FIRST PART.
PAGE 1.--1. HENRY II., son of Francis I. and Claude de France, was born at Saint Germain-en-Laye, March 31, 1519. Upon his accession to the throne of France in 1547, he filled the Court with favorites of his own, among whom the highest position was occupied by Diana of Poitiers (see page 8, note 1). Although he continued his father's persistent persecution of the French Protestants, he was, at the same time, at the head of the league of Protestant princes opposed to Charles V. In this conflict he was successful and took Toul, Metz, and Verdun from Germany in 1552. After the accession of Philip II. to the throne of Spain, the war against the French was carried on with varying success for seven years. In 1558, after the Battle of Gravelines, proposals of peace were made and the treaty was signed at Câteau-Cambrésis, April 3, 1559. Henry II. was shortly after wounded in a tournament, and died on July 10, 1559.
2. MADAME ELISABETH DE FRANCE (1543-1568) was the daughter of Henry II. and Catherine de Medici. She was promised in marriage to Edward VI. of England, but the latter died before attaining his majority. Philip II. of Spain sought her as a match for his son, Don Carlos; but in the meantime his wife, Mary of England, died, and he demanded and obtained the princess for himself. The romantic attachment of Don Carlos to her is vividly depicted in Schiller's drama, though it must be borne in mind that Schiller's picture is very far from being an accurate historical representation. Her death took place shortly after that of Don Carlos. "She was," says Brantôme, "the best princess of her time, and was loved by every one. She was extremely beautiful, and to this she joined a demeanor of incomparable majesty. She was endowed with a lively understanding and was a great lover of poetry and the arts."
3. MARIE STUART (1542-1587) was born at Linlithgow, a small town not far from Edinburgh. She was the daughter of James V. of Scotland by his second wife, Mary of Lorraine. Henry VIII. desired her as a match for the Prince of Wales, but her mother favored a marriage with the Dauphin, afterwards Francis II. She accordingly set out for France in 1548 and the marriage took place on April 24, 1558. From this time until the death of Henry II., Francis and Mary Stuart were called _le Roi Dauphin_ and _la Reine Dauphine_ respectively. The young princess soon drew upon herself the enmity of her mother-in-law, Catherine de Medici, and shortly after her husband's death she left for Scotland (August 15, 1561). Her checkered career from this time on is well known.
$1s (afterwards Francis II.), son of Henry II., was born at Fontainebleau, January 19, 1543. He was married to Mary Stuart in 1558 and the next year ascended the throne of France. Owing to his weak health and mental incapacity the affairs of the kingdom fell into the hands of the Guises, uncles of Mary Stuart. This led to great discontent among the people, which was aggravated by the fierce religious factions of the times. The young ruler died on December 5, 1560. The agitation of the Court was so great that neither his mother nor any of his family paid him the last duties, and his body was borne to St. Denis accompanied only by two noblemen and the Bishop of Senlis.
5. LA REINE, Catherine de Medici (1519-1589), was born in the city of Florence. She was the daughter of Lorenzo de Medici and the niece of Pope Clement VII. Her marriage with Henry II. took place at Marseille, October 28, 1533. Her ambitious schemes were repressed during the reign of her husband and of Francis II.; but, as she had charge of affairs during the minority of Charles IX., she made good use of this opportunity to destroy her enemies both political and religious. She designed the massacre of St. Bartholomew and was continually fomenting strife among her sons. After the death of Charles IX. she again became regent for a short time till the return of Henry III. Never did Italian craftiness and cruelty wield such influence in France. At last, however, the people grew weary of the rule of the foreigner, and Catherine's later years were marked by the loss of all political power.
6. MADAME, SOEUR DU ROI, Marguerite de France, daughter of Francis I., was born in 1525 at Saint Germain-en-Laye. In 1559 she married the Duke of Savoy. She was a patron of literature and art, and drew many celebrated men to the University of Turin. Her kindly disposition won her the title of "Mother of the People." She died on the 14th of September, 1574.
7. FRANÇOIS IER (1494-1547), son of Charles, Comte d'Angoulême. At the age of twenty he married Claude, daughter of Louis XII., and succeeded his father-in-law, January 1, 1515. His first act was to undertake the conquest of the French possessions in Italy which had been lost during the reign of Louis XII. He was successful and regained Milan with Lombardy. Upon the death of the German Emperor Maximilian in 1519, he became the rival candidate of Charles V. for the imperial crown. Upon his loss of the latter, he attempted an alliance with Henry VIII. of England against the Emperor. Henry, however, soon afterwards united with the Emperor and the Papacy against Francis; the French troops in Italy were defeated and Francis was captured at Pavia and carried as prisoner to Madrid. He was released the next year. From this time almost till his death he was engaged in expeditions against the German Emperor, and on two occasions went so far as to make an alliance with the Turks. He was the first to give to the French Court that magnificence which afterwards made it the envy of all the Courts of Europe. In religion he pursued a double policy: while he severely persecuted the Protestants in France, he did all in his power to encourage the German Protestants and, in this way, to weaken the power of his old enemy, Charles V.
PAGE 2.--1. LE ROI DE NAVARRE. Antoine de Bourbon, King of Navarre, was born April 22, 1518. He was the son of Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, and Françoise d'Alençon. In 1548 he married Jeanne d'Albret, daughter of Henry II., King of Navarre. By this marriage he obtained the crown of Navarre and the Seniory of Béarn. His son, Henry of Navarre (Henry IV. of France), was born in 1553. During the first part of Antoine de Bourbon's political career he belonged to the Huguenots and was associated with them at the conspiracy of Amboise (see page 64, note 2), but after the death of Francis II. he passed over to the Catholic party, was appointed _lieutenant-général_ of the kingdom, and formed, with the Duke of Guise and the Constable of Montmorency, the union which was called "the Triumvirate." During the siege of Rouen he received a severe wound, from which he died thirty-five days after, on November 17, 1562.
2. LE DUC DE GUISE, François de Lorraine, second Duke of Guise (1519-1563), was the eldest son of Claude, first Duke of Guise. In his early life he showed a love of danger and thirst for renown. Having been placed in charge of the French troops in the "Three Bishoprics," he sustained against 100,000 imperial troops the memorable siege of Metz. In 1557 he had charge of the army sent into Italy at the request of Paul IV., to undertake the conquest of the kingdom of Naples. After the disastrous defeat of Saint-Quentin, he was placed in command of all the armies, both within and without the kingdom; then followed a series of brilliant victories for the French, resulting in the capture of Calais, Guines, and Thionville. A ghastly face-wound at the hands of the English at Boulogne got him the name of "Balafré." He wielded great influence at Court and was a chief promoter of the persecution of the Huguenots, figuring prominently in the Massacre of Vassy and the siege of Rouen. During his attack on Orleans he was shot by a Protestant named Poltrot de Méré.
3. LE CARDINAL DE LORRAINE, Charles, second cardinal of Lorraine (1524-1574), was the second son of Claude of Guise. He was by far the ablest of the Guises. At the age of twenty-three he was taken into the confidence of Henry II. and gained universal favor by his agreeable and flattering address. In early life he was appointed Archbishop of Rheims and not long after was made cardinal. At first he was inclined to favor the Protestants, but subsequently used his influence toward their extermination. During the reign of Francis II. he was, together with his brother, the Duke of Guise, in virtual control of the government.
4. LE CHEVALIER DE GUISE, François de Lorraine, was born in 1537; joined the order of Malta and became Grand Prior towards 1555, and about the same time was made General of the Galleys. He led an expedition from Malta to Rhodes, where he was wounded. He was one of the nobles who accompanied Mary Stuart to Scotland in 1561, and while returning visited the Court of England. He got overheated at the battle of Dreux (December 12, 1562) and died of pleurisy a few weeks later. He had already in 1562 waged successful war against the Huguenots in Normandy. Brantôme, his secretary, describes him at length in vol. v., pp. 62-77, Mérimée's edition, Paris, 1858.
5. LE PRINCE DE CONDÉ. Louis I. of Bourbon, Prince of Condé (1530-1569), was the son of Charles of Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme. During the wars of Francis I. he took part in the defence of Metz against Charles V., and was afterwards a vigorous leader of the Protestants against the Guises. He was implicated in the conspiracy of Amboise and sentenced to death, but was saved by the early death of Francis II. After the massacre at Vassy (1562) he was again in arms and was taken prisoner at Dreux, but regained his liberty by the peace of 1565. During the wars of religion he was relentlessly pursued by the Catholic powers and took refuge in La Rochelle. He was killed in the battle of Jarnac, March 13, 1569.
6. LE DUC DE NEVERS. Francis I. of Clèves, Duke of Nevers (1516-1562), was the son of Charles of Clèves. In 1539 he obtained the establishment of Nevers and in 1545 the government of Champagne. His first military expedition was in Piedmont under Marshall Montmorency. In 1551 he was entrusted with the protection of the frontier of Lorraine. He took part in all the campaigns against Charles V. and Philip II., and was one of the most valiant defenders of Metz. He was present at the defeat of Saint-Quentin, and by his skillful manoeuvres saved a great part of the French forces from destruction. In 1560 he revealed to Francis II. the conspiracy of Amboise. His death took place on February 13, 1562.
7. LE PRINCE DE CLÈVES, second son of Francis I. of Nevers. "Ce prince," says Brantôme, "qui s'appelloit Jacques de Clèves, bien qu'il fût de faible habitude, si promettoit-il beaucoup de soi, car il avoit en lui beaucoup de vertu." He died in 1564.
PAGE 3.--1. LE VIDAME DE CHARTRES (1522-1560). Francis of Vendôme, Vidame of Chartres, Prince of Chabanois, was one of the most distinguished courtiers of his time. "He was as great," says Brantôme, "in his lineage and his enormous wealth as in his valor and illustrious deeds, so that in his time men spoke only of the Vidame of Chartres; and if the people celebrated his prowess, they did not forget his magnificence and liberality." In Francis I.'s Italian campaign he furnished at his own cost a splendid company of a hundred noblemen. He was one of the hostages sent into England to confirm the treaty of peace between the two countries. In 1558 he was placed in command of the armies in Piedmont. After the battle of Gravelines, he was appointed _lieutenant-général_ of the kingdom, but soon relinquished this office in favor of the Prince of Condé. He was shortly after suspected of complicity in the conspiracy of Amboise, and was imprisoned in the Bastille by order of Francis II. During his life at Court he had been passionately loved by Catherine de Medici, but he showed only indifference toward her. She avenged herself later on by ill-treating him, and it is suspected that his death was caused by poison given to him by her order. He died on December 16, 1560, "aussi mal content de cette dame qu'elle de lui," says Brantôme naïvely. The title _Vidame_ is derived from _vice_ (Latin _vicem_) and _dame_ (Latin _dominus_), hence "vice-lord." The Low-Latin is _vice-dominus_.
2. LE DUC DE NEMOURS (1531-1585). Jacques de Savoie, Duke of Nemours, was born at the Abbey of Vaulinsant in Champagne. At the age of fifteen he was brought to the Court of Francis I. He served in the campaigns against Charles V., was present at the siege of Metz, and afterwards fought with great bravery in Flanders and in Italy. He was one of the _tenants_ in the tournament in which Henry II. lost his life. Having been branded with suspicion, he was compelled to leave the Court during the reign of Henry III., but was soon recalled. In 1562 he aided in the capture of Bourges from the Protestants and later succeeded the Marshall of St. André as Governor of Dauphiné. In 1566 he married Anne d'Este, widow of the Duke of Guise. His later years were spent in retirement from the Court. He died at Annecy, June 25, 1585. Brantôme says of him: "C'étoit un très-beau prince et de très-bonne grâce, brave et vaillant, aimable et accostable, bien disant, bien écrivant autant en rime qu'en prose; s'habillant des mieux. Il étoit pourvu d'un grand sens et d'esprit; il aimoit toutes sortes d'exercices et si y étoit si universel qu'il étoit parfait en tous, si bien que qui n'a vu Monsieur de Nemours, il n'a rien vu, et qui l'a vu le peut baptiser par tout le monde la fleur de toute la chevalerie."
3. SAINT-QUENTIN, a city in the Department of Aisne, about eighty miles northeast of Paris. It is the center of the French manufacture of linen, muslin, and gauze. The battle of Saint-Quentin took place on July 29, 1557; the French forces met with a great defeat at the hands of the Spaniards, who were reinforced by a body of English troops.
4. CHARLES-QUINT (Carolus Quintus). Charles V. (1500-1558) was the eldest son of Philip, Archduke of Austria, and Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. Upon the death of Ferdinand in 1516, Charles ascended the throne of Spain, and also became ruler of the Netherlands, Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia. By the death of his paternal grandfather, Emperor Maximilian, he obtained possession of Austria and was elected Emperor of Germany. The other candidates for the imperial crown were Henry VIII. of England and Francis I. of France. Charles soon became involved in a long struggle with the French, in which he was for the most part successful, and captured Francis I. (see page 1, note 7). The war was continued by Henry II. and a portion of Lorraine was taken from the Emperor. The latter, not long after, retired to the monastery of Yuste in Estremadura, where he died after two years.
5. METZ, formerly capital of the Department of Moselle, situated at the confluence of the Seille and the Moselle. During the war with Henry II. it was besieged by Charles V. and gallantly defended by the Duke of Guise. The siege lasted sixty-five days, and on December 26, 1552, the imperial troops left Metz as a permanent possession of the French. It remained one of their most important strongholds till its cession to Germany in 1870. Charles V.'s remark upon his defeat is well known: "I see that Fortune is just like a woman; she favors a young king more than an old emperor."
6. CERCAMP, a city in the Department of Pas-de-Calais (Artois). The chief industry of the place consists in its woolen factories. Here, on October 15, 1558, the plenipotentiaries appointed by the French met those of Spain, with whom were associated the ambassadors of Mary of England and of the Duke of Savoy. Stipulations for a peace were proposed; a truce of fifteen days was proclaimed, which was several times renewed; part of the troops were dismissed and the rest went into winter-quarters. However, before any definite arrangements could be made, Mary, Queen of England, died, and the meeting was dissolved.
PAGE 4.--1. DON CARLOS, son of Philip II. of Spain and of his first wife, Doña Maria of Portugal, was born at Valladolid on July 8, 1545, and died at Madrid on July 14, 1568. In 1559, at the Treaty of Câteau-Cambrésis, Philip negotiated a marriage between his son and Elisabeth, daughter of Henry II., but he afterwards married the princess himself. The loss of his chosen bride in this manner appeared to have a deep effect upon Don Carlos, and the sympathy shown him by Elisabeth and the gratitude thus awakened in the heart of the young prince aroused a feeling of jealousy in the mind of the Spanish King. In 1560 Don Carlos was proclaimed heir to the throne of Spain, but not long after was removed from Court and sent away from the capital. In 1562 he was wounded in the head by a fall, and it is thought by many that his reason was thereby impaired. His father's treatment of him became harsher, and the important positions at the Court were occupied by his enemies; he made two vain attempts to escape from Spain, and intelligence was brought to the King that his son was forming designs against his life. On January 18, 1568, Don Carlos was seized and placed in close confinement. The Council of State condemned him to death, but before the sentence could be executed the prince died in an unknown manner. (See Gachard: _Don Carlos et Philippe II._, Bruxelles, 1863.)
2. MONSIEUR DE SAVOIE. Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, was born at Chambéry, July 8, 1528. He was an officer in the army of Charles V., and in 1557 won the battle of Saint-Quentin. He died August 30, 1580.
3. MARIE, REINE D'ANGLETERRE (1516-1558), was the daughter of Henry VIII. by his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. She became Queen of England in 1553. On July 25, 1554, she married Philip II. of Spain, and from this time on her energies were directed to the destruction of Protestantism in England. Her death took place on November 17, 1558.
4. ELISABETH (1533-1603), daughter of Henry VIII. and Anne Boleyn. She ascended the English throne in 1558.
5. De La Ferrière, in his _Projets de Mariage de la Reine Elisabeth_, says: "Elisabeth was very desirous of making the acquaintance of the Duke of Nemours. She received the Count of Randan and directed the conversation upon the Duke. Randan drew so flattering a picture of the latter that he soon awakened in her a spark of love which could easily be perceived in the face and manner of the Queen. It was a matter of no difficulty for him to obtain her request for a meeting. On his return to France he announced this to Nemours. The Duke sent Lignerolles, his most trusted servant, to London; the response brought back by Lignerolles was encouraging. Nemours then lavished money on his apparel, arms, and horses; the King also aided him with his purse, and the flower of the young nobility contended for the honor of following him to England; but at the last moment the expedition 'se rompit et demeura court,' for, continues the chronicler, 'd'autres amours serroient le coeur du duc et le tenoient captif.'"
PAGE 8.--1. MADAME DE VALENTINOIS, Diana of Poitiers, eldest daughter of Jean de Poitiers, was born September 3, 1499. At the age of thirteen she married Louis de Brézé, Comte de Maulevrier, who died in 1531. She became the mistress of Francis I., and afterwards of his son, Henry II. Her influence over Henry was boundless; even the beauty and wit of Catherine de Medici could not weaken the King's attachment to her. He loaded her with favors, and in 1548 donated to her for life the Duchy of Valentinois. Upon the death of Henry, Madame de Valentinois was banished from the Court by Catherine. Abandoned by all her friends, she retreated to Anet, where she died in 1566.
PAGE 10.--1. CHEZ LES REINES, in the apartments of Catherine de Medici and of Mary Stuart.
2. AUX ASSEMBLÉES, "in company."
PAGE 11.--1. AVOIT LE COEUR TRÈS-NOBLE ET TRÈS-BIEN FAIT, "had a very noble and generous disposition."
PAGE 12.--1. LOUVRE, one of the most famous buildings of Paris, situated in the western part of the city, on the right bank of the Seine. It was at first designed as a fortress for the protection of the river. In 1204 Philip Augustus erected in the center of the court of the Louvre a tower to serve as a state prison. Later on, several of the kings of France placed their libraries there. Charles V. selected this palace as his residence in 1347, and it served as the abode of the royal family till the reign of Louis XIV., who preferred Versailles. Since the days of the Empire it has been used as a museum.
PAGE 13.--1. LE DUC DE NEVERS, Francis II. of Nevers, elder brother of the Prince of Clèves (see page 2, note 7).
2. LE DUC DE LORRAINE, Charles III., called "the Great," was the son of Francis I., Duke of Lorraine, and of Christina of Denmark, niece of the Emperor Charles V. He was born at Nancy, February 15, 1543. After the death of his father in 1546, his mother ruled over the Duchy during the minority of her son. He was sent to Paris and in 1559 married Claude, daughter of Henry II. He subsequently took charge of the affairs of his state, and ruled long and peacefully, dying at Nancy, May 14, 1608.
PAGE 16.--1. COURRE LA BAGUE, "riding at the ring." _Courre_ is an old infinitive of the verb _courir_, used only in a few expressions, as: _courre le cerf_.
PAGE 18.--1. LE MARÉCHAL DE SAINT-ANDRÉ. Jacques d'Albon, Marshal of Saint-André, was one of the most valiant commanders of the sixteenth century. He early won recognition from the Dauphin, afterwards Henry II., and distinguished himself at Boulogne and Cerisoles. He was appointed Marshal in 1547. He took an active part in the subsequent campaigns and was taken prisoner at Saint-Quentin, but was soon exchanged. Shortly after the death of Henry II., Saint-André, together with the Duke of Guise and the Constable of Montmorency, formed the famous "triumvirate" for the suppression of heresy in France. He was a most active upholder of the Catholic cause during the civil wars, and was killed at Dreux, December 19, 1562. A contemporary describes him as the "most elegant courtier of his time."
2. ELLE FIT DIRE QU'ON NE LA VOYOIT POINT, "she sent word that she would not receive."
3. SA QUALITÉ LUI RENDOIT TOUTES LES ENTRÉES LIBRES, "his rank allowed him always to be admitted" (even in spite of the order that had just been given).
4. MAÎTRESSE = the lady who is loved; not "mistress" in the modern sense.
PAGE 19.--1. DUC DE FERRARE. Alphonso II. of Este, Duke of Ferrara, was the son of Hercules of Ferrara and grandson of Alphonso I. He was a cousin of Henry II. and served in all the military expeditions of this monarch. He was a great favorite at Court and made a great display both in his own country and in Italy, whither he accompanied the French King. His brother was the famous Cardinal d'Este.
PAGE 20.--1. QU'ELLE FÎT LA MALADE: "that she should pretend to be ill."
PAGE 22.--1. CHÂTEAU-CAMBRÉSIS (usually written Câteau-Cambrésis), a city in the Department of Nord, situated upon a hill overlooking the Selle, about fifteen miles southeast of Cambrai. Here was signed, on April 3, 1559, a treaty between Henry II. and Philip II., by which certain cities, as Thionville, Montmédy, etc., were made over to Spain, and France recovered Saint-Quentin. The possession of Calais and of the three bishoprics (Metz, Toul, and Verdun) were also assured to Henry II.
PAGE 24.--1. DEVANT QUE, obsolete for _avant que_. Vaugelas in _Remarques sur la langue française_ says "'Avant que,' 'devant que.' Tous deux sont bons, mais 'avant que' est plus de la cour et plus en usage."
PAGE 25.--1. POUR ÊTRE AFFLIGÉE, "although she was in distress."
2. IL S'EN FALLOIT PEU QU'ELLE NE CRÛT LE HAÏR, "she almost believed she hated him."
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SECOND PART.
PAGE 29.--1. MONSIEUR D'ANVILLE, a famous warrior and courtier during the reigns of Henry II., Francis II., and Charles IX. During the campaigns in Italy he was placed in charge of the light cavalry in the Piedmont. He defeated the Spaniards at the bridge de la Stura and in 1557 won great renown by his victories about Fossano.
PAGE 30.--1. COURTENAY. Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, born about 1526, was the only son of Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter and Earl of Devonshire. At the age of twelve he was imprisoned with his father in the Tower and was not released till 1553. In this year he was appointed Earl of Devonshire by Queen Mary and not long afterwards was honored with the dignity of Knight of the Bath. He was at one time looked upon as a probable match for the English Queen, but Philip of Spain was preferred. He was for a long time regarded with affection by Elisabeth, and was suspected of plotting to obtain her hand and to seize upon the throne of England. He was therefore arrested and sent to the Tower in March, 1554, and in the following May was taken to Fotheringay. In 1555 he was released on parole and exiled. He traveled to Brussels and then to Padua, where he suddenly died in September, 1556.
PAGE 32.--1. MADAME = Madame Elisabeth de France, daughter of Henry II.
PAGE 33.--1. LES DERNIÈRES VISITES, "the latest callers"; a not infrequent use of the abstract noun for the person.
2. CETTE PRINCESSE ÉTOIT SUR SON LIT. It was customary for ladies to receive callers while reclining on a couch in their bedroom.
PAGE 34.--1. POUR PEU QU'ELLES SOIENT AIMABLES, "provided that they are charming." _Pour_ used in this sense before pronouns and adjectives is followed by the concessive subjunctive. (See Mätzner, _Französische Syntax_, ii., §435.)
PAGE 37.--1. À L'HEURE DU CERCLE, "at the time that she was holding a reception."
2. His death was caused by an accident that happened to him while jousting with the Duke of Montgomery (see page 92).
3. The death of Guise is thus described by Brantôme: "The said Poltrot was accustomed to go out with Monsieur de Guise together with the rest of us, who were members of his household, and he was continually in search of a suitable occasion to commit the deed. Monsieur passed over the water in a little boat which waited for him every evening and then went on horseback to his lodging, which was at some distance. Being on a cross-road which is right well known, the other, who was waiting for him in ambush, gave him the blow and then began to run and cry, 'Catch him, catch him.' Monsieur de Guise, feeling himself wounded, staggered a little, and said: 'That has been kept in store for me, but I believe it will result in nothing.' With great courage he retired into his lodging, where he was dressed and attended to by the best surgeons in France; nevertheless, he died at the end of a week."
PAGE 38.--1. QUE JE LE FISSE APPELER, "that I should send him a challenge."
PAGE 39.--1. D'UN PREMIER MOUVEMENT, "impulsively."
PAGE 40.--1. PORTRAITS EN PETIT, "miniatures."
2. QUAND used in the sense of _si_, a not unfrequent usage by MADAME DE LA FAYETTE (see page 62, line 29; page 124, line 5, etc.).
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THIRD PART.
PAGE 43.--1. LE DUC D'ALBE (1508-1582). Ferdinand Alvarez of Toledo, Duke of Alva, was a descendant of one of the most illustrious families of Spain. He early showed a genius for war and politics, and in the service of Charles V. was a violent opponent of the Protestants of Germany. He commanded the imperial forces at Metz opposed to the Duke of Guise, and not long after he was sent into Italy, where he reduced the power of the Pope. In 1559 he espoused Elisabeth of France in behalf of Philip II. In 1566 he was sent into Flanders to take charge of the Spanish forces sent against the Netherlanders; on account of his cruelties he was superseded in 1575. On his return to Spain he was treated with great distinction, but was subsequently banished from the court and exiled on account of some act of disobedience. He was, however, soon recalled and put in command of the army sent against Portugal, and succeeded in bringing back that country in allegiance to Spain.
2. TENANTS DU TOURNOI, "champions of the tournament." The _tenants_ are those who begin the tournament and proclaim the first challenges by means of notices which are published by the heralds with the number of courses and the names of the combatants. The name is derived from _tenir_, because these champions undertook to hold (_tenir_) their places against every assailant. (See Le Père Ménestrier, _Des Tournois_, p. 194.)
3. CHÂTEAU DES TOURNELLES, a palace built at the end of the present Rue des Francs-Bourgeois. On account of its connection with the death of Henry II., Catherine de Medici ordered the edifice to be demolished. Henry IV. began the erection on its site of the Place Royale, which was completed a year or two after his death. The revolutionists of 1789 deprived the square of its name and took away the statue of Louis XIII. erected by Richelieu. It is now known as the _Place des Vosges_.
PAGE 44.--1. CHASTELART. Pierre de Bascosel de Chastelart was grandson of the celebrated Bayard, whom he resembled in personal appearance. On being presented to Mary Stuart, he conceived a violent passion for her and celebrated her charms in verse. He followed her to Scotland, but was soon compelled to return to Paris; there he mourned for her a year, and at last contrived to pass over again to Scotland. On account of his rashness and imprudence he was condemned to death; his affection for the princess, however, lasted till the end. Brantôme says of him: "Chastelard had as great talent and wrote as sweet and refined poetry as any nobleman in France."
2. This episode is probably based upon an event that took place shortly after the death of Louis XIII. Madame de Montbazon was the rival at court of the Duchess of Longueville, daughter of the Prince of Condé. One day, two unsigned love-letters were found in the salon of the former, who alleged that they were written in Madame de Longueville's hand and were the property of Maurice de Coligny. They were, however, written by Madame de Fouquerelles, and their real owner was the Marquis of Maulevrier. At the suggestion of the latter, La Rochefoucauld proved the falsity of Madame de Montbazon's accusations, recovered the letters, and burnt them in the presence of the Queen. The affair did not end here, but led to a duel, in which Coligny received a mortal wound at the hands of Henry of Guise, the champion of Madame de Montbazon. (See "The Last Duel in the Place Royale," _Macmillan's Magazine_, October, 1895.)
PAGE 50.--1. ON LUI EN FIT LA GUERRE, "They taunted him about it" (see page 83, line 9).
2. À L'HEURE MÊME, "immediately." (See also page 57, line 32; page 63, line 11; page 75, line 7.) On the position of _même_, see Mätzner, _Französische Syntax_, ii, § 534, 12.
3. QUI AVOIT L'ESPRIT PRÉVENU, "who felt assured."
PAGE 52.--1. See note on Vidame de Chartres, page 3, note 1.
2. MADAME DE THÉMINES, Anne de Puymisson, wife of Jean, Seigneur de Lousière, de Thémines, and Chevalier de l'Ordre du Roi, Governor of Beziers.
3. FONTAINEBLEAU, a residence of the kings of France since Louis VII. It is situated about 38 miles southeast of Paris in the beautiful forest of Fontainebleau. The palace is composed of numerous buildings and galleries erected at different epochs; among the most magnificent are the Gallery of Henry II., and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, built in 1529. Fontainebleau was greatly enriched by St. Louis, Francis I., Henry II., Henry IV., Louis XIV., and Napoleon. Here in 1685 Louis XIV. signed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and here also, on April 4, 1814, Napoleon abdicated in favor of his son. Fontainebleau is the birthplace of Henry III. and Louis XIII.
PAGE 54.--1. MADAME DE MARTIGUES, Marie de Beaucaire, daughter of Jean de Puyguillon, Seneschal of Poitou. She was familiarly known as Mademoiselle de Villemontays. She married Sébastien de Luxembourg, Viscomte de Martigues, called "le chevalier sans peur," by reason of his bravery while serving under Henry II., Francis II., and Charles IX.; he was killed during the siege of Saint-Jean d'Angely, November 20, 1569. Madame de Martigues died in 1613.
PAGE 58.--1. SANS CHERCHER DE DÉTOURS, "openly." Compare such phrases as: _user de détour_, "to use evasions"; _agir sans détour_, "to act uprightly."
PAGE 61.--1. CHEZ LA REINE, i.e. _la Reine Dauphine_.
PAGE 62.--1. IL N'Y A QUE VOUS DE FEMME AU MONDE, "there is no other woman in the world except you."
PAGE 63.--1. DIRE DES CHOSES PLAISANTES, "to jest."
PAGE 64.--1. The student must not be misled by Madame de La Fayette's ingenious explanation of Catherine de Medici's persecution of Mary Stuart and the subsequent expulsion of the widowed Queen from France. The real causes were Catherine's jealousy of the rising power of the Guises and her desire to avenge her private wrongs. The young Queen had availed herself of every opportunity to show her dislike for Catherine, and took special delight in humbling her pride by applying to her the contemptuous epithet of "fille de marchand." The bad feeling between the two rose to such a pitch that when, upon the death of Francis II., Mary's power was at an end, "the queen-mother," in the words of Michel de Castlenau, "found it very good and expedient to rid herself of the princess." (See Chéruel, _Marie Stuart et Catherine de Médici_, p. 19.)
2. LA CONJURATION D'AMBOISE. In 1560 those who were opposed to the Guises and the Court, including a large number of Huguenots, made an effort to get Francis II. into their hands. Their design was to surprise the Court, which was then at the castle of Amboise (a town on the Loire, near Tours), and seize the King and Queen. The conspiracy was discovered by the Guises, and numbers of those implicated were executed. Although the Prince of Condé was really the instigator of the conspiracy, he could not be convicted, and was therefore released.
PAGE 65.--1. QU'ELLE ÉTOIT D'INTELLIGENCE AVEC MONSIEUR DE NEMOURS, "that there was an understanding between her and Monsieur de Nemours."
PAGE 66.--1. COMPIÈGNE, a city on the left bank of the Oise, about fifty-two miles northeast of Paris. It was built by the Gauls and enlarged in 876 by Charles the Bald. In 833 the council was here held, by which Louis the Pious was deposed. Joan of Arc was taken prisoner in this city in 1430.
2. JOURNÉE, "day's journey."
PAGE 67.--1. LA DUCHESSE DE MERCOEUR, Jeanne de Savoie, second wife of Nicholas, Count of Vaudemont, Duke of Mercoeur. Her son was the celebrated Philippe-Emmanuel of Lorraine, Duke of Mercoeur.
2. À TOUTE BRIDE, "at full speed." A similar phrase is _à bride abattue_.
PAGE 70.--1. QUE TOUT CE QU'IL Y A JAMAIS EU DE FEMMES AU MONDE, "than any woman who has ever lived." The neuter relative in a personal sense is not infrequently used by Madame de la Fayette (see page 16, line 29).
PAGE 72.--1. JE NE VOUS SAUROIS CROIRE, "I cannot believe you." ("In the conditional and pluperfect _savoir_ is employed for_pouvoir_."--Littré.)
PAGE 79.--1. LE CONNÉTABLE, Anne, Duke of Montmorency (1492-1567). He distinguished himself during the wars of Francis I. and was made Constable in 1538. Some time after he was banished from the Court and retired to his estates till the accession of Henry II., when he was again invested with his former dignities. During the wars of religion he commanded the royal army against the Huguenots, and was fatally wounded at Saint-Denis.
2. LE PRINCE D'ORANGE (1533-1584). William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, founder of the Republic of Holland, was the son of William the Old, Count of Nassau. In 1544 he received the title of Prince of Orange. He was brought up at the Court of Charles V., and in 1554 was placed in command of the army in Flanders. He won the confidence of the Emperor, and was sent into France to hasten the Treaty of Câteau-Cambrésis, Philip II., however, was not favorably disposed toward the Prince, and appointed the Duke of Alva as governor in the Netherlands; the cruelties of the latter drew upon him the opposition of the people, and the Prince of Orange made himself their leader. The removal of Alva was accompanied by a temporary withdrawal of the Spanish forces; upon their return, the Prince again took the people's part, and, on January 29, 1579, induced them to adopt the famous treaty called the _Union of Utrecht_, which forms the foundation of the liberties of Holland. After various attempts had been made against the life of the Prince, he was at length assassinated at Delft.
PAGE 80.--1. ELLE N'AVOIT PAS LE JOUR AU VISAGE, "her face was in the dark."
PAGE 85.--1. CETTE SEULE CURIOSITÉ, "that curiosity alone." (See also page 126, line 15: _la seule bienséance_.)
PAGE 90.--1. L'ÉVÊCHÉ, the Episcopal Palace.
2. L'HÔTEL DE VILLEROY, a palace on the Rue des Poulies. It was built in the middle of the thirteenth century by Alphonse, brother of St. Louis. From 1421 it was called _l'Hôtel d'Alençon_. At the beginning of the sixteenth century it passed into the hands of Nicholas de Neufville, Seigneur de Villeroy, and took the name of _l'Hôtel de Villeroy_. It was sold in 1568 to the Duke of Anjou (afterwards Henry III.), and for some time was called after him. Later on it was greatly improved and partly rebuilt by the Duchess of Longueville, and since then has been known as _l'Hôtel de Longueville_.
PAGE 91.--1. GRAND-MAÎTRE, "major-domo."
2. PANETIER, "head butler," from an old verb _paneter_, "to make bread," from Latin _panis_.
3. ÉCHANSON, "cup-bearer," from Low Latin _scancio_ = "I pour out to drink." These ancient menial offices were revived and bestowed upon the highest courtiers at the time of the establishment of the Court.
4. MACHINES, "devices"; they were spectacular representations of all kinds.
5. INCARNAT, "incarnadine," a color about midway between cherry and rose.
6. Brantôme writes: "Monsieur de Nemours wore yellow and black, two colors which were very suitable to him, signifying as they do, joy and steadfastness; for he was at that time (so it was rumored) enjoying the favor of one of the most beautiful ladies in the world, and therefore he ought to be steadfast and faithful to her by good reason."
PAGE 92.--1. "These four princes were the best men-at-arms to be found anywhere... and it could not be told to whom special glory was to be given; yet the king was one of the best and most skilful horsemen in the realm" (Brantôme, iv., 104).
2. AVOIT FOURNI SA CARRIÈRE, "had run over the course," an expression of the tournament. Similar phrases are: _franchir la carrière_, "to run the distance"; _arriver au bout de la carrière_, "to reach the goal"; _parcourir la carrière_, etc.; these expressions are now used in a figurative sense. The _carrière_ is a piece of ground enclosed by barriers and arranged for races.
3. LE COMTE DE MONTGOMERY. Gabriel de Montgomery was the eldest son of Jacques de Montgomery, Seigneur de Lorges. He took a prominent part in political affairs under Francis I., and in 1545 was sent to Scotland with some troops to render aid to Mary of Lorraine. After the unfortunate encounter with Henry II., he retired to his estates in Normandy. At the outbreak of the wars of religion, he took the part of the Protestants against the Crown, was present at the taking of Rouen, and narrowly avoided being captured. He was in Paris at the time of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and saved himself by flight. Shortly after, he made his way to England, and in 1573 appeared before La Rochelle, in command of an English fleet. A few months later he was again in France, and fought bravely on the Huguenot side, but having been driven to extremities, he surrendered at Domfront; he was immediately tried, condemned, and executed on May 27, 1574.
4. QU'IL SE MÎT SUR LA LICE, "that he enter the lists." A similar expression is: _entrer dans la lice_. _La lice_ = "a level space marked off by a rope or railing, and surrounded with galleries for spectators."
5. LA BARRIÈRE, the enclosure where knightly encounters took place.
PAGE 94.--1. Compare this description with that of Brantôme (iv., p. 103): "La mal fortune fut que sur le soir il voulut encore rompre une lance; et pour ce manda au comte de Montgomery qu'il comparût et se mît en lice. Lui refusa tout à plat... mais le roi, fâché de ses réponses, lui manda résolument qu'il le vouloit. La reine lui manda et pria par deux fois qu'il ne courût plus pour l'amour d'elle. Rien pour cela, mais lui manda qu'il ne couroit que cette lance pour l'amour d'elle. Et pour ce, l'autre ayant comparu en lice, le roi courut. Ou fut que le malheur le voulût ainsi, ou son destin l'y poussât, il fut atteint du contre coup par la tête dans l'oeil où lui demeura un grand éclat de la lance, dont aussi tôt fut relevé de ses écuyers, et Monsieur de Montgomery vint à lui qui le trouva fort blessé. Toutefois il ne perdit coeur et n'étonna point, et dit que ce n'étoit rien, et soudain pardonna audict comte de Montgomery.... Il mourut au bout de quelques jours en très bon Chrétien et ainsi ce grand roi qui avoit été en tant de guerres et les avoit tant aimées, n'y a pu mourir et est mort là."
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