, Sir▪ if
the Queen of Navarre could pretend any
malady, which the waters of Spau, whither
Madame the Princesse of Roche-sur-yon is
now going, might serve for cure, this
would fall out very fortunately for you:
my brother much commended his coun∣sell,
and being very glad of the discovery
of it, suddenly cryed out, My deer Queen,
study no more, for you must goe to the
waters of Spau, whether Madame the
Princesse is going; I have sometimes
heard you complain of a swelling in your
descriptionPage 108
arme, you are to say that your Physitians
did then prescribe it, but the season was
not fitting, but now the time is seasonable,
and you must intreat the King to give
you leave to goe. My Brother declared
not himself at that time, wherefore he de∣sired
the journey, because that Monsieur
the Cardinall of Burbon was then in com∣pany,
whom he suspected for a Guisian,
and inclined to the Spanish faction. For
my selfe, I understood it very well, not
doubting but it reflected on his enter∣prise
for Flanders, of the which Mondoucet
had spoken to us both. All the company
were of this advise, and Madame the Prin∣cesse
of Roche-sur-yon, who her selfe was
going thither, and who loved me intirely,
with great joy did apprehend and enter∣tain
this counsell, and promised to goe
with me to the Queen my mother, to have
her grant consent unto it. On the morning
following, we found the Queene alone,
and I represented unto her, what a displea∣sure
it was unto me, to see the King my
husband in a warre against the King, and
to be thus removed, and kept asunder
from him, that while this warre continu∣ed,
it were neither expedient nor hono∣rable
for me to stay at Court, where if I
still continued, I could not avoide one of
descriptionPage 109
these two Evills, either that the King my
husband would conceive that I stayed at
Court only for my owne pleasure, and
that I assisted him not as I ought to doe, or
that the King would entertaine an opini∣on,
that I sent daily advertisements to the
King my husband, that both the one and
the other would procure unto me much
affliction; I besought her that she would
be pleased to think well of it, if for a while
I estranged my self from Court, to avoid
all occasions of suspition, that some time
was passed, since the Physitians prescri∣bed
me the waters of Spau, for the swel∣ling
of my arme, to which I had a long
time been subject, and that the season of
the yeere being now fitted for it, this
journey by her permission would fall out
opportunely, not onely to remove me
from Court, but from France also; and so
the King my husband might understand,
that being unable to be with him by reason
of the Kings distrust, I would not remaine
in that place where warre was made a∣gainst
him, and that I hoped that her wis∣dome
would so dispose of things in time,
that the King my husband should obtaine
a peace of the King, and returne into his
favour, that I would attend to heare that
happy news, to have then permission to re∣payre
descriptionPage 110
unto him, and that in this voyage to
the Spau, Madame the Princesse of Roche-sur-yon
(who was there present) would doe
me the honour to accompany me. The
Queene my mother did much applaude
my resolution, and told me that she was
glad that I had taken this advise, affirming
that this evill counsell which the Bishops
gave the King, not to make good his pro∣mises,
but to breake whatsoever he had
contracted with the Huguenots for him,
had for many considerations, brought her
much affliction, especially seeing this im∣petuous
torrent drew along with it, and
ruined the most understanding, and the
faithfullest servants that the King had in
his counsell (for the King had thereupon
removed foure or five of the most noble
and apparent in all his Counsell) More∣over
she affirmed, it left a deep impression
in her, to see the truth of what I represen∣ted,
that staying at Court, I could not a∣voide
one of those two evills, either that
the King my husband would dislike that
stay, and be off••nded at it, or that the King
would distrust me, supposing that I gave
intelligence to the King my husband, shee
said that she would perswade the King to
give consent unto the voyage, which she
did, and the King discoursed with me of it,
descriptionPage 111
without the least apparence of being an∣gry,
being well content that he had diver∣ted
me from my husband, whom he hated
more then all the world besides, and com∣manded
that a Post should be dispatched
to Don John of Austria, who commanded
in Flanders for the King of Spaine, to in∣treat
him to give me necessary warrants to
passe freely through the countrey of his
Authority, because I must of necessitie
travell through Flanders to goe to the
waters of Spau, which are in the lands be∣longing
to the Bishop of Leige.
This being determined, we severed our
selves for a little space, during which time
my Brother imployed himselfe to instruct
me in some desired offices concerning his
enterprise in Flanders, and the King and
Queene my mother removed to Poictiers,
to be neerer the army of Monsieur de
Mayenne, who besieged Brovage, and
who from thence was to passe into Gascog∣ny,
to make warre against the King my
husband. My brother also was to march
with another army, of which he was Com∣mander,
to besiege Issoire, and some other
Townes which shortly after he took in,
and I prepared my self for my Journey in∣to
Flanders, attended with Madame the
Princesse of Roche-sur-yon, with Madame
descriptionPage 112
de Tournon, my Dame of honour, with
Madame de Mouy of Picardie, with Ma∣dame
La Chastelayne of Millon, with Ma∣damoselle
d' Atrie, with Madamoselle de
Tournon, and with seven or eight Gentle∣women
more, and with Noblemen, as
Monsieur the Cardinall of Lenoncourt,
with Monsieur the Bishop of Langres▪ with
Monsieur de Mouy Lord of Picardie, with
the chiefe Esquires, and many other Gen∣tlemen
of my house. This company gave
such delight to strangers, who found it
so full of state and lustre, that they had
France in farre more admiration: My litter
was of Carnation velvet, imbroydered
with works of Gold and Silke. The in∣vention
of the worke, and the Impresses
were easie to be seene; this Litter was
glazed round, and every glasse had a de∣vice
in it, there being in the works of Vel∣vet,
and in the glasse, fourty different In∣ventions,
with Italian and Spanish Mot∣toes
on the Sun, and his effects; this litter
was followed with the litter of Madame
the Princesse of Roche-sur-yon, and with the
litter of Madame de Tournon, my Dame of
Honour, and with ten wayting Gentle∣women
on Horse, with their governesse,
and with sixe caroaches, in which the rest
of the Ladies and women were.
descriptionPage 113
I passed through Picardie, where the
Citties had commandment from the King
to receive me as if himself were present,
and they did me all the honour that I
could desire. Being arrived at Castelet,
which is a fort three miles from the fron∣tire
of Cambresis, the Bishop of Cambray,
whose Church acknowledged not then
the King of Spaine, but for her Pro∣tector,
sent a Gentleman unto me, to know
the houre of my departure thence, inten∣ding
to meet me at my entrance into his
Lands, where I found him well attended
with people, who had the habite and ap∣parence
of true Flemmings, as they are ve∣ry
grosse in those parts. The Bishop was
of the House of Barlemont, one of the Prin∣cipall
houses in Flanders, but who in a
Flemmish brest had a Spanish heart, as
they made it apparent to me, being one of
those that did most assist Don John, but yet
he received me with great honour, and
no lesse Spanish ceremonies. I found this
Citie of Cambray, although not builded
with such strong materialls as curs of
France, yet farre more delightfull, the
Cities and houses thereof being better di∣sposed,
and proportioned, and the Chur∣ches
very faire and large, a common orna∣ment
to all the Townes in France; that
descriptionPage 114
which I found in this Citie most remarke∣able,
was the Cittadell, one of the strong∣est
and fairest in Christendome, which be∣ing
since under the obedience of my Bro∣ther,
the Spaniards to their costs have pro∣ved.
A noble and worthy Gentleman,
Monsieur de Ainsi was the Governour of
it, who in grace, in presence, and all quali∣ties
requisite to a perfect Gentleman, was
nothing inferiour to our most accompli∣shed
Courtiers, and no way partaking of
that naturall clownishnesse, which seem∣eth
proper to the Flemmings. The Bi∣shop
made us a banquet, and delighted us
after supper, with the pleasure of a Maske,
to which all the Ladies of that Citie came,
but being there himself not present (for
suddenly after the supper, he retired him∣self,
being as I have said, of a Spanish and
ceremonious humour) Monsieur de Ainsi,
the most apparent in that troupe, was
left behinde, to entertaine me at the
Maske, and to have me afterwards to a
Collation of confects, but very unadvised∣ly,
as I conceive, for this was he who had
the charge of the Cittadell; I speake this
having learned it to my own expence, and
knowing more (then I would desire) what
belongeth to the guarditg of such a place.
The remembrance of my brother being
descriptionPage 115
not to be divided from my heart, because
I loved nothing more then him, I often
did thinke on the instructions which he
had given me, and seeing a fayre opportu∣nitie
offered to doe him good service in
his enterprise for Flanders, this Citie and
Cittadell being the key thereof, I quick∣ned
and imployed all the understanding
which God had given me to render Mon∣sieur
de Ainsi affectioned to France, and
more particular to my Brother, God gave
such a blessing to my discourse, that he
delighted with it, determined to stay with
me as long as possibly he could, and to ac∣company
me during the time I stayed in
Flanders, and to this intent, he demanded
leave of his master to goe with me to Na∣mur,
where Don John of Austria did at∣tend
me, saying, That he desired to see the
triumphs of that entertainment. This
Flemming Spanioliz'd was notwithstan∣ding
so ill advised to let him goe, during
this voyage, which continued ten or
twelve daies, he spake unto me as often as
he could, openly demonstrating that he
had a heart addicted to the French, & that
he only desired to live to see the houre
wherein he might have so brave a Prince
as my Brother for his Lord and Master,
despising the service and commands of his
descriptionPage 116
Bishop, who although he was his Sove∣raigne,
was but a Gentleman as himselfe,
and farre inferiour to him in the qualities
and graces both of minde and body.
Departing from Cambray, I lodged the
night ensuing at Valenciennes in Flanders
where Monsieur the Count of Lalain,
Monsieur de Montigny his brother, and
many other Gentlemen to the number of
two or three hundred came to receive me
at my comming out of the principality of
Cambresis, unto which place the Bishop of
Cambray conducted me. Being arrived at
Valenciennes, a Town inferiour to Cambray
in force, but not in the ornament of good∣ly
buildings and of Churches, where the
fountaines and the Clocks with industry
proper to the Almains gave not a little
cause of wonder to the French, it being
not ordinary with them to hear the clocks
••xpresse a pleasant Musick of the voice,
with as many sorts of persons as are in the
little Castle in the Suburbs of Saint Ger∣mans:
Monsieur the Count of Lalain, the
Citty being under his government, made
a feast to the Lords and Gentlemen of my
••roupe, where his wife and his faire Si∣ster
Madame de Aurec and the most remar∣kable
and bravest Ladies of that country
attended to receive me; He told me he
descriptionPage 117
was Cosin to the King my Husband, and he
was a person of great authority and estate,
to whom the Spainish insolence was al∣waies
odious, being strongly incensed
against them since the death of the Count
of Aigmont who was his neer kinsman, and
although he maintained his government
without being leagued with the Prince of
Orange or the Huguenots, being a thrice
Catholick Lord, yet he could not endure
to see Don John, or permit that either he
or any of his should enter into his govern∣ment,
Don John not daring force him to
the contrary, fearing that then the Catho¦lick
league in Flanders called the League
of the Estates would unite themselves with
the Prince of Orange and the Huguenots,
wisely foreseeing, what a storm and tem∣pest
would ensue, as they have proved since
who have governed there for the King of
Spain. The Count of Lalain could not
sufficiently expresse what a joy he did re∣ceive
to see me, and if his native Prince had
then been present, he could not be received
with more honour and demonstrations of
wellcome and affection. Arriving at
Monts at the Countes of Lalain with a∣bout
fourescore or a hundred Ladies of the
City and Country, of whom I was recei∣ved
not as a strange Princesse, but as if I
descriptionPage 118
had been their Soveraign by the privi∣ledge
of inheritance, the disposition of
the Femmings is to be private, merry, and
familiar, and the Countesse of Lalain be∣ing
of this disposition, and having a great
and high Spirit, it gave me presently an
assurance that it were no difficult matter
to enter into a strict friendship with her:
The houre of supper being come, she went
to the Banquet, and after to dancing which
the Count of Lalain continued all the
time of my aboad at Monts, which was
longer then I determined, intending to
depart the morning following, but this
good woman inforced me to stay a seventh
night with them, which I was unwilling to
doe, fearing to overcharge them, nor was
it possible for me to perswade her husband
or her selfe, but they enforced me to stay
till the eighth day were expired, living
with such familiarity with me, she stayed
at my lying down very late, and would
have staied longer but that she did what
was very rare to doe in persons of her qua∣lity,
which notwithstanding did witnesse
a nature attended with great goodnesse,
she nourished her infant with her own milk
so that being one morning at the feast, and
sitting next unto me at the table which is
the place where they of that Country doe
descriptionPage 119
communicate themselves with greatest
friendship, and ayming at nothing but my
content, which was altogether to advance
my Brothers designes in Flanders, she being
curiously drest and almost covered with
precious stones and rich imbroyderies, ha∣ving
on a Kirtle of cloath of gold, whose
ground was black, wrought with curious
workes of imbroydery and purles of gold
and silver, and a doublet of Cloath of sil∣ver
whose ground was white, wrought
with flowers of gold, and buttoned with
great diamonds (a habit proper to the of∣fice
of a Nurse) they brought unto the ta∣ble
her little childe, as richly dressed as
was the Nurse that gave it suck, she set the
Childe on the table betwixt us both, and
freely unbuttoning her selfe she gave her
brest unto her little one; this had been
counted incivility in any else, but she did
doe it with so great a grace and comeli∣nesse,
as her actions were all accompanied
with it, that she received by it as much
commendation, as the company delight.
The banquet being ended, the dancing be∣gan
in the same Hall wherein we were,
which was very faire and a large roome,
where being seated one next unto another,
I told her that although the pleasures
which I received in her company might
descriptionPage 120
well be ranked in the first number of those
which gave me greatest reason to acknow∣ledge
them, yet I could almost wish that
(never had enjoyed them, by reason of the
griefe I should receive in departing from
her, and that Fortune shortly would de∣prive
us from ever seeing one another, it
being to be numbred amongst the misfor∣tunes
of my life, that heaven had not or∣dained
that she and I should live in one and
the same Country. This I spake to make
her enter into conference which might
serve for the designes of my Brother; shee
replyed to me, this Country hath been
sometimes part of France, and for this cause
their pleadings in law are yet in French,
and this naturall affection is not departed
from the hearts of the most of us, for my
part I have no other desire in my Soule,
since I have had the honour to have seen
you; sometimes indeed this Country
stood affected to the house of Austria, but
that affection hath been torn from us in the
deaths of the Count of Aigmont, of Monsie∣ur
de Horn of Monsieur de Montigny and of
the other Lords who were all our neer
Cosins, that were then defeated, and pertai∣ning
to the Nobility of this Country, we
have nothing so odious as the Spanish go∣vernment,
and desire nothing more, then
descriptionPage 121
to be delivered from their tyranny, never∣thelesse
we know not yet how to effect it,
because this Country is divided into diffe∣rent
Religions, but had we been united,
we had thrown out the Spanyard long a∣goe,
but this division doth render us too
feeble for them: I would to God that
your Brother the King of France would be
pleased to recover this Country, which in
times precedent was his own, we would
lend him all our helping hands; she spake
not this in an unadvised suddaines but with
premeditation to finde from France some
remedy for their evils. I seeing the way o∣pen
to what so much I did desire, made an∣swer,
The King of France my Brother is
not disposed to undertake forrain warres,
especially at this present, having in his
own kingdome the factious party of the
Huguenots which is grown so strong, that
continually it will hinder him from com∣mencing
any wars abroad, but my Brother
Monsieur de Alenson who is nothing inferi∣our
in valour, wisedome, and in bounty to
the Kings my Fathers and my Brothers,
will readily attend this enterprise, and will
have no lesse meanes to bring succour to
you, then the King of France by Brother,
he is trained up in war, and esteemed one
of the bravest Captains of this age, and
descriptionPage 122
now commandeth the Kings army against
the Huguenots, with which he hath ta∣ken
since my departure a very strong town
called Issoire, and some others, you cannot
seek unto a Prince whose succour shall be
more profitable to you, being so neer your
neighbour, and having so great a Realme
as France at his devotion, from whence he
may bring all the means and commodities
necessary for the warre, and if he may re∣ceive
that good office from the Count
your Husband, you may assure your selves
that you shall have what part in his for∣tunes
that you will defire; my Brother is
of a noble disposition not ingratefull, and
who delighteth in nothing more then in
acknowledging a service or good office
done; he doth much respect and imbrace
Gentlemen of courage and of honour, and
is also followed with the bravest of the no∣bility
of France; I believe they will short∣ly
conclude a peace in France with the
Huguenots, and that at my return I shall
see it accomplished; If the Count your
Husband be of the same resolution as you
are, and of the same desire, let him (if he
please) acquaint me with it, and I will
dispose my Brother to undertake it, I as∣sure
my selfe that this Country and your
house by it in particular will receive all
descriptionPage 123
happinesse: And if my Brother should e∣stablish
himselfe here, you may assure
your selfe you shall see me often, our
friendship being such that never any Bro∣ther
entertained a Sister with more perfect
love: She received this declaration with
much content, and told me that she spake
not this at adventure, but seeing the ho∣nour
I had done her to affect her, she was
resolved not to leave me, untill she had dis∣covered
to me the estate in which her Hus∣band
was, and till she had required that
some remedy might be brought from
France to release them from the feare in
which they lived, being in perpetuall
warre and danger to stoope to the inso∣lence
and tyranny of Spaine; She intrea∣ted
me that with my consent she might re∣late
unto her Husband the communication
that passed betwixt us, that on the next
morning they both together might talke
unto me of it, I very gladly consented to
it, and we passed away that afternoone in
such discourses, and in what ever else I
thought might doe my Brother service, in
which I found that she received great con∣tent.
The dancing being ended, we repay∣red
to heare Vespers among the Canones∣ses,
which is a Religious order that we
descriptionPage 124
have not in France, they are Gentlewo∣men
which are placed there very young,
for the improvement of their marriages,
untill they are of age for husbands, they
lodge not in common dormitories, but in
severall roomes, and in every roome there
are three or foure, or five or six young
Gentlewomen with an old woman, of
which old women, there is a certaine and
distinct number, who are never married,
nor the Abbesse of them, they onely weare
the habite of Religion in the morning at
Mattens, and in the afternoone at Vespers,
and as soone as service is ended, they put
off their religious habite, and apparell
themselves as other Gentlewomen that
are to marry, going freely with them to
the banquettings and dancing, so that they
dresse themselves foure times a day, they
were every day at the banquet, and daun∣ced
ordinarily after it. The Countesse
of Lalain thought it long till the evening
was come, to acquaint her husband with
the good beginnings which she had given
to these affaires, which having done, in the
morning she brought her husband to me,
who made a long discourse of the just oc∣casions
which he had to free himself from
the tyranny of the Spaniard, in which he
intended not to undertake any thing a∣gainst
descriptionPage 125
his naturall Prince, knowing that
the Soveraignty of Flanders belonged to
the King of France, he represented to me
what means he had to establish my Bro∣ther
in Flanders, having all Hainault at his
devotion, which extended as farre as Brux∣ells,
he only was in doubt of Cambresis,
which lay betwixt Flanders and Hainault,
and told me it would be expedient for me
to gaine Monsieur de Ainsi, to which I
replyed, that I would beseech him rather
that he would be pleased to speak himself
unto him, which he could doe more free∣ly
then my self, being both his neighbour
and his friend; having then presented to
him what estimation and assurance he
might make of the friendship of my Bro∣ther,
and that the Fortune he should par∣take
in, should be with as much greatnes
and authoritie as the remarkeable service
received from a person of his Quality
could merit; we resolved at my returne to
France, that I should stay at La fere, whe∣ther
my Brother should come unto me,
and that Monsieur de Montigny the bro∣ther
of the said Count of Lalain should
come to treate there with him on
those affaires; during the time of my a∣bode
there, I did encourage him alwayes,
and fortifie him in that resolutiō, to which
descriptionPage 126
his wife brought no lesse affection then my
self; And the day being come that I must
depart from this goodly company at
Monts, it was not without great and re∣ciprocall
griefe of all the Flemmish La∣dies,
and my self, and above all, of the
Countesse of Lalain, by reason of the great
friendship which she had vowed to me, ha∣ving
inforced me to promise her, to make
my return that way, as I passed into France.
I did give unto her a Carcanet of Jewells,
and to her husband a seale of pretious
stones, which were esteemed of great va∣lue,
but farre more pretious to them, be∣cause
they came from the hand of one
whom so intirely they affected; all the
Ladies stayed behind, except the Lady of
Aurec, who did goe with me to Namur,
her husband Monsieur de Aurec, and Mon∣sieur
the Duke of Arscot staying there, ever
since the peace betwixt the King of Spaine
and the States of Flanders; for though
they were both on the States side, the
Duke of Arscot was an ancient Courtier,
and one of the most remarkable in King
Phillips Court, at what time he was in
Flanders, and in England, and he was al∣wayes
in great esteeme, and next unto the
Grandyes of his Court. The Count of
Lalain, with all the Nobilitie of that
descriptionPage 127
Countrey conducted me above two miles
beyond his government, untill he saw the
troupe of Don John appeare, then he took
his leave of me, because he would not see
him, only Monsieur de Ainsi did accom∣pany
me, because his master the Bishop of
Cambray was of the Spanish faction. That
faire troupe being returned, having travel∣led
a little farther, I was encountered by
Don John of Austria, who was attended in∣deed
with many people, but onely with
twenty or thirty horse, and with the
Lords, the Duke of Arscot, Monsieur de
Aurec, the Marquesse of Varambon, and
young Balenson, Governour for the King
of Spaine in the County of Burgundy,
which Noble and gallant Gentlemen, hea∣ring
that I passed that way, were come in
a full speed to meet me: of Don Johns
owne people, there were none of any
name or fashion, but one Lodovick de Gon∣zagua,
who stiled himselfe Cosin to the
Duke of Mantua, the rest were but meane
people, and of a servile countenance, there
being not any with him of the nobility of
Flanders: He alighted from his horse,
and set foot on ground to salute me in my
litter, which was lifted up, and opened
round; I saluted in the French garbe, both
him, the Duke of Arscot, and Monsieur de
descriptionPage 128
Aurec; after some complements, mounting
againe his horse, he discoursed with me
till he brought me to the Towne, whither
we could not come but very late, because
the Ladies at Monts detained us as long
as possibly they could, spending above an
houre in the observation of my litter, and
taking great delight to understand the
manner, and the devices of it. The me∣thod
of their building was so beautifull at
Namur, as the Spaniards are excellent
that way, and their Towne so lightsome,
that the windowes and the shops being
full of splendor, one might beleeve that he
saw a new day to shine there. That night
Don John caused me and my traine to be
served in our own lodgings and cham∣bers,
thinking that after so long a journey,
it would be unmannerly to tire us againe
with the tediousnesse of a banquet. The
house wherein he lodged me, was well
accomodated to receive me, where they
found means to make a great and fayre
hall, and an appartement for me of
chambers and closets, which were hung
round with the fairest, richest, and bravest
moveables, that I beleeve were ever seen,
being all tapistries of Velvet or Satten, em∣bossed
with great pillars made of cloath
of silver, inchased with thick knots, and
descriptionPage 129
purles of Gold, and set forth in the richest
and most beautifull manner that could be
invented, and in the middle of those pil∣lars
were great personages attired after
the ancient fashion, and made of the same
imbroidery. Monsieur the Cardinall of
Lenoncourt, who had a curious and a deli∣cate
spirit, being a familiar friend of the
Duke of Arscots, who as I have said, was
an old Courtier, and a Gentleman of ex∣quisite
indowments, being indeed the on∣ly
honour of Don Johns troupe, behol∣ding,
one day while I was there, those
gorgeous and magnificent moveables, said
unto him, This furniture seemeth to me
to appertaine rather to some mighty Mo∣narch
then to a Prince unmarried, and of
no greater authority then Don John; the
Duke of Arscot replyed, they are the gifts
of Fortune, and not of Providence or a∣bundance,
these stuffes being sent unto
him from one of the Bashaes of the Great
Turke, whose sonnes in a memorable bat∣tell
he tooke prisoners, and Signior Don
John having done him the courtesie to re∣turn
them to him without ransome, the
Basha, to requite the good turne, did send
him a great quantitie of stuffes of silke,
and of cloath of gold, and silver, which
were presented to him, being then at Myl∣lain,
descriptionPage 130
a Citie where is choice of such preti∣ous
furniture, of which he made the Ta∣pistrey
which you behold, and for an ever∣lasting
remembrance of the glorious at∣chievement
of them, he wrought the bed
and the hangings of the Queens chamber
in a most rich imbroidery, representing
the glorious victory in that battell, which
he gained against the Turks: the morning
being come, we heard Masse after the cu∣stome
of Spaine, which was with Violins,
Cornets, and other musick, and departing
thence unto the Feast in the great hall, he
and I did dine at a table by our selves, the
table where the Lords and the Ladies di∣ned,
was removed some three foot from
ours, where Madame de Aurec had the ho∣nour
done her for Don Johns house, ha∣ving
her drinke presented to her by Lodo∣vick
G••nzagua, kneeling. The banquet
being ended, dancing began, which lasted
all the afternoone, the evening passed a∣way
in this manner, Don John discour∣sing
alwayes with me, and oftentimes re∣peating,
that he saw in me a resemblance of
the Queen his Mistris, the late Queen of
Spaine my Sister, witnessing by all hono∣rable
courtesies that could be expres∣sed
to me and my troupe, that he recei∣ved
an undissembling joy to see me there.
descriptionPage 131
The Boate on which I was to passe the Ri∣ver
Mose unto Leige being not yet in readi∣nesse▪
I was constrained to tarry there all
the next day, where having passed away
the morning as we did the morne before;
there was a faire B••are after dinner prepa∣red
for me in which we were ferryed to an
Iland, being environed in our way with
other Boars full of Hob••yes, Cornets and
Viols; Don John had provided a banquet
in the Ile, in a great hall made of guilded
Leather, accomodated with Cabinets
round about it, and fille with the musick
of Hoboyes and other instruments which
continued all supper time. The Banquet
being ended, and dancing having lasted
almost an houre, we returned in the same
Boat that did waft us out, and which Don
John had prepared for my voyage. The
morning following we departed thence,
Don John accompanied me in the Boat,
and after a very honest and courteous fare∣well,
he gave me to Monsieur and Ma∣dame
de Aurec to attend me as far as Huy,
where that night I was to lodge, which is
the first town that belongeth to the Bishop
of Leige: Don John being gone forth,
Monsieur de Ainsi who was the last that
stayed in the Boat, and who had not per∣mission
to conduct me further, with much
descriptionPage 132
griefe took his farewell of me, and with
many protestations that he would remain
a most constant servant to my Brother and
my selfe: But false and treacherous for∣tune
not able to support the glory of this
so happy a condition which in my voyage
hitherto did attend me, gave me two crosse
presa••es, which on my return, to content
her envy, she had prepared for me. The
first was, that my Boat had no sooner remo∣ved
from the shore, but Madamois••lle de
••••urnon, a virgin indowed with many
virtues, whom I intirely loved, took so
strange a sicknesse, that on a suddain she
bur•••• forth into strong and loud shreiks by
reason of the violence of the grief she felt,
which did so oppresse her heart that the
Physitians could provide no remedy, but
within a few daies she was ravished by
Death, I will relate this tragicall story
in its own place, it being so remarkable.
The other was that arriving at Huy a town
scituate on the declining of a hill, there
brake forth on a suddain, so impetuous a
torrent falling from the Mountain waters
into the river, that ingrossing and devou∣ring
all at once, we could no sooner leape
to land and run with all the speed we could
to recover the top of the Hill, but the
floud was there as soon as we. My lodge∣ing
descriptionPage 133
was on the upper and highest part of
the Town, where that night we were con∣tent
with what provision the Master of the
House had of his own, who had not means
to get Boats or people to send down into
the Town, which seemd overwhelmed in
that vast Deluge, from which it was won∣derfully
delivered, as it was seized by it,
for on the dawning of the day the waters
were all returned, and retired within their
proper channels. On my departure thence
Monsieur and Madame de Aurec returned to
Namur unto Don John, and I took Boat to
goe that day to Leige, where the Bishop
who is a great Lord received me with all
the honour and demonstrations of good
will that a courteous and well affected
person could expresse; He was a Lord at∣tented
with great virtue, wisedome, and
bounty, and who spake very good French
agreeable with his person, which was ho∣norable,
and magnificen••: He was atten∣ded
with a Chapiter and many Canons, all
sonnes of Dukes and Counts, and great
Lords of Germany. The Bishoprick is of
a soveraigne estate, and of great revenue,
and filled with many goodly Towns: The
Canons obtain their places by election, and
they must continue a yeere probationers
that are received into their Society; The
descriptionPage 134
town is great as Lyons, and almost of the
same scituation (the river Mosa passing
in the middle of it) excellently builded,
there being no Religious House which
seemeth not a faire palace, the streets
long and large, enriched with curi∣ous
fountaines, the Churches adorned
with so much marble which they have
there at hand, that worthily they challenge
the observation of the passinger, and
may be as well the wonders, as the
pleasures of his eye, The Clockes made
with German industry, singing and re∣presenting
all variety of Musick and of
Persons. The Bishop received me as I came
out of my Boat, and conducted me into
a faire and stately Palace, so richly painted,
and set forth with so much Gold and
Marble, that there is nothing more mag∣nificent
or delightfull. The waters of
Spa were three or foure miles from thence,
and there being no Town neer, but a Vil∣lage
only of three or foure houses, Ma∣dame
the Princesse of Roche-sur-yon was
advised by her Physitians to stay at Leige,
and to have the water brought thither to
her, assuring her that it would loose no
virtue being brought unto her before the
Sun was up, of which I was very glad, ha∣ving
our aboad in so fit a place, and in so
descriptionPage 135
good a Company; for besides his Grace▪
(for so they stile the Bishop of Leige, as we
give the title of Majesty to a King, or of
Highnesse to a Prince) the rumour flying
that I passed that way, most of the Lords
and Ladies of Almaine were come thither
to attend me, and among others Madame
the Countesse of Aremberg, who was she
that had the honour to conduct Queen Eli∣zabeth
to her mariage at Meziers, when
she was espoused to King Charles my Bro∣ther,
and who conducted my eldest sister
at her mariage, to the King of Spaine; she
was a woman that was in great account
with the Empresse and Emperour, and
with all the Princes of Christendome;
there was also her sister Madame de Lant∣grave
and her Daughter Madame de Arem∣berg,
and Monsieur de Aremberg her sonne
a brave and worthy Gentleman, the live∣ly
image of his Father, who bringing here∣tofore
auxiliary Souldiers from Spaine to
King Charles my Brother, returned with
great honour and reputation. This arri∣vall
being full of joy and honour▪ had been
yet farre more delightfull, were it not in∣terrupted
by the Death of Madamoselle de
Tournon, whose history being so remark∣able,
I cannot here but make digression to
relate it.
descriptionPage 136
Madame de Tournon who was then my
Dame of honour had many daughters, the
••••••est whereof was maried to Monsieur
••e B••••anson Governour for the King of
Spaine in the County of Burgundy, who
returning to his own Country intreated
Madame de Tournon his Mother to let him
have another of her Daughters, to associate
his wife being to live now in a place remo∣ved
from her kindred; her Mother con∣sented
to it, and she staying there some
yeers in improving her selfe, though her
cheifest beauty was her virtue and her
gracefull carriage, Monsieur the Marques
of Varambon (a man designed to the Church
being resident in the same house with his
Brother Monsieur de Balanson) by ordina∣ry
society of discourse and conversation
with Madamoiselle de Tournon became ve∣ry
amorous of her, and being not yet ob∣liged
to the Church desired to espouse her;
he propounded the motion to his own
friends and to hers, they of her side did
well approve it, but his Brother Monsieur
de Balanson thinking it more profitable for
him to have him of the Church prevailed
so farre that he brake off the Marriage, de∣signing
to him the habit and formality of
the Gown. Madame de Tournon offen∣ded
thereat, took from thence her daugh∣ter
descriptionPage 137
Madamoiselle de Tournon with her sister
Madame de Balanson, and being a rough
and severe woman without regard of her
Daughters age and disposition, which de∣served
a more gentle usage, she daily did
torment her with vehement and invective
language, insomuch that she was never
seen to have her eyes dry, though all her
actions were most commendable, so un∣gentle
was the nature and severi••y of this
Mother. Her Daughter desiring nothing
more then to be released from this tyranny
entertained a certain joy when she saw I
was going into Flanders, truly conceiving
that the Marques of Var••b••n would meet
me there, and being now in the estate of
Mariage for he had altogether abandoned
the gown would peradventure demand
her of her Mother, and that by the means of
this Mariage she should be delivered from
her former persecutions. The Marques
of Varambon and his Brother the younger
Balanson did meet us at Namure, the young
Balanson who was nothing so proper a
gentleman as the other, did court this maid
in the way of Mariage, and the Marques
of Varambon during our aboad at Namure,
made semblance as if till then he had never
seen her, at which she put on the apparence
of content, constrayning her selfe to seem
descriptionPage 138
regardlesse of it, but the trouble, the
griefe and indignation thereof did so con∣tract
her heart, that as soon as they had
taken their last farewell, and were depar∣ted
from the Boat, she was strook with
such a suddain sorrow that shee could not
draw her breath but with many shreikes
and mortall pangs; having no other cause
of her sicknesse, her youth did combat
with death, for the space of eight or ten
dayes, who armed with despite in the end
did render himselfe victorius, ravishing
her from her Mother and my self, who
both did bear this losse with equall greife
and passion, for her Mother although she
was a very severe woman did love her
most intirely: Her Funeralls were com∣manded
to be performed with all solemni∣ty,
because she was discended from a great
great and noble family, and pertained to
the Queen my Mother; the day of her in∣terrement
being come, they appointed
foure of my Gentlemen to bear the Corps,
one whereof was Boessier, who having in her
life time passionately adored her, and not
daring to discover it unto her by reason of
the inequality of his birth, and the vertue
which he observed in her, did carry now
this mortall burden, and dyed as often in
her death, as the losse of his love had
descriptionPage 139
interrupted and divided the course of his
life, breathing out his soule after her in
sighes, and every new minute bringing a
new death unto him; this fatall convoy,
being in the middle of the streets, and pas∣sing
to the Cathedrall Church, behold
the Marques of Var••mbon, who guilty o••
this sad accident, some few dayes after my
departure from Namur, repenting of his
crueltie, and his ancient flame (O won∣derfull)
being kindled in her absence,
which could not be awakened by her
presence, he resolved to come and de∣mand
her of her Mother, trusting per∣adventure
in the good fortune which
did attend him, to be beloved of all
whomsoever he desired, as since it
hath appeared in a Lady of eminent ac∣count,
whom against her parents consents
he hath espoused; and promising to him∣selfe,
that his Mistris de Tournon would
grant him an easie pardon, repeating these
Italian words, che l•• forza d'amore non ris∣guarda
al delitto, did beseech Don John to
give him commission to come unto me, and
making diligent haste, he came just, as the
body, as unhappy in her death, as glorious
and innocent in her Virginitie, was in the
middle of the street, the throng of the peo∣ple
at this pompous solemnitie, did hin∣der
descriptionPage 140
him that he could not passe, he looked
about him to learne what the occasion
was, and observed in the middle of the
troupe, a multitude of mourners, and a
white cloath crowned with Chaplets of
flowers, he asked who it was, some of the
City made reply that it was a buriall, he
growne more curious, advanced himself
amongst the first of the convoy, and with
much importunity desired to know who
it was, O deadly answere, the ven∣geance
of love for his ingratitude and in∣constancie,
made him now feele those
stroakes of death in his soule, which his
forgetfulnesse and disdaine had made his
Mistresse suffer in her body; the man not
knowing who it was that pressed to know
it, told him that it was the body of Mada∣moiselle
de Tournon; at that word he
swounded away, and fell from his horse,
they carried him as dead into his lodging,
justly desiring in this extremity to ap∣prove
that union with her in his death,
which in his life too slowly he accorded
to; his Soul, as I believe, departing into
her tombe to crave pardon for what his
disdainfull oblivion had committed, did
leave his body for a time without any ap∣parence
of life, and returning thence, did
animate it anew, to make him feele again
descriptionPage 141
the justice of death, which once alone had
not sufficiently punished his Ingrati∣tude.
This sad office being performed, behol∣ding
my self in a company of strangers, I
would not afflict them with the griefe
which I received, for the losse of so vertu∣ous
a servant. I was invited either by the
Bishops Grace, or by some of the Canons
to dinner every day in severall houses and
gardens, as there are very faire ones in
that Citie. His Grace, with many Lords
and Ladies, strangers, comming every
morning to my chamber, accompanied
me to the garden wherein I was to take
the waters of Sp••u, which was to be recei∣ved
walking, and though the Physitian
that did prescribe it was my Brother, yet
it hath done me good, having since con∣tinued
six or seven yeeres without feeling
the swelling of my arme; departing thence,
we never parted company, but resorted to
some feast, and after dancing, to heare
Vespers to some religious house, and after
supper we were entertained with dancing
againe, or else with Musick on the water.
Six weeks did passe away themselves on
this manner, which is the ordinary time
accustomed for the taking of these waters,
and which was prescribed to Madame the
descriptionPage 142
Princesse of Roche-sur-yon. As I was pre∣paring
to returne to France, behold Ma∣dame
de Aurec, who going to Lorrayn to
seek her husband, expounded to us the
wonderfull alteration that happened at
Namur, and in all that Countrey, since my
departure, The same day wherein I de∣parted
from Namur, Don John going out
of his boate, and taking horse, under pre∣sence
of hunting, came before the gate of
the Castle of Namur, the which as yet he
had not mastered, and feigning (as casu∣ally
he passed by) to goe in, and see it in
his way, he seized on it, and slew the Cap∣taine
whom the States kept there, break∣ing
the Articles that were agreed on be∣tween
the States and him, and moreover
he seized on the Duke of Arscots▪ on Mon∣sieur
de Aurecs, and on her owne person,
and though after many demonstrations
and intreaties, he let her husband and the
Duke depart, yet he retained her till then,
〈◊〉〈◊〉 be a caution to him for the deportment
of them; She declared that all the Coun∣trey
was now in armes; there were three
parties, the first of the States, which were
the Catholicks of Flanders; the other of
the Prince of Orange, and the Huguenots,
who made but one Party; and the third of
the Spaniards, over whom Don John com∣manded.
descriptionPage 143
I seeing my selfe imbarked in
this manner, that of necessitie I must fall
into the hands of the one or the other of
them, and my Brother having sent a
Gentleman named Lescar to me, by whom
he wrote that since my departure from
France, God had given him the grace to
serve the King so well in the charge of the
army committed to him, that he had taken
all the Townes which he was commanded
to besiege, and chaced the Huguenots
through all the Provinces in which his
army was to march, that he was returned
to Poictiers, where during the siege of
Brouage the King continued to be neere at
hand to succour Monsieur de Mayenne in
what was necessary; that as the Court is
a Proteus, that turnes his shape in every
houre on the arriving of every new acci∣dent,
so at his return he found all things
changed, that they made no more account
of him, then if he had done nothing at all
for the service of the King, that Bussi,
whom the King seemed to contenance be∣fore
his departure, and who had served the
King in this warre in his owne person, and
in the person of his friends, having lost his
brother in an assault at the seige of Issoire,
was disreguarded also, and persecuted with
envy, as if it had been in the time of Le
descriptionPage 144
Guast, that every day they did procure him
some new Indignitie or other, that the
Kings minions had practised with foure
or five of his chiefest servants, Maugiroa,
La Valeit••, M••uleon, Livarrot and some o∣thers
to abandon his, and to betake them∣selves
to the Kings service, that the King
••id much repent him of my voyage into
Flanders, and that I should take heed in
my returne, for feare of b••ing surprised,
either by the Spaniards, who were adver∣tised
of what I treated in Flanders for
him, or for the Huguenots, who would
revenge on me the evil••s which he had
done them, having first assisted them, and
afterwards made warre against them. All
this promised, wrought much in my con∣sideration,
seeing that not only of neces∣sitie
I must passe either amongst the one or
the other of them, but that the Principall
of my Company also were affected either
to the Spaniards, or to the Huguenots,
Monsieur the Cardinall of Lenoncourt, be∣ing
suspected to favour the Huguenots,
and Monsieur de Descarts, who was Bro∣ther
to the Bishops Grace of Leigh, to be
addicted to the Spaniards. In these doubts
full of contrarieties, I knew not to whom
to communicate my selfe, but to Madame
the Princesse of Roche-sur-yon, and to Ma∣dame
descriptionPage 145
de Tournon, who knowing the dan∣ger
wherein we were, and finding we had
five or sixe dayes journey to La Fere being
to passe all the way under the mercy of
the one or other of these two parties, an∣swered
me with teares in their eyes, that
God alone could preserve me from that
danger, that I should recommend my self
to him, and then doe as his inspirations did
direct me; As for them, though one of
them was sick, and the other stooped with
the weight of Age, they desired me not to
forbeare to make long journeys, and that
they would indeavour themselves to the
utmost to draw me from this danger. I
spake unto the Bishop of Leigh, who was
indeed a Father to me, and gave me his
grand master with horses to conduct me
as farre as I would desire, and be∣cause
it was needfull for us to have
a Warrant for free passage from the
Prince of Orange, I sent Mondoucet
thither, who was his associate, and
rellished something of that Religion;
he returned thence no more, I expected
two or three dayes his comming, and I be∣lieve
that should I have waited till he
came, I should have stayd there still. I
was daily counsailed by Monsieur the Car∣dinall
of Lenoncourt and my chiefe Esquire
descriptionPage 146
Salviati, who were both of one complexion
not to depart without a Passe, and finding
their designe did bend another way, I
was resolved to goe betimes the morning
following, they seeing they could not stay
me with this pretext, Salviati being of
intelligence with my Treasurer, who was
also a private Huguenot, exhorted him
to say that there was not money left e∣nough
to discharge my expences, which
was extreamly false, for being arrived at la
Fere, I looked on the accounts, and there
was money enough to defray the charges of
at least six weeks travaile more, yet they
caused my horses to be staied, giving this
publick affront with great danger to me.
Madame the Princesse of Roche-sur-yon be∣ing
not able to indure this indignity, and
seing the danger wherein I was did lend me
what money I thought necessary, and they
remaining confused at it, I departed thence
having made a present to the Bishop of a
Diamond worth three thousand Crowns,
& given to all his servants either chains or
King of gold, and I came to Huy having no
protection but my hope in God. That
Town as I have said belonged to the Bi∣shop
of Leige, but full of tumult and mu∣tiny
(as all the people there knew of the
generall revolt of the Low-Countries)
descriptionPage 147
and would no longer acknowledge the
Bishop▪ because he lived as a newtrall,
and they were a professed party with the
States, so that without any respect to the
grand Master of the Bishop of Leige who
was with us, hearing how Don John had
seized on the Castle of Namur in my travails
that way, as soon as we were lodged, their
drums did beat an Alarm, and they brought
their artillery into the street, and made
Barricadoes against my lodging, stretching
forth their chains that we should not come
together, and held as all that night in
these perplexities, without having the
means to speake to any of them, being all
a silly people, a brutish nation, and with∣out
reason; In the morning they suffered
us to goe, having filled the streets
through which I was to passe with armed
men.
From thence we departed to Di••an,
where by misfortune that day they chose
their Burgomasters, who are as Consuls,
in Gascogny and France. All that day was
spent in debauchment, all the world was
drunk, no knowledge of Magistrates, but
a true Chaos of confusion, and to make
our condition yet worse, the grand Master
of the Bishop of Leige had sometimes made
warre against them, and was taken by them
descriptionPage 148
for their mortall enemy; this town when
the people are sober and in sence, hold for
the States, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dominering now
amongst them, they could not hold it for
themselves, and indeed neither knew nor
acknowledged any master. As soon as
they beheld a troupe great as mine to ap∣proach
their Suburbs, the alarum grew
hot amongst them, they forsook their glas∣ses
to run to armes, and all in a tumult in∣steed
of opening the gate they barred it
fast against me. I had sent a Gentleman be∣fore
with the Harbingers and the Marshall
of my lodging to intreate them to give me
passage, but I found them at the gate cry∣ing
to those who did not understand them.
In the end I stood up in the Litter, and
taking of my Mask, I made a signe to the
most apparent of them, that I would speak
unto him, who being come unto me, I in∣treate••
him to cause silence to be made, to
the end I might be understood, which with
much a doe being obtained, I declared to
them who I was▪ and the occasion of my
Voyage, that so farre it was from me to
bring any hurt unto them by my comming
that I would not give them the least suspi∣tion
of it, I intreated them to permit me
and my women onely to enter into the
Town, with as few of my Men as they
descriptionPage 149
pleased, telling them that I would leave
the rest behinde me in the Suburbs; they
accepted of this proposition, and I came
into the Town with the most apparent of
my troupe in which number was the grand
Master of the Bishop of Leige, who by
chance was knowne as I entred into
my lodging, environed with this people
drunken and armed, then they began to
cry out, that they were injured, and to
charge upon him who was a reverend man
of fourescore yeers of age, having a white
beard down to his girdle. I caused him
to make haste into my lodging against
which these drunkards plyed their Har∣quebuses
with volleyes of shot as thick as
haile, the walls being made but of earth
only. Seeing this tumult I demanded if
the Host of the house were within, by good
fortune they found him, I desired him that
he would goe unto the window, and make
way for me to speake to the most remark∣able
of them, which with great difficulty
I procured; he having a long time called
to them out of the window, at length the
Burgomasters came to parly with me, but
so full of swill, that they knew not what
they said; In the end assuring them, that
I knew not that the grand master was their
enemy, demonstrating of what impor∣tance
descriptionPage 150
it was to offend a person of my qua∣lity,
who was a friend to the principall
Lords of the States, and that Monsieur
the Count of Lalaine, and all other Chief∣taines
would give them but little thankes
for this their entertainment of me; having
heard the name of Monsieur the Count of
Lalaine, they presently became of another
minde, and gave more respect to him, then
to all the Kings to whom I appertained,
the most antient of them betwixt stamme∣ring
and laughing, demanded of me, if I
was then a friend to Monsieur the Count
of Lalaine; I seeing that his consanguinity
would stand me more in stead then all the
Potentates in Christendom, made answer,
yes, I am not only his friend, but his kins∣woman
also, then they did reverence to
me, and gave me their right hand of friend∣ship,
offering as much courtesie, as be∣fore
they had committed insolence, and
besought me to excuse them, assuring me
that no wrong should be done to that good
man the Grand-master of the Bishop of
Leige, and that he should goe along with
me. The morning being come, as I was
going to heare Masse, the Kings Agent
that was resident with Don John named
Du Bois who was a French man extreamly
Spaniolized, came unto me, saying, that
descriptionPage 151
he had letters and command from the King
to attend and conduct me in my return to
France, and for that end he had intreated
Don John to let me have Barlemont with a
troupe of Horse for my guard to bring me
without danger to Namur, desiring me
to speak to those of the Town to grant en∣trance
to Monsieur Barlemont who was a
Lord of that Country, and to his troupe
of Horse; This was done for a double end,
to make themselves Masters of the Town,
and to make me fall into the hands of the
Spanyards. I found my self here in a great
streight, and communing with Monsieur
the Cardinall of Lenoncourt, who had no
greater desire then my selfe to fall into the
hands of the Spanyards, we concluded to
know of the Towns men if there were any
way by which we might avoide the troupe
of Monsieur de Barlemont, and leaving my
little Agent Du Bois to discourse with
Monsieur de Lenoncourt, I walked into an∣other
Chamber where I caused those of the
Town to come unto me, and declaring to
them that if they gave entrance to the
troupe of Monsieur de Barlemont they were
all undone, because that he would seize
on their town for Don John, I counsailed
them to arme themselves, and to stand on
descriptionPage 152
their guard, and being ready at the Gate
to shew the countenance of men of under∣standing
that would not be surprised; they
did allow and believe my reasons offering
to lose their lives in my service, and gave
me a guide to lead me a way where by pas∣sing
over the river that ran betwixt the
troupes of Don John and mine, I should
cast them so farre behinde, that they could
not overtake me, going all the way after
by Towns which held for the States. Ha∣ving
taken this resolution, I sent them to
the Gate, and Monsieur de Barlemont who
was already entred did importunately
perswade the Townsmen to permit his
troupe to come in also. They hearing
this, began all to fall upon him, so that
he hardly escaped from being massacred a∣mongst
them, telling him that if his troup
did not forthwith retire from the sight of
their Town they would discharge their
Artillery upon them, this they did to give
me leasure and the advantage to passe the
water, before that troupe could overtake
me. Monsieur de Barlemont and the A∣gent
Du Bois did what they could, to per∣swade
me to goe to Namur, where Don
John attended me, I made apparence to
doe what they desired, and to follow their
descriptionPage 153
advice, and having heard Masse, and
made a short dinner, I came out of my
lodging, attended with two or three hun∣dred
of the towne in armes, and confer∣ring
all the way with Monsieur de Barle∣mont,
and the Agent Du Bois, I tooke my
direct course towards the mouth of the
river, which was contrary to the way unto
Namur, where the troup o•• Mon. de Barle∣mont
expected me: they observing it, told
me, that I had mistooke my way, but I be∣holding
them still in discourse, passed on,
till I came unto the gate of the Town, go∣ing
out of which, and accompanied with
a good number of the townes men, with
doubled speed I hasted towards the river,
and taking boate, I caused all the chiefest
of my traine to enter with me, Monsieur
de Barlemont, and the Agent du Bois crying
continually on the Bank-side, that it was
not my neerest way, that it was crosse to
the Kings intention, who would have me
goe by Namur; notwithstanding their
out-cries, we ferried over the water with
what speed we could, and while they made
two or three fares to carry my litters and
horses over, those of the towne, on pur∣pose
to give me time, with a thousand out-cries
and complaints, delayed and amazed
descriptionPage 154
Monsieur de Barlemont, and the Agent du
Bois, reasoning with them on the wrongs
which Don John had done them, having
falsifyed his faith with the Estates, and
broken the peace, and arguing with them
on antient quarrells, about the death of
Count Aigmont, and threatning them
continually, that if their troupe appeared
nigh the Towne, they would discharge
their Ordnance upon them; this gave me
the leisure to secure my self, being delive∣red
from all feare and danger, by the gui∣dance
of God, and this good man whom
they had given to conduct me. I lodged
that night in a strong Castle named Fluri∣nes,
which belonged to a Gentleman who
held with the Estates, and whom I had seen
with the Count of Lalain, but such was
the mischance, that the Gentleman was
not within, there being none at home but
his wife only, who seeing us in the Base-Court
which lay all open, she tooke a sud∣den
fright, and drawing up the bridge, did
flie into the Castle, resolving, say what we
could, not to let us in. In the meane
while three hundred Gentlemen, whom
Don John had sent to intrap me by the
way, knowing that I went to the Castle
of Fleurines to lodge there, did appeare
descriptionPage 155
upon a little hill some mile from thence,
and beleeving that we were got into the
Castle, for they might see from thence,
that we were all entred into the Court,
there made a stand, and lodged there that
night, hoping the next morning to intrap
us. As we were in these perplexities,
seeing our selves no farther than in
the Base-court, which was inclosed only
with a weake wall, and defended with as
bad a gate, which had been easie to be for∣ced,
we continually parlyed and disputed
with the Gentlewoman of the Castle, who
was inexorable to our prayers; but it
pleased God, in the duske of the evening
to send her husband Monsieur de Fleuri∣nes,
who presently received us into his
Castle, and was extreamly angry and pas∣sionate
with his wife for the incivilitie, and
indiscretion which she shewed. This
Gentleman, Monsieur de Fleurines, was
sent on purpose to me from the Count of
Lalaine, to give me a sure convoy through
the townes of the Estates, being not able
to accompany me himself, because he
could not abandon the army, being a chief
Commander for the States, so happy was
this Gentlemans incounter with me, that
conducting me into France, we passed no
more by any Townes, wherein we found
descriptionPage 156
not honourable entertainment, because it
was the Countrey of the Estates, this was
the only displeasure which I received, that
I could not passe by Monts, as I promised
the Countesse of Lalain, our way lying no
neerer to it then Nivelles, which is seven
long mile from thence, and I could not see
her husband the Count of Lalaine, be∣cause
the warre growing hot, he was in
the Army of the States, towards Anvers. I
wrote unto her only from thence, on the
behalfe of the Gentleman that conducted
me. She, as soone as she learned where I
was, did send unto me the chiefest of her
Gentlemen to conduct me to the Fron∣tires
of France, for I was to passe through
all Cambresis, which was divided one half
for the Spaniard, and the other for the
States. I travelled with them to the
Castle of Cambresis, from whence they
returning, I sent her in remembrance of
me, one of my Gownes, which I heard her
very highly prize when I did weare it at
Monts, it was of black Satten, covered
with imbroyderies, which cost me nine
hundred crownes. Arriving at the Castle
of Cambresis, I was informed, that certain
troupes of Huguenots had a designe to
attache me betweene the Frontires of
France and Flanders, which I disclosing
descriptionPage 157
but to a few, was ready to depart the next
morning an houre before day. Sending
for my litter, my Esquire Sal••iati pro∣longed
the time, as he had done before at
Leige, and perceiving that he did this on
purpose, I left my litter, and taking horse,
those that first were ready followed me. I
came to Castelet by ten of the clock in the
morning, having by Gods goodnesse esca∣ped
all the wiles and ambuscadoes of my
enemies. I departed thence to my house
of La Fere, intending to continue there,
till I heard a peace concluded; I found
there a Poste of my Brothers arrived be∣fore
me, who had a charge to attend my
comming, and as soone as I was arrived, to
return in all haste to acquaint him with it.
He wrote to me that the Peace was made,
and that the King was returned to Paris,
that for himself, his condition of estate was
daily worse then other, there being no in∣dignity
and disgrace, which he and his did
not daily prove, and that every houre
brought in new and unjust complaints a∣gainst
Bussi, and the honest Gentlemen that
attended on him, that with extreame im∣patience
he expected my return to La Fere,
intending there to meet me. I suddenly
dispatched his messenger unto him, by
whom advertised of my return, he forth∣with
descriptionPage 158
sent Bussi, with all his house to An∣gers,
and taking only with him fifteen or
twenty of his servants, he came in Post to
La Fere unto me, which was one of the
greatest contentments that ever I recei∣ved,
to have that person with me, whom
so intirely I did affect and honour, and I
endeavoured my self, to give him all plea∣sures
which I thought might make that
place delightfull, which he so well accep∣ted,
that willingly he would have said with
Saint Peter, Let us here make us tabernacles,
had not his royall Courage, and the Noble∣nesse
of his active Soul, called him to enter∣prises
of Renowne and Glory. The
peace and pleasure of our Court, in com∣parison
of that from whence he came, did
render every houre so delightfull, that he
could not forbear oftentimes from crying
out, O my Queen, how good it is to be
with you; This Court is a Paradise filled
with all variety of delight, and that from
whence I came, a hell, pestered with all
manner of torments, and furies.
We stayed there about two moneths,
which in that happy estate, were to us but
two short daies, during which time, ha∣ving
made him account, of what I had
done for him in my voyage into Flanders,
and certified him in what terms I had left
descriptionPage 159
his affayres, he thought it expedient that
Monsieur the Count of Montigny, bro∣ther
to the Count of Lalain should come,
and resolve him what course he was best
to hold therein, and to take assurances of
their good will, and they reciprocally of
his. He came unto my Brother, with
foure or five of the chiefest Lords of Hai∣nault,
the one whereof had a letter, and
command from Monsieur de Ainsi, to offer
his service to my brother, and to assure
him of the Cittadell of Cambray. Mon∣sieur
de Montigny promised that his Bro∣ther,
the Count of Lalaine, would deliver
into his hand all Hainault and Artois,
where are many goodly Townes. These
offers and assurances being received, my
Brother sent them back with Presents,
which were Medalls of Gold, wherin were
his and my figure stamped, and with reas∣surances
of all additions, and benefits that
they could expect. Returning home, they
prepared all things for my Brothers com∣ming,
who making all the▪ dispatch he
could to have his forces ready, returned to
Court, to see what assistance the King
would give him to furnish him in this en∣terprise,
and I desiring to go into Gascogny,
having prepared all things for that effect▪
returned to Paris, my brother met met on
descriptionPage 160
the way, a dayes journey from it, and the
next day the King, the Queen my Mother,
and the Queen Louisa, with all the Court,
did meet me as farre as Saint Denis, where
I was to dine, where they received me
with great honour, and many welcoms,
taking great delight to heare me recount
the honours and magnificence of my voy∣age,
and of my abode at Leige, and the ad∣ventures
of my return. In this pleasing
entertainment of discourse, being all in
the charriot of the Queen my Mother, we
came to Paris, where having supped, and
the Maske ended, the King and Queen
my mother, being both together, I ap∣proached
to them, and besought them that
they would not think ill of it, if
I intreated them that they would be
pleased to grant me leave to goe to the
King my husband, urging, that the peace
being concluded, my journey could not
be suspected by them, and that it would
be prejudiciall to my honour, and unbe∣seeming
the duty of a wife, should I stay
any longer from him: they both expres∣sed
themselves to like it well, and with
free applause did entertaine the motion,
and the Queene my Mother told me,
that shee would accompany me her
selfe, her voyage being necessary in that
descriptionPage 161
Country for the service of the King,
moreover she added, that it was need∣full
that the King should grant me main∣tenance
for the expences of my journey,
to which the King did give consent, and
I desiring to leave nothing behinde which
might cause me to return to Court, being
no longer able to take pleasure in it, my
Brother going from it, whom I saw with
all speed preparing into Flanders, I be∣sought
my Mother to remember her selfe
in what she promised me at the Peace con∣cluded
with my Brother, and that before
I undertooke my journey into Gascogny
she would make over the Lands unto me
for the assignation of my Dowry: She
acquainted the King with it who found it
very reasonable, and promised me that it
should be done; I besought him that it
might be done with speed, for I desired to
begin my journey, if he thought good,
on the beginning of the moneth ensuing:
this also was promised, but according to
the fashion of the Court, for instead
of dispatching me, though every day I did
solicite him, I was deferred five or six
moneths; and so likewise was my Bro∣ther
who was as urgent for his voyage in∣to
Flanders, though he represented daily
to the King, that it was for the honour
descriptionPage 162
and inlargement of France, that it would
prove 'a happy occasion to hinder the
Civill warres, all the moving spirits and
desirous of novelty having the opportuni∣ty
to goe into Flanders, to passe away
their discontent and choller there, and
to glut themselves with Warre, that this
enterprise would serve as sometimes Pied∣mont
did, as a Schoole for the Nobility of
France in their exercise of armes, and
there revive the Montlukes, and brave
Brissa••s, the Terms and Bellegards, and
such as those great Marshalls were, who
trayned up in the Warres of Piedmont,
have since so gloriously and successefully
served their King and Country. These
demonstrances were fair and true enough,
but they had not so much weight, as to
be ballanced with the envy which was born
to the enlargement of my Brothers for∣tunes,
to whom every day administred
new occasions of delay, to hinder him
from assembling his forces, rai••ing some∣times
on himselfe, sometimes on Bussi, and
his other servants a thousand scandals and
complaints; Bussi being daily inveighed
against either by Quelus or Gramont, who
watched by those unjust Alarms to rouse
up my Brothers rage to the overthrowing
of his fortunes. All this was done with∣out
descriptionPage 163
the knowledge of the King; but Mau∣giron
who then did most possesse him, ha∣ving
forsaken my brothers service, and
believing that he was sensible of it, (as it
is ordinary, that he who offendeth doth
never pardon) did prosecute my Brother
with so strong a hate, that he did vow his
ruine, and at every word did undervalue
and outbrave him, as the impudency of
youth blown up with the Kings favor, did
drive him to all kind of insolence and out∣rage,
and combined himselfe with Que∣lus,
Saint Luke, Saint Maigrin, Gramont,
Mauleon, Livarrot and other young people
whom the King favoured, and these be∣ing
followed by all the Court, after the
fashion of Courtiers who hunt after favor
did practise all things whatsoever came
into their fantasie; In a manner that not
a day passed wherein there was not a quar∣rell
betwixt them and Bussi, who in cou∣rage
was not inferiour unto any. My
Brother considering that this was not the
way to advance his voyage into Flanders,
desiring rather to mitigate the King then
to exasperate him, and beleeving besides
that Bussi being abroad might increase the
number of his forces, and provide things
necessary for his army; he sent him
through his principalities to give order
descriptionPage 164
for it; but Bussi being gone, the persecuti∣on
of my Brother ceased not, and then
was it understood that although his brave
qualities wrought much jealously in the
brest of Maugiron and the rest of these
younkers that were neer unto the King,
yet the principall cause of their hatred a∣gainst
Bussi was, that he was my Brothers
servant; for after he was gone, they out∣braved
and derided my Brother so appa∣rently,
and with such despite, that all the
world perceived it, although my Brother
was very wise and patient in his own na∣ture,
and was resolved to suffer all things
for the dispatch of his affaires in Flanders,
hoping by this means to be quickly gone,
and no more to be found a Subject for
them. This persecution howsoever and
indignity was very grievous to him, espe∣cially
seeing in hate to him, they did dai∣ly
molest and wrong his servants, having
lately made Monsieur de la Chastre lose a
great suit, because that a little before he
became my Brothers servant, the King be∣ing
so carried away by the perswasions of
Maugiron, and Saint Luke, who were
friends to Madame de Senaire, that he him∣selfe
did solicite the processe for her a∣gainst
Monsieur de la Chastre, who was
then with my Brother, and finding him∣selfe
descriptionPage 165
opprest with the injury thereof, did
make my Brother partake of the just
griefes he suffered.
In those dayes, the Mariage of Saint
Luke was solemnized, at which my Bro∣ther
(not willing to assist) desired me to
be absent also, and the Queen my Mother
who took no pleasure in the boundlesse
arrogance of these young people, fearing
that all that day would be in debauch∣ment
and excesse, and that my Brother
not being there, they would give a mali∣cious
interpretaion of his absence, which
might prove prejudiciall to him, procu∣red
the Kings good will, that she should
goe abroad on the mariage day to dinner
at Saint Maurus, and took my Brother
and my selfe with her: It was on Shro ve∣munday,
on the evening we returned,
the Queen my Mother so prevailed with
my Brother, that he consented that night
to be present at the dancing to content the
King, but instead of amending his condi∣tion,
it did impaire it; for Maugiron and
his companions being there, they began to
play on my Brother with such keene and
pointed language, that a meaner person
then himselfe would have been offended
at it, saying that he had lost his paines to
re-attire himselfe, that they could not find
descriptionPage 166
him after dinner to say so much as, Much
good d'it you, to him, that he came in the
houre of darknes, because it was pro∣per
to him, reviling him for the mean∣nesse
of his habit, and for the sicklinesse
of his changed complexion: All this was
spoken to the Bride that sate next unto
him; My brother knowing it was done on
purpose to make him answer, and by this
means to set him at distance with the King,
did fling away from thence so full of cho∣ler
and despite, that he could forbeare no
longer; but having deliberated with Mon∣sieur
de la Chastre, he resolved to absent
himselfe a while from Court to goe unto
the Chace, thinking by his absence to
qualifie the heat of these young people,
and to render his affayres with the King
more easie, for the preparation of his ar∣my
which was necessary to goe unto Flan∣ders.
He addressed himself to the Queen
my Mother, who was very sorry to hear
of this difference, and acquainted her
with the resolution he had taken, which
she did well approve, and assured him
that the King should condiscend unto it,
and that she would solicite him in his ab∣sence
for a dispatch in what he promised,
concerning his enterprise in Flanders; And
Monsieur de Villequier standing by, shee
descriptionPage 167
commanded him to goe unto the King,
and acquaint him with the desire which
my brother had to goe for a few dayes a
hunting, which the King allowed, think∣ing
it would be a means to appease the dif∣ferences
which were betwixt him and the
young people Maugiron, Saint Luke, Que∣lus,
and the rest. My brother retiring in∣to
his Chamber holding his suit granted,
commanded all his people to be ready the
next morning, to attend him at Saint
Germans, where intending to make his
aboad for certain dayes, he gave order
to his chiefe Hunter to have his Dogs in
readinesse, and betook himselfe to his rest
that night, with an intention to rise early
the morning following to goe unto the
Chace, either to solace his spirits, or a
little to divert them from the noyse and
tumult of the Court: Monsieur de Ville∣quier
repaired to the King to demand
leave of him, to which he did accord, but
remayning in his Cabinet, with the Coun∣saile
of Rehoboam, which was five or six
young fellows, they presented to him that
this departure of my brothers was much
to be suspected, and put him into such an
apprehension, that they made him commit
one of the greatest oversights that this our
age did know, which was to take my
descriptionPage 168
brother and his chiefest Servants priso∣ners,
which as it was unwisely determi∣ned,
so was it rashly executed; for the
King catching hold of these words, went
suddainly in the night, in a great passion to
finde the Queen my Mother, as if it were a
publick alarm, or as the enemie had been at
the gate, and said unto her, Now Madam!
what doe you think you have done by de∣manding
leave for my Brother to go, Doe
not you see the danger in which you put
my estate, without all doubt, under this
pretence of hunting, there lies some dange∣rous
enterprise; I will goe seize on him,
and all his people, and I will cause his cof∣fers
to be broken open, I assure my self we
shall discover somthing of importance. He
had with him the Captaine of the Guard,
Monsieur de Losse, and some of the Scotch
regiment. The Queen my mother fea∣ring
in this precipitation, that my Bro∣thers
life would be in jeopardie, earnestly
desired that shee might goe along with
him, and because she was all undressed,
throwing her night-gowne on her, she
made haste up after him to my Brothers
chamber, The King was knocking furi∣ously
at the doore, commanding it to be
opened, pronouncing that the King was
there: My Brother awaked at this tu∣mult,
descriptionPage 169
and knowing that he had not com∣mitted
any thing that might give him the
least occasion of feare, he commanded
Cange the Groom of his Chamber; to open
the doore; the King rushing in, began to
taxe him, and to tell him that he would
never leave to practise against his State
and him, and that he would make him
know what it was to attempt against his
Prince: On that, he presently commanded
the Guard to carry forth his coffers, and
to take the groomes of his chamber with
them; He searched my Brothers bed him∣self,
and turned and tossed it, to see if he
could finde any papers there. My Bro∣ther
having a letter of Madame de Sau∣vaes,
which he received that evening, did
take it into his hand, that the King might
not see it, the King inforced himself to
take it from him, and my Brother resist∣ing,
and with joyned hands intreating him
that he would be pleased not to looke on
it, he made the King more desirous to
peruse it, beleeving that in that paper he
should finde a sufficient ground to com∣mence
his processe against him. In the
end, having opened it in the presence
of the Queene my mother, they were
as much abashed at it, as was sometimes
Cato, who in the Senate having constrain∣ed
descriptionPage 170
Caesar to show the paper that was
brought unto him, importunatly implying
that it concerned the benefit of the Com∣mon-wealth,
he perceived, that it was a
wanton letter of love, directed from his
sister to him. The shame of this event,
that came so crosse to the expectation of
the King, augmented by despight his
choler, so that he gave no eare unto my
brother, who incessantly demanded, of
what he was accused, and wherefore he
was so intreated? He was committed to
the charge of Monsieur de Losse, and there
was a Guard set over him of the Scotch
regiment, with command not to permit
him to talke to any: this was done an
houre after midnight; My brother re∣maining
still in this manner, was in grea∣ter
perplexitie for me, then for himself,
beleeving truly that they would doe the
like by me, and that so violent and unjust
a beginning, could not have but as unto∣ward
and ending, and seeing that Monsieur
de Losse had teares in his eyes, for griefe to
see things carried after this manner, and
that by reason of the Guard there present,
he durst not speak freely to him, he only
asked him what was become of me, Mon∣sieur
de Losse made answere, that as yet he
heard nothing of me; My brother straight
descriptionPage 171
replyed, It is a great comfort to me in
this affliction, to heare that my Sister is at
libertie, but although she be in that free
estate, she affecteth me so intirely, that she
would rather be in bondage with me, then
live in libertie without me, and desired
him to goe to the Queen my mother, and
beseech her that she would be pleased to
obtaine of the King, that I might endure
my captivitie with him, this the King did
grant; this unshaken beleefe which my
brother had of the assurance of my love,
was such a particular obligation to me,
though his good offices might challenge
from me many and great acknowledge∣ments,
that I have ever placed it in the first
ranke of all; as soon as he had this permis∣sion,
which was upon the break of day,
he desired Monsieur de Losse, to send one
of the Guard to acquaint me with this me∣lancholy
newes, and to desire me to come
unto him, the yeoman of the guard, com∣ming
into my chamber, found me asleep,
not dreaming of any thing that had pas∣sed;
he opened my curtaine, as I was ope∣ning
my eyes, and in a language proper to
the Scots, said unto me, Bon jour Madame!
Monsieur your brother desires you, that
you would come unto him. I looked on
the Man, being not halfe awaked, and even
descriptionPage 172
ready to fall asleep againe, and knowing
him, I demanded of him, if he was not one
of the Scottish guard, he answered, yes; I
replyed, What is the matter, hath my
brother no other messenger then you to
send? he answered, No, for all his people
are taken from him, and told me in his
language all which that night had hap∣pened,
and perceiving I was much affli∣cted
at it, he approached neerer to me, and
spake that my servants being present, might
not heare him, Doe not torment your self
Madame, I have a means to save Mon∣sieur
your Brother, and assure your selfe I
will performe it, but of necessitie I must
then goe with him; I answered him, that
he should be rewarded above his hopes,
and making haste to dresse me, I went with
him alone to my Brothers chamber, In my
way I was to goe through all the Court,
then full of people, who were accustomed
to runne to see, and honour me, but per∣ceiving
how Fortune now had changed
her countenance, they made as though
they had not seen me; comming into my
brothers chamber, I found him with so
great a constancie, that he was not changed
at all from his usuall disposition, and
tranquility of Mind, and seeing me, he
imbraced me, and with a countenance ra∣ther
descriptionPage 173
joyfull then dejected, said, My
Queen, I beseech you forbear those teares,
In this condition that I am, your grief is
the only thing that can afflict me, for my
innocence and true intentions doe pro∣hibit
me to feare any of the accusations of
my enemyes, but if unjustly they shall at∣tempt
against my life, they who shall per∣forme
it, will be more cruell unto them∣selves,
then me, who have courage e∣nough
to undergoe and despise the stroak
of so unjust a death, neither is it that so
much which I respect, for my life hath hi∣therto
been accompained with so much
sorrow and affliction, that not knowing
any of the pleasures of this world I shall
not have the griefe to abandon them, the
saddest apprehension which I have is, that
wanting a cause to make me justly to dye,
I shall languish in the solitude of tedious
imprisonment, where yet I shall despise
the tyranny of my enemies, seeing you
will so much oblige me as to assist me with
your presence; these words in stead of
ceasing my tears did so increase them, that
out of my eies I thought I should have pow¦red
all the moisture of my life; I answered
him in sobs, that my life and fortunes were
woven into his, that it was in the power
of God alone to hinder me from assisting
descriptionPage 174
him in any condition that I could, that
should the King take me thence, and not
suffer me to continue with him I would kill
my selfe in his presence; Passing the day
in this discourse, and seeking together
the occasion that made the King pro∣ceede
in so cruell and unjust a course
against him, and not able to conceive
it, the houre came about for the o∣pening
of the Castle gate, where an indis∣creet
young fellow who was servant to
Bussi, being known and staid by the guard,
was demanded by them, whither he was
going, he being amased with the strangenes
of the suddain interrogatory, made answer
that he was going to seek his Master; this
being told unto the King, it was suspected
that he was within the Lovure, where com∣ming
that after noone from Saint Germans
my brother had caused him to enter in
with the rest of the troupe to confer with
him on the affaires of his army which was
going unto Flanders, not thinking then
he should so suddainly depart from
Court as unexpectedly afterwards it came
to passe. That evening, on the occasi∣on
aforesaid, Archant the Captaine of
the Guard received Commandement
from the King to looke him out, and to
seize on him and Simier; who making
descriptionPage 175
this inquisition to his griefe, because he
was an intimate friend of Bussies, and by
alliance called him Sonne, as Bussi called
him Father, he came up into Simiers
Chamber where he seized on him, and
doubting that Bussi there had hid him∣selfe,
he made a light search being glad
that he did not finde him, but Bussi who
lay then on the bed, and perceived that
he should be left alone, fearing that the
same Commission should be given to ano∣ther
with whom he should not be in so
much safety, he desired rather to be un∣der
Archants custody, and being of a mer∣ry
and spiritfull disposition, in whose
brest no danger could work the base effects
of feare, as Archant was going out of the
doore to lead Simier away, he put out
his head betwixt the Curtains and cryed
out, why, hoe there! What will you go
without me Father, doe not you thinke
my conduct more honourable then such a
rakestraws, as is Simiers; Archant turned
to him, and said, Ah my Sonne, I would
to God it had cost me one of my armes
that you were not here; he replyed, ••ush,
my affaires goe well, playing all the way
as he went with Simier, and laughing at
him for the trembling feare wherein he
saw him: Archant shut them up both in∣to
descriptionPage 176
one Chamber, and set a guard over
them, and went from thence to take Mon∣sieur
de la Castre, whom he carried to the
Bastille.
While these things were in the executi∣on,
Monsieur de Losse a good old man who
had bin governour to the King my Hus∣band
in his nonage, and who tendered
me as his own childe, having now the
custody of my brother, knowing how un∣justly
he was dealt withall, and detesting
the bad counsaile by which the King was
governed, having a desire to oblige us
both, resolved to save my brother, and
the better to discover his intention to me,
commanded the Scotch guard to waite
without doores on the staires head, de∣taining
onely two with him, in whose
secrecy he much trusted, and taking me
by the hand he said, There is not a true
Frenchman, whose heart bleedeth not to
see that which we behold, I have been too
long a servant to the King your Father▪
to refuse to offer up my life a sacrifice for
his children, I believe that I shall have
the guard of Monsieur your brother, in
whatsoever place they will keep him; As∣sure
your selfe that with the hazard of my
life I will preserve his, but to the end
that this resolution may not be perceived,
descriptionPage 177
let us talke no more together, but be cer∣tain
of it. This promise gave me a little
comfort, & rouzing up my spirit, I told my
brother, that we ought not to be kept in
this manner, like people taken by the In∣quisition,
without knowing what we had
done, that thus they use felons and the
vilest of malefactors when they had ta∣ken
them prisoners. I intreated Mon∣sieur
de Losse, since the King would not per∣mit
that the Queen my Mother should
come unto us, that he would be pleased
to let us know by any of his servants the
cause of our restraint: Monsieur de Com∣baut
who was cheife of the Counsaile of
these young people was sent unto us, who
with a gravity that was naturall to him,
told us that he was sent thither to know
what was that, which we desired the King
should understand; We made answer,
that we desired to speak with any one from
the King to know the occasion of our con∣finement
which we our selves could not
conceive: He gravely replyed, that we
must not demand of Gods and Kings the
reason of their actions, that they did all
things for a good and a just cause; we
made answer again, that we were not
persons to be held as those whom they put
in the the Inquisition, concerning whom
descriptionPage 178
we must divine what they had done; we
could draw nothing else from him, but
that he would imploy himselfe for us,
and that he would doe us all the best offi∣ces
which he could: My Brother began
to laugh out right, but I who was turned
all into griefe to see my brother in danger,
whom I cherished above my own life, had
much adoe to forbeare from speaking to
him, as he deserved.
While he was making this report unto
the King, my Mother being in her Cham∣ber,
opprest with manifold afflictions,
and even sick with sorrow, as a wise per∣son
did foresee that this excesse made ei∣ther
without reason or subject would bring
a swift and dreadfull devastation on the
Kingdome, if my Brother had not the
better disposition; and sent for all the old
Counsellers, Monsieur the Chancellour,
the Princes, Lords, and Marshals of France,
who were all wonderfully offended and
scandalized for the bad Councell which
was given to the King, saying all to the
Qu. my Mother, that she ought to oppose
it, and represent unto the King the wrong
which he had done, that they could not
hinder the error from being undone which
already was committed, but they ought
to repeale it after the best manner they
descriptionPage 179
could. The Queen my Mother with all
the Lords of his Councell repaired pre∣sently
to the King, and did demonstrate
to him of what importance were these ef∣fects.
The King having his eyes unsealed
from the pernicious Counsell of these
young people, did well approve what
his old Lords and Counsellers had presen∣ted
to him, and prayed the Queen my
Mother to repeale it, and to perswade my
Brother to forget all that was passed, ad∣ding
that he was offended with those
young people for it, and desired that by
her means a reconcilement might be made
betwixt Bussi and Quelus. This being
determined, the guard was taken off my
brother; and the Queen my Mother com∣ming
to his Chamber told him, that he
was to thanke almighty God for the mer∣cy
vouchsafed him in his deliverance from
so great a danger, that she had seen the
houre wherein she could not so much as
hope for his life; that since he understood
by this that the King was of such a heady
humour that he tooke offence not onely
at effects, but at empty imaginations, and
running uncontrolledly in his opinion,
without staying at any advice, would ex∣ecute
whatsoever his fancy did prompt him
to, therefore to put him in no further
descriptionPage 180
grievances, she desired him to put on a re∣solution
to conform himselfe in all things
to his will, and that he would present him∣selfe
unto him without any show of discon∣tent
at the unjust proceedings which had
passed against his person; we made answer
to her, that we had much to give thanks
to God for his great mercy in securing us
from the injustice that was prepared for
us, and that for this, next unto God we
owed to her alone our second obligations,
but the quality of my brother did not per∣mit,
that they should imprison him with∣out
a cause, and take him then from
thence, without any formality of justifi∣cation,
or satisfaction. The Queen re∣plied
that what already had been done God
himself could not cause to be undone, but
they would recall the disorder that was
made at his surprisall by making his deli∣verance
with all the honour and satisfacti∣on
that he could desire, that also it were
requisite that he againe should content the
King in all things, speaking to him with
such affection and respect that the King
should remaine well pleased with it, and
also that he would be a means that such a
reconcilement should be made betwixt
Bussi and Quelus that no more between
them an occasion should be found for dis∣content
descriptionPage 181
or quarrell, avouching that the
principall motive which produced all
this counsel, and bad effects, was a fear that
they had of the combat which old Bussi
(a worthy father of so brave a Son) had
demanded, beseeching the King that he
would permit him to be his son Bussies Se∣cond,
and in the like manner, that Mon∣sieur
de Que••us might have his father to se∣cond
him, that they foure might end the
quarrell, without troubling the Court, or
indangering so many people. My bro∣ther
promised that Bussi (seeing he had no
hope to redresse himself) should, to come
out of prison, performe any thing that she
commanded; The Queen my mother,
going downe unto the King, found
him very willing that this deliverance
should be made with honour, and to
this purpose he came into the Cham∣ber
of the Queen my Mother, with
all the Princes, the Lords and others of his
Counsell, and sent Monsieur de Villequier
to tell us he did attend our comming.
Passing through the halls and chambers, as
we were going to his Majestie, we found
them all full of people, who beheld us
with teares falling from their eyes, pray∣sing
God to see us out of danger. Com∣ming
into the chamber of the Queen my
descriptionPage 182
Mother, we found the King with the com∣pany
before rehearsed, who seeing my bro∣ther,
said unto him, that he would desire
him not to thinke strange, nor be offended
at what he had done, being compelled to
it by the zeale which he had to the quiet
and safety of the State, that he now belee∣ved
that he had no intention to disturbe
his Kingdom or himselfe; My brother
made answere, that he had vowed so much
service to his Majestie, that he would
thinke well of whatsoever he was pleased
to have done, but he most humbly be∣sought
him to consider, that the devotion
and fidelity which he had testified to his
Majestie, did not deserve that rough in∣treaty,
howsoever he accused nothing but
his own unhappinesse, and was satisfied
enough, if the King acknowledged his in∣nocence.
The King answered yes, there
was no question of it to be made; and in∣treated
him to relie on his love, as much as
heretofore. On this, the Queen my mo∣ther
joyned them hand in hand, and made
them imbrace each other. Immediately
the King commanded that Bussi should
come forth, and be reconciled to Quelus,
and that they should set Simier and Mon∣sieur
de la Chastre at libertie. Bussi com∣ming
into the chamber, with that brave
descriptionPage 183
presence which was naturall to him, the
King told him that he would have an at∣tonement
made between him and Quelus,
and that their quarrell should no more be
mentioned, and commanded him to im∣brace
Quelus: Bussi made answere, Sir,
if it be your pleasure that I should kisse
him, I am well disposed to it, and accom∣modating
his gestures to his words, he did
accost him with the Pantaloone, and in a
lovers complement did imbrace him, at
which all the company, though possessed,
and almost astonished with the former pas∣sages,
could hardly refrain from laughter:
the more advised judged that it was too
slight a satisfaction which my brother re∣ceived,
and not to be parralel'd with so
great an Injury. This being done, the
King and Queen my Mother comming to
me, told me it was needfull also, that I
should give them my hand, that my Bro∣ther
should not entertaine the remem∣brance
of any thing which might make
him start from the obedience which he
owed to the King. I made answere that
my brother was so wise, and had so much
devotion to his service, that he had no need
to be perswaded to it, either by me, or by
any other, and that he never had, nor
should receive any counsell from me, but
descriptionPage 184
what should be conformable to their will,
and his duty. It being then three a clock
in the afternone, and none having dined,
the Queen my Mother desired that wee
might dine altogether, and afterwards
commanded my Brother and my self to
change our habits, which were suitable to
the sad condition wherein we lately were,
and to make our selves ready to be at sup∣per
with the King, and afterward at the
dancing. She was obeyed in those things
which could be put off, and left behinde;
but for the countenance, which is the live∣ly
Image of the Soul, the passion of our
just discontent was read in perfect Cha∣racters,
and ingraven with all the force
and violence of indignation and disdaine▪
as we had true cause to finde it in all the
acts of this Tragy comedy; which being
ended, Monsieur de Seurre, whom the
Queen my mother had given to my bro∣ther
to lie in his chamber, and in whose di∣scourse
she often took delight, did chance
to stand before her: this was a man of a
disposition bluntly sharpe, and who with
a carelesse grace and affectation, would
assume unto himself the liberty of speak∣ing
any thing that came into his head, re∣lishing
somthing of the humour of the
Cynick Philosopher. My mother obser∣ving
descriptionPage 185
him, said unto him, Now Monsieur
de Seurre; And what say you of all this?
he replyed, It is too much in earnest, and
too little in jest; and turning to me, he
spake softly, that my mother might not un∣derstand
him, I doe not beleeve that this
is the last act of the play, the man (speak∣ing
of my Brother) would deceive me
much, if he should stay here still. This
in this manner being passed, the malady
being healed without, and not within, the
young people who possessed the King,
conceiving of my Brothers nature and di∣sposition
by their owne, and their unex∣perienced
judgements not permitting
them to discerne of what force and vertue
was his Countreys love unto a Prince so
rarely qualified as was my Brother, they
perswaded the King, joyning their cause
to his, that my Brother would never for∣get
the publick affront which he received,
but would be alwayes watching an occasi∣on
to revenge it. The King, quite forget∣ting
the former errour which these young
people caused him to commit▪ received
this second Impression, and commanded
the Captaine of the Guards to looke care∣fully
to the gates, that my brother might
not goe forth, and that every night they
should discharge the Loure of all my bro∣thers
descriptionPage 186
servants, leaving only him behinde,
who usually lay in his chamber, or in his
Waredrope. My brother seeing himself
at the mercy of these young heads, who
without either respect or judgement
made the King dispose of him as they
pleased, fearing least worse should come
unto him, and having a fresh example of
what without any ground or reason late∣ly
had befallen him, having three dayes
entertained the apprehension of this dan∣ger,
was resolved on the fourth, to remove
from Court, and to retire to his owne
house, nor return any more to Court, but
with what speed he could, to dispatch his
affaires for Flanders; he disclosed to me
this resolution, and perceiving it was his
best security, and that neither the King nor
State should receive any prejudice by it, I
did approve it, and contriving the means,
because he could not get out of the gates
of the Lou••e, which were so curiously
guarded, that stedfastly, and with great
heed they looked in the face of all that
passed in and out; I concluded, there was
no other way for him, but to get out at my
Chamber window, which looked down in∣to
a deep ditch, and was two stories high;
he intreated me to provide for this pur∣pose,
a strong cable, and of a sufficient
descriptionPage 187
length, which suddainly I procured, cau∣sing
a boy that was faithfull to me to carry
out that day the cord of a bed, which was
broken, in pretence to have it repaired,
and shut againe, and within some few
houres after, to bring it back, and with
it, the cord that was necessary for us. The
houre of supper being come which was on
a fasting night, when the King supped not,
my Mother did sup alone in her little Hall,
and I with her; my Brother although he
was exceeding patient and discreet in all
his actions being rouzed up by the remem∣brance
of the affront which he received,
and of the danger which threatned him,
impatient to be gone, came unto me as I
rose from table, and whispering in my eare
desired me to make haste, and repaire unto
my own chamber, where he would attend
me: Monsieur de Matignon who was not
yet Marshall, a dangerous and fine Nor∣man
who loved not my Brother, being
either adverised of it by some one who per∣adventure
could not hold his peace, or
conjecturing it by the manner which my
brother spake unto me, said unto the Q.
my Mother, as she was going to her
Chamber, That without doubt my bro∣ther
would be gone, that to morrow he
would not be there, that he knew it very
descriptionPage 188
well, and that she should doe well to give
order to the contrary: I did even heare
the words he spake, standing very neer my
Mother, regarding and curiously obser∣ving
all that passed, as those doe in the
like estate, who being neer their utmost
danger, or on the point of their delive∣ry,
are floting betwixt feare and hope:
I perceived that my Mother was much
troubled at the news which gave me the
greater apprehension to beleeve that we
were discovered; entring into her Closet,
she tooke me aside and said; Have you
heard what Matignon hath told me? I
made answer, I did not understand it Ma∣dame,
but I perceive it is some businesse
that doth afflict you; yes, she replyed,
and that very much, for you know that I
have answered the King that your Brother
should not goe, and Matignon now is
come to tell me, that he knows he will not
be here to morrow. Finding then my
selfe in these two extreams, either to faile
in my fidelity to my Brother, and put his
life in hazard, or to sweare against the
truth, a thing which I would not doe to
escape a thousand deaths, I was in so great
a perplexity that had not God assisted me,
my fashion sufficiently had witnessed with∣out
my words, the fear I had that we were
descriptionPage 189
discovered, but as God assisteth good in∣tentions,
and his divine bounty joyned
in this work of my Brothers safety, I so
composed my lookes and words, that she
perceived not any thing but that which I
would have her, and that I offended not
my Soule or Conscience by any false oath.
I demanded of her, if too well she did not
understand the hate which Monsieur Ma∣tignon
did beare unto my Brother, that he
was a spitefull disturber of all our quiet,
and who did grieve to see us live in con∣cord,
that when my Brother did goe I
would answer it with my life; that I was
confident, he having never concealed any
thing from me, that he would have com∣municated
this designe unto me if he had
an intention thereunto; this I said, assu∣ring
my selfe that my Brother being safe
they durst not doe me wrong, and choo∣sing
rather to ingage my life then to offend
my soule by any false oath, or to put my
Brothers life in jeopardy; She seeking not
after any other sence of my words, replied;
Be well advised what you say, you shall
serve as caution for him, and answer his
absence with your life; to which I smiling
did make answer, that it was that which I
desired; and bidding her good night, I
forthwith repaired to my Chamber, where
descriptionPage 190
putting off my cloaths with all diligence,
hasting unto bed, to be the sooner ridde
of the Ladyes and Gentlewomen that at∣tended
on me, I was left onely with the
women of my Chamber, when presently
my Brother came in, and Simier and Cange
with him, and having commanded them
to look first into the ditch, to see if any
one were there, we fastned the cord to
the post of the window; we were ayded
onely with my three women that lay in
my Chamber, and with the boy that
brought the cord; my brother, although
it was a very great height, without any ap∣prehension
of feare descended first, and
laughing at the danger went swinging and
playing down; after him discended Si∣mier
in such a pittifull feare that he could
scarce hold the rope for trembling; and
last of all Cange the groom of his Cham∣ber.
God so happily did guide my bro∣ther
from being discovered that he came
to Saint Geneviefue where Bussi did attend
him, who by the consent of the Abby had
made a hole in the Town wall, at which
my Brother did goe forth, and finding
there two horses ready, he retired to An∣gers
without any misfortune. As Cange
last of all came downe, there arose a man
from the bottome of the Ditch who began
descriptionPage 191
to run towards the lodgings neer the Te∣nis
Court which is the way to the Corps de
guard; I who in all this adventure appre∣hended
not any thing which concerned
my self in particular, but onely the safety
or danger of my Brother, stood in a maze,
strook through and through with feare,
beleeving that man to be some one, who
following the advise of Monsieur de Ma∣tignon
was placed there on purpose to ob∣serve
us, and thinking that my Brother
had been surprized I fell into a despaire,
which cannot be represented but by an
essay of things like to it: being in these
perplexities, my women more curious
then my self, for my safety and their own
took the cord and put it into the fire, to
the end that if the misfortune were so
great that the man who rose out of the
ditch, had been set there to observe us, it
might not be discovered; this cord being
very long made so great a flame that it
blazed out of the chimney, and was per∣ceived
by those of the Guard, who that
night did watch: In a great fright and
with loud importunity they came and
knocked at my door desiring that sudden∣ly
it might be opened, then I thought that
my brother at that present had been taken,
and that we both had been undone, ha∣ving
descriptionPage 192
notwithstanding anchored my hope
on God who preserved my judgement in∣tire
(a grace which his divine Majesty was
ever pleased in all my danger to vouchsafe
unto me) and perceiving that the cord
was but halfe burned out, I spake unto
my women to goe gently to the doore to
demand what they would have, and to
speake softly to them, as if I were asleepe,
which they did, and they of the guard told
them that a great fire came out of the tun∣nell
of my chimney and made in the darke
of night so bright a flame, that the dan∣ger
of it did call them thither to extin∣guish
it: My women made answer to
them, it was nothing, and that they were
able to quench it well enough themselves,
and charged them to take heed that they
did not waken me, on which they retur∣ned
back. This alarm being passed, some
two houres after, behold Monsieur de Losse
came to call me to the King & Queen my
Mother, to give them an account of my
brothers departure, being advertised of
it by the Abbot of Saint Genevifue, who to
avoid all checks, and by my brothers own
consent, when he saw himselfe farre e∣nough
from the danger of being intrap∣ped,
came to informe the King of it, tel∣ling
him that he was surprized in his own
descriptionPage 193
house, and being shut up therein till a
breach in the wall was made for my bro∣thers
escape, he could come no sooner to
acquaint his Majestie with it; He found
me in my bed, for it was yet night, and I
suddenly arising, and putting on my night∣gown,
one of my women indiscreetly af∣frighted
at it, tooke hold of my gowne,
weeping and crying out, that I should ne∣ver
return unto them. Monsieur de Losse
beating her back, said, If this woman had
done this before any but my selfe, who
am your devoted servant, these words
of hers might procure great trouble
to you, but give thanks to God,
and feare not any thing, for Mon∣sieur
your Brother is safe. This assurance
of his was to me a needfull, and no lesse
welcome encouragement, to arme me to
endure all the threats and choller of the
King, whom I found sitting on the Queen
my Mothers bed, in so great a passion,
that I beleeve I should have found the ef∣fects
of it, if the feare of my brothers ab∣sence,
and my mothers presence had not
detained him. They both said unto me,
that I had obliged my selfe unto them, that
my Brother should not goe, and had pro∣mised
to answere for him; I replyed, that
it was true, I had; but in this, that he had
descriptionPage 194
deceived me, as well as them, howsoever I
durst assure them on the forfeit of my life,
that his departure would bring no altera∣tion
in his service to his Majestie; and that
he was only gone to his owne house, to
give order in what was necessary for his
voyage into Flanders. This assurance did
a little qualifie the King, who gave me
leave to return unto my chamber; not long
after, there came news from my brother,
which gave the King reassurances of his af∣fection
and obedience; this caused the
complaint to cease, but not the discon∣tent,
shewing in apparence to be willing
to assist him, but traversing under hand
the preparations of his Army into Flan∣ders.
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