CONTENTS
VOL. I
| [CHAPTER I] | |
|---|---|
Birth of François de Bassompierre—Origin of the Bassompierrefamily—A romantic legend—His grandfather—His father—Hisearly years—He and his younger brother Jean are sent to theUniversity of Pont-à-Mousson, and afterwards to that of Ingoldstadt—Theirstudies at Ingoldstadt—Death of their father,Christophe de Bassompierre—Journey of the two brothers throughItaly—Their return to Lorraine | |
| [CHAPTER II] | |
Visit of the Bassompierre family to Paris—François dances in a balletbefore Henri IV at Monceaux—He is presented to the King, whoreceives him very graciously—He decides to enter the service ofHenri IV—He escorts his Majesty’s mistress, Gabrielle d’Estrées,Duchesse de Beaufort, to Paris—Sudden illness and death of theduchess—Extravagant grief of Henri IV, who, however, soon findsconsolation in the society of Henriette d’Entragues—Affraybetween the Prince de Joinville and the Grand Equerry Bellegardeat Zamet’s house, where the King is staying—Visit of Bassompierreto Lorraine—He returns to Paris | |
| [CHAPTER III] | |
Bassompierre accompanies Henri IV in his campaign against CharlesEmmanuel of Savoy—His narrow escape at the taking of Montmélian—Hegoes with the King to visit Henriette d’Entragues,Madame de Verneuil, at La Côte-Saint-André, and reconcilesHenri IV with his mistress—Marriage of the King to Marie de’Medici—Presentation of Madame de Verneuil to the Queen—Visit ofBassompierre to Lorraine—He returns to find the royal ménagein a very troubled state, owing to the jealousy of the wife and themistress—He assists at a conference, in which the Chancellorrecommends the King to get rid of Madame de Verneuil at anycost—He accompanies the Maréchal de Biron on a visit to England—Heis present at the arrest of Biron at Fontainebleau, in June,1602—Condemnation and execution of the marshal | |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
Bassompierre sets out for Hungary to serve as a volunteer in theImperial Army against the Turks—His journey to Vienna—Helearns that the commander-in-chief of the army is General vonRossworm, a mortal enemy of the Bassompierre family—He isadvised by his friends in Vienna to take service in the Army ofTransylvania, instead of in that of Hungary, but declines tochange his plans—He sups more well than wisely at Gran—Hisarrival in the Imperialist camp before Buda—Position of thehostile armies—Bassompierre is presented to Rossworm—Henarrowly escapes being killed or taken prisoner by the Turks—Hetakes part in a fierce combat in the Isle of Adon, and hasanother narrow escape—He is reconciled with Rossworm—Massacreof eight hundred Turkish prisoners—Failure of a night-attackplanned by the Imperialist general—Gallant but foolhardyenterprise of the Hungarians—The Turks bombard the Imperialistheadquarters—Termination of the campaign—Bassompierrereturns with Rossworm to Vienna | |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
Bassompierre goes to Prague, where the Imperial Court is in residence—Heis presented by Rossworm to the lords of the Council—Hedines at the house of Prestowitz, Burgrave of Karlstein, and fallsin love with his widowed daughter, “Madame Esther”—Bassompierreand Rossworm engage in an amorous adventure, fromwhich they narrowly escape with their lives—Bassompierre playstennis with Wallenstein, with the Emperor Maximilian an interestedspectator—He is presented to the Emperor, who receiveshim very graciously and commissions him to raise troops inLorraine for service against the Turks—Bassompierre, Rosswormand other nobles parade the streets masked and have an affraywith the police—Singular sequel to this affair—Bassompierrespends the Carnival with the Prestowitz family at Karlstein—Amorousescapade with “Madame Esther”—Bassompierre setsout for Lorraine—He engages in a drinking-bout with the canonsof Saverne which very nearly has a fatal termination—Death ofhis brother Jean, Seigneur de Removille, at the siege of Ostend—Grievancesof Bassompierre against the French Government—HenriIV promises that “justice shall be done him” and inviteshim to return to his Court—Bassompierre renounces his intentionof entering the Imperial service and sets out for France | |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
Bassompierre arrives at Fontainebleau and is most graciously receivedby Henri IV—He falls in love with Marie d’Entragues, sister of theKing’s mistress—The conspiracy of the d’Entragues—The Sieurd’Entragues and the Comte d’Auvergne are arrested and conveyedto the Bastille, and Madame de Verneuil kept a prisoner inher own house—Jacqueline de Bueil temporarily replaces Madamede Verneuil in the royal affections—The King, unable to dowithout the latter, sets her and her father at liberty—Bassompierrebecomes the lover of Marie d’Entragues—He is dangerouslywounded by the Duc de Guise in a tournament, and his life is atfirst despaired of—He recovers—Attentions which he receivesduring his illness from the ladies of the Court | |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
Quarrel between Bassompierre and the Marquis de Cœuvres—Bassompierresends his cousin the Sieur de Créquy to challenge the marquisto a duel—The King sends for the two nobles and orders them tobe reconciled in his presence—Bassompierre and Créquy areforbidden to appear at Court, but are soon pardoned—Visit ofBassompierre to Plombières—He returns to Paris, and “breaksentirely” with Marie d’Entragues—The Chancellor, Pomponnede Bellièvre, ordered to resign the Seals—His conversation withBassompierre at Artenay—Bassompierre wins more than 100,000francs at play—He is reconciled with Marie d’Entragues—Hejoins Henri IV at Sedan—The adventure of the King’s love-letter—HenriIV gives orders that a watch shall be kept on Maried’Entragues’s house to ascertain if Bassompierre is secretly visitingthat lady—A comedy of errors—Madame d’Entragues surprisesher daughter and Bassompierre | |
| [CHAPTER VIII] | |
A strange adventure—Bassompierre sent as Ambassador Extraordinaryto Lorraine to represent Henri IV at the marriage of the Duke ofBar and Margherita di Gonzaga—He returns to Paris and orders agorgeous suit, which is to cost fourteen thousand crowns, for thebaptism of the Dauphin and Madame Élisabeth, though he hasonly seven hundred in his purse—He wins enough at play to payfor it—Charles III of Lorraine writes to request his presence atthe Estates of Lorraine—Henri IV refuses him permission to leaveFrance, but he sets out notwithstanding this—He is arrested by theKing’s orders at Meaux, but set at liberty on his promising to returnto Court—He is allowed to leave for Lorraine a few days later—Affairof the Prince de Joinville and Madame de Moret | |
| [CHAPTER IX] | |
Amusements of Bassompierre during the winter of 1608—His gambling-parties—Embarrassmentwhich the fact of having several love-affairson his hands simultaneously sometimes occasions him—Deathof Charles III of Lorraine—Bassompierre goes to Nancy toattend the Duke’s funeral—Gratifying testimony which he receivesduring his absence of the esteem in which he is held by theladies of the Court of France—“The star of Venus is very much inthe ascendant over him”—Marriage arranged between Maried’Entragues and the Comte d’Aché, of Auvergne—The affair isbroken off—Frenzied gambling at the Court: gains of Bassompierre—Secretvisits paid by him and the Duc de Guise to Madamede Verneuil and Marie d’Entragues at Conflans—Visit of the Dukeof Mantua to the Court of France | |
| [CHAPTER X] | |
Enviable position of Bassompierre at the Court of France—TheConnétable de Montmorency offers him the hand of his beautifuldaughter Charlotte, the greatest heiress in France—The marriage-articlesare drawn up—The consent of Henri IV is obtained—TheDuc de Bouillon, whom Bassompierre has offended, endeavoursto persuade the King to withdraw his sanction and to marryMlle. de Montmorency to the Prince de Condé (Monsieur le Prince)—HenriIV falls madly in love with the young lady—Singularconversation between the King and Bassompierre, in which hisMajesty orders the latter to renounce his pretensions to Mlle. deMontmorency’s hand—Astonishment and mortification of Bassompierre,who, however, yields with a good grace—Bassompierrefalls ill of chagrin and remains for two days “without sleeping,eating or drinking”—He is persuaded by his friend Praslin toreturn to the Louvre—Mlle. de Montmorency is betrothed to thePrince de Condé—Bassompierre falls ill of tertian fever, but risesfrom his sick-bed to fight a duel with a Gascon gentleman—Thecombatants are separated by friends of the latter—Serious illnessof Bassompierre | |
| [CHAPTER XI] | |
The body of a man who has been assassinated opposite Marie d’Entragues’shouse mistaken for that of Bassompierre—Bassompierrewins a wager of a thousand crowns from the King—Marriage of thePrince de Condé and Mlle. de Montmorency—Henri IV informsBassompierre of his intention to send him on a secret mission toHenri II, Duke of Lorraine, to propose an alliance between thatprince’s elder daughter and the Dauphin—Departure of Bassompierre—Hearrives at Nancy and challenges a gentleman to a duel,but the affair is arranged—His first audience of Duke Henri II—Irresolutionof that prince, who desires to postpone his answeruntil he has consulted his advisers—Negotiations of Bassompierrewith the Margrave of Baden-Durlach—He returns to Nancy—Continuedhesitation of the Duke of Lorraine—Memoir of Bassompierre:his prediction of the advantages which Lorraine wouldderive from being incorporated with France abundantly justifiedby time—The Duke gives a qualified acceptance of Henri IV’spropositions—Difficulty which Bassompierre experiences ininducing him to commit his reply to writing | |
| [CHAPTER XII] | |
Return of Bassompierre to the French Court—Frenzied passion ofHenri IV for the young Princesse de Condé—His extravagantconduct—Condé flies with his wife to Flanders—Grief andindignation of the King, who summons his most trusted counsellorsto deliberate upon the affair—Sage advice of Sully, which,however, is not followed—The Archduke Albert refuses to surrenderthe fugitives—Condé retires to Milan and places himselfunder the protection of Spain—Failure of an attempt to abductthe princess—Henri IV and his Ministers threaten war if thelady is not given up—The “Great Design”—Bassompierreappointed Colonel of the Light Cavalry and a Counsellor of State—Hisaccount of the last days and assassination of Henri IV | |
| [CHAPTER XIII] | |
Incidents at the Court and in Paris after the assassination of Henri IV—Meetingbetween Bassompierre and Sully—Marie de’ Medicideclared Regent—Her difficult position—Return of Condé—Greedand arrogance of the grandees—Quarrel between the Comtede Soissons and the Duc de Guise—Grievance of Monsieur le Comteagainst Bassompierre—He persuades Madame d’Entragues toendeavour to compel Bassompierre to marry her daughter Marie—Proceedingsinstituted against that gentleman—Announcementof the “Spanish marriages”—Magnificent fêtes in the Place-Royale—Intriguesat the Court—The Princes and Concini inpower—Assassination of the Baron de Luz by the Chevalier deGuise—Marie de’ Medici and the Princes—Conversation of theRegent with Bassompierre—Bassompierre reconciles the Guiseswith the Queen-Mother—The Chevalier de Guise kills the son ofthe Baron de Luz in a duel—The Princes, on the advice of Concini,retire from Court | |
| [CHAPTER XIV] | |
The affair of Montferrato—Intrigues of Concini with Charles Emmanuelof Savoy—Arrest of Concini’s agent Maignan—Bassompierrewarns the Italian favourite of his danger and advises him to throwhimself on the clemency of the Queen-Mother—Concini follows hisadvice and is pardoned and shielded by Marie de’ Medici, whilehis agent is executed—Bassompierre goes to Rouen, where thed’Entragues’s action against him is to be heard—The Regent recommendshis cause to the judges—The d’Entragues object to theconstitution of the court, and the case is adjourned—Duplicity ofConcini—He intrigues to ruin Bassompierre with the Queen-Mother—Semi-disgraceof Bassompierre—He is reconciled withMarie de’ Medici—He is appointed Colonel-General of the Swiss—ThePrinces surprise Mézières—Peace of Saint-Menehould—Bassompierreaccompanies Louis XIII and the Queen-Mother tothe West | |
| [CHAPTER XV] | |
Bassompierre, during his absence in Lorraine, condemned by theArchbishop of Aix to espouse Mlle. d’Entragues, on pain of excommunication—Thearchbishop’s decision quashed by theParlement of Paris—Financial and amatory embarrassments ofBassompierre—Death of his mother—The action which thed’Entragues have brought against him finally decided in hisfavour—Condé withdraws from Court and issues a manifestoagainst the Government—Civil war begins—Marriage of Louis XIIIand Anne of Austria—Peace of Loudun—Fall of the old Ministersof Henri IV—Concini and the shoemaker—Condé becomes all-powerful—Heobliges Concini to retire to Normandy—Arroganceof Condé and his partisans, who are suspected of conspiracy tochange the form of government—The Queen-Mother sends forBassompierre at three o’clock in the morning and informs himthat she has decided upon the arrest of the Princes—Preparationsfor this coup d’état—Arrest of Condé—Concini’s house sacked bythe mob—The Comte d’Auvergne and the Council of War—Bassompierreconducts Condé from the Louvre to the Bastille | |
| [CHAPTER XVI] | |
Serious illness of the young King, who, however, recovers—Bassompierreand Mlle. d’Urfé—Gay winter in Paris—Richelieu enters theMinistry as Secretary of State for War—His foreign policy—Hisenergetic measures to put down the rebellion of the Princes—Returnof Concini—His arrogance and presumption—Singularconversation between Bassompierre and Concini after the deathof the latter’s daughter—Policy pursued by Marie de’ Medici andConcini towards Louis XIII—Humiliating position of the youngKing—His favourite, Charles d’Albert, Seigneur de Luynes—Bassompierrewarns the Queen-Mother that the King may bepersuaded to revolt against her authority | |
| [CHAPTER XVII] | |
Bassompierre joins the Royal army in Champagne as Grand Master ofthe Artillery by commission—Surrender of Château-Porcien—Bassompierreis wounded before Rethel—He sets out for Paris inorder to negotiate the sale of his office of Colonel-General of theSwiss to Concini—He visits the Royal army which is besiegingSoissons—A foolhardy act—Singular conduct of the garrison—ThePrésident Chevret arrives in the Royal camp with the newsthat Concini has been assassinated—Details of this affair—Bassompierrecontinues his journey to Paris—His adventure withthe Liègeois cavalry of Concini | |
| [CHAPTER XVIII] | |
Bassompierre arrives in Paris—Marie de’ Medici is exiled to Blois—Bassompierre’saccount of the parting between Louis XIII andhis mother—The rebellious princes return to Court and are pardoned,but Condé remains in the Bastille—His wife solicits andreceives permission to join him there—Arrest of the Governorand Lieutenant of the Bastille, on a charge of conniving at a secretcorrespondence between Barbin and the Queen-Mother—Bassompierreis placed temporarily in charge of the fortress—The Princeand Princesse de Condé are transferred to the Château of Vincennes—Bassompierregoes to Rouen to attend the assembly of theNotables—A rapid journey | |
| [CHAPTER XIX] | |
Luynes succeeds to the power and wealth of Concini—Trial and executionof Concini’s widow, Leonora Galigaï—Luynes begins to directaffairs of State—His marriage to Marie de Rohan—Conduct of theDuc d’Épernon—His quarrel with Du Vair, the Keeper of theSeals—His disgrace—He begins to intrigue with the Queen-Mother—Escapeof the latter from Blois—Treaty of Angoulême—TheCourt at Tours—Arnauld d’Andilly’s account of Bassompierre’slavish hospitality—Favours bestowed by the King on Bassompierre—Meetingbetween Louis XIII and the Queen-Mother—Liberationof Condé—Bassompierre entertains the King at Monceaux—Heis admitted to the Ordre du Saint-Esprit | |
| [CHAPTER XX] | |
The grandees, irritated by the increasing power and favour of Luynes,decide to make common cause with the Queen-Mother againsthim—Departure of Mayenne from the Court—He is followed byLongueville, Nemours, Mayenne and Retz—Formidable characterof the insurrection—Bassompierre receives orders to mobilisea Royal army in Champagne—He informs the King that theComte de Soissons, his mother, the Grand Prieur de Vendôme andthe Comte de Saint-Aignan intend to leave Paris to join therebels—Alarm and indecision of Luynes—Advice of Bassompierre—Itis finally decided to allow them to go—Success of Bassompierrein mobilising troops in Champagne, despite great difficulties—TheDuc de Bouillon sends a gentleman to him to endeavour tocorrupt his loyalty—Reply of Bassompierre—The town andchâteau of Dreux surrender to him—He joins the King near LaFlèche with an army of 8,600 men—Combat of the Ponts-des-Cé—Peaceof Angers | |
| [CHAPTER XXI] | |
Refusal of the Protestants of Béarn to restore the property of theCatholic Church—Louis XIII and Luynes resolve on rigorousmeasures and set out for the South—Visit of Bassompierre to LaRochelle—He joins the King at Bordeaux—Arrest and executionof d’Arsilemont—The Parlement of Pau declines to register theRoyal edict, and Louis XIII determines to march into Béarn—Bassompierrecharged with the transport of the army across theGaronne, which is accomplished in twenty-four hours—Béarn andLower Navarre are united to the Crown of France—Coldness ofthe King towards Bassompierre—Bassompierre learns that this isdue to the ill offices of Luynes, who regards him as a rival in theroyal favour—He is informed that Luynes is “unable to sufferhim to remain at Court”—Bassompierre decides to come to termswith the favourite, and it is arranged that he shall quit the Courtso soon as some honourable office can be found for him—TheValtellina question—Bassompierre appointed Ambassador Extraordinaryto the Court of Spain—Birth of a son to Luynes | |
| [CHAPTER XXII] | |
An alliance with Luynes’s niece, Mlle. de Combalet, proposed to Bassompierre—Hisjourney to Spain—His entry into Madrid—He isvisited by the Princess of the Asturias, the grandees and otherdistinguished persons—His meeting with the Duke of Ossuña—Hisaudience of Philip III postponed owing to the King’s illness—Commissionersare appointed to treat with Bassompierre over theValtellina question—Death of Philip III—His funeral procession—Anindiscreet observation of the Duke of Ossuña to one ofBassompierre’s suite is overheard and leads to the arrest of thatnobleman | |
| [CHAPTER XXIII] | |
Bassompierre’s audience of the new King, Philip IV—The Processionof the Crosses—An old flame—Good Friday at Madrid—Anxiety ofthe Queen’s ladies-in-waiting to see Bassompierre—His visit tothem—He is commissioned by Louis XIII to present his condolencesto Philip IV—He is informed that etiquette requires himto leave Madrid as though to return to France and then to makeanother formal entry—Revolution of the palace at Madrid: fallof the late King’s Ministers—The Count of Saldagna ordered byPhilip IV to marry Doña Mariana de Cordoba on pain of hissevere displeasure—Bassompierre offers to facilitate the escape ofSaldagna to France, but the latter’s courage fails him at the lastmoment—Negotiations over the Valtellina—Treaty of Madrid—Bassompierre’spretended departure for France—He visits theEscurial, returns to Madrid and makes a second ceremonious entry—Theaudience of condolence—State entry of Philip IV intoMadrid—Termination of Bassompierre’s embassy—He returns toFrance | |
| [CHAPTER XXIV] | |
A new War of Religion breaks out in France—Luynes created Constable—LouisXIII and Duplessis-Mornay—Bassompierre joinsthe Royal army before Saint-Jean d’Angély—Capitulation of thetown—Bassompierre returns with Créquy to Paris—He is “ingreat consideration” amongst the ladies—Apparent anxiety ofLuynes for the marriage of his niece to Bassompierre—The Kingand the Constable resolve to lay siege to Montauban—Bassompierredecides to rejoin the army without waiting for orders fromthe latter—He arrives at the King’s quarters at the Château ofPicqueos—Dispositions of the besieging army—Narrow escape ofBassompierre while reconnoitring the advanced-works of thetown—A gallant Swiss—Death of the Comte de Fiesque—Heavycasualties amongst the besiegers—The Seigneur de Tréville—Bassompierreand the women of Montauban—Death of Mayenne—TheSpanish monk—An amateur general—Disastrous results ofcarrying out his orders—Furious sortie of the garrison—Bassompierreis wounded in the face—An amusing incident—TheCévennes mountaineers endeavour to throw reinforcementsinto Montauban—A midnight mêlée | |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOL. I
| [François, Seigneur de Bassompierre, Marquis D’Harouel, Maréchal de France] | [Frontispiece] |
| From an engraving by Lasne. | |
| FACING PAGE | |
| [Gabrielle D’Estrées, Duchesse de Beaufort] | [24] |
| [Henriette de Balsac D’Entragues, Marquise de Verneuil] | [78] |
| From an engraving by Aubert. | |
| [Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency, Princesse de Condé] | [104] |
| From an engraving by Barbant. | |
| [Henri IV, King of France] | [136] |
| [Concino Concini, Maréchal D’Ancre] | [184] |
| From an engraving by Aubert. | |
| [Charles D’Albert, Duc de Luynes, Constable of France] | [238] |
| From a contemporary print. | |
| [Philip IV, King of Spain] | [290] |
| From the painting by Velasquez. | |