WITH SEVENTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1912

TO
MY WIFE

PREFATORY NOTE

The principal authorities, both contemporary and modern, which I have consulted in the preparation of this volume are mentioned either in the text or the footnotes. I desire, however, to acknowledge my obligations to the following works by modern writers: Duc d’Aumale, “Histoire des Princes de Condé;” M. Édouard Barthélemy, “La Princesse de Condé: Charlotte Catherine de la Trémoille;” M. Henri Bouchot, “Les Femmes de Brantôme;” Victor Cousin, “La Jeunesse de Madame de Longueville;” Comte Jules Delaborde, “Éléonore de Roye, Princesse de Condé (1535–1564);” M. I. Henrard, “Henri IV. et la Princesse de Condé;” MM. Homberg and Jousselin, “La Femme du Grand Condé;” Comte Hector de la Ferrière, “Trois Amoureuses au XVIe siècle;” and M. H. Thirion, “Madame de Prie (1698–1727).”

H. NOEL WILLIAMS.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
PAGES
Origin of the House of Condé—Louis de Bourbon, first prince of the name—Hismodest début at the Court—His personal appearance and character—Enmitybetween the Bourbons and the Guises—Condé attaches himself tothe party of the Connétable Anne de Montmorency, and marries thelatter’s niece, Éléonore de Roye—Noble character of Éléonore—Gallantriesof Condé—His early military career—Death of Henry II.—Progress of theReformation in France—Condé embraces Protestantism and places himselfat the head of the opposition to the Guises—He is arrested at Orléans,brought to trial for high treason and condemned to death—But is saved bythe opportune death of François II. [1–15]
CHAPTER II
Critical condition of France at the accession of Charles IX.—Character andpolicy of Catherine de’ Medici—The Triumvirate—Catherine leans to theside of the Reformers—The “Edict of January”—Massacre of Vassy—Condéremains faithful to the Protestant cause—Beginning of the civil war—TheProtestants, at first successful, soon in a desperate position—Condéturns to England for aid: Treaty of Hampton Court—Fall of Rouen—Condémarches on Paris—Battle of Dreux: the prince taken prisoner—SecondCaptivity of Condé—Assassination of Guise—Conference on theÎle-aux-Bœufs—The maids-of-honour—Peace of Amboise—Condé followsthe Court [16–28]
CHAPTER III
Catherine de’ Medici and her “escadron volant”—Adroitness with which theQueen employs the charms of her maids-of-honour to seduce the Huguenotchief—The King of Navarre and la belle Rouet—Policy of Catherine afterthe Peace of Amboise—She determines to compromise Condé with hisforeign allies and the French Protestants, by encouraging his taste forsensual pleasures—And selects for his subjugation her maid-of-honour andkinswoman Isabelle de Limeuil—Description of this siren—Her admirers—Her mercenary character—Beginning of her liaison with the prince—Condéand Elizabeth of England—Mlle. de Limeuil, inspired by Catherine,seeks to persuade Condé to break with Elizabeth—Mission of d’Alluye toEngland—Condé is induced to take up arms against his late allies—Siegeand surrender of Le Havre [29–42]
CHAPTER IV
Condé is disappointed in his hopes of obtaining the post of Lieutenant-Generalof the Kingdom—The prince incurs the hatred of the extreme Catholics—Plotto assassinate him on the Feast of Corpus Christi—Suspicion withwhich he is regarded by the zealots of his own party—Condé, deceived inhis ambition and mortified by the hostility of the extremists on both sides,turns to pleasure for consolation—Violent passion of the Maréchale deSaint-André for him—Indignation and alarm aroused at Geneva by therumours of Condé’s amorous adventures—Calvin and Bèze address a jointletter of remonstrance to the prince—Condé at Muret—Death of two of hischildren—Failing health of the Princesse de Condé—Her touching devotionto her husband—Her dignified attitude in regard to his infidelities—Returnof Condé to the Court—Quarrel between him and Isabelle de Limeuil—Temporarytriumph of the Maréchale de Saint-André—Refusal of the Kingto sanction the betrothal of the Marquis de Conti to Mlle. de Saint-Andre—Condéquits the Court in anger, but is reconciled to Isabelle and returns—Asecond honeymoon [43–52]
CHAPTER V
The fêtes of Fontainebleau—Charles IX. and Catherine set out on a grandprogress through the kingdom—Dangerous illness of the Princesse deCondé—Her husband obliged to remain with her—Scandalous dénoûmentof the amours of Condé and Isabelle de Limeuil—Indignation of theQueen-Mother—Isabelle and the Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon—The Comtede Maulevrier accuses Isabelle of having plotted to poison the prince—Sheis arrested and conducted to the Franciscan convent at Auxonne—Tendercorrespondence between her and Du Fresne—Passionate letters of Condéto his mistress—Isabelle denies the charges against her—Her letter toCatherine—She is removed to Vienne—Her despair—Her pathetic lettersto Condé—She is examined by the Bishops of Orléans and Limoges, andconfronted by Maulevrier [53–69]
CHAPTER VI
Death of the Princesse de Condé—Question of the prince’s remarriage—TheMaréchale de Saint-André’s bid for his hand—Rumours of a matrimonialalliance with the Guises—Catherine de’Medici, alarmed at such a prospect,resolves to set Mlle. de Limeuil at liberty—Isabelle joins Condé at Valery—Intenseindignation of the Huguenots at the scandalous conduct of theprince—Quarrel between Condé and Coligny—The leaders of the partytake counsel together “to find a remedy for so great an evil”—The deputationof Protestant pastors—Condé declines to separate from his mistress,but eventually breaks with her—His marriage with Mlle. de Longueville—Condépersuaded by his wife to demand the return of the presents he hasgiven his mistress—Revenge of Isabelle—Her marriage—Renewal of thecivil war—Battle of Saint-Denis—Peace of Longjumeau—Flight of Condéto La Rochelle—Third War of Religion breaks out—Battle of Jarnac—Deathof Condé [70–91]
CHAPTER VII
Henri I. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé—His personal appearance and character—Jeanned’Albret presents Henri of Navarre and Condé to the army—The“Admiral’s pages”—The “Journey of the Princes”—Battle of Arnay-le-Duc—Condéat La Rochelle—Henri of Navarre is betrothed to Margueritede Valois, and Condé to Marie de Clèves—An awkward lover—Marriageof Condé—Massacre of Saint-Bartholomew—The King of Navarre andCondé are ordered to abjure their religion—Firmness of the latter, who,however, at length yields—Humiliating position of Condé—Intriguebetween his wife and the Duc d’Anjou—Condé at the siege of La Rochelle—Anjouelected King of Poland—He offers the hand of his discardedmistress, Mlle. de Châteauneuf, to Nantouillet, provost of Paris—Unpleasantconsequences of the provost’s refusal of this honour [92–107]
CHAPTER VIII
Departure of Anjou for Poland—Condé, compromised in the conspiracy of the“Politiques,” escapes to Strasbourg, where he reverts to the Protestantfaith—Death of Charles IX., who is succeeded by the King of Poland—Flightof the new King from Cracow—Death of the Princesse de Condé:extravagant grief of Henry III.—Condé invades France at the head of anarmy of German mercenaries—The “Paix de Monsieur”—Condé endeavoursto establish himself in the West of France—Formation of the League andrenewal of the civil war—Condé refuses the hand of Mlle. de Vaudémont,Henry III.’s sister-in-law—His second Odyssey—He commands theHuguenot forces in Poitou and Saintonge—He proposes for the hand ofCharlotte Catherine de la Trémoille—Letter of Mlle. de la Trémoilleto the prince—He visits her at the Château of Taillebourg—Disastrousexpedition of Condé against Angers—He is obliged to take refuge inGuernsey [108–124]
CHAPTER IX
Loyalty of Mlle. de la Trémoille to Condé—She prevents her mother, theDuchesse de Thouars, from surrendering the Château of Taillebourg to aCatholic force—And defends it gallantly until she is relieved—She equips twoships-of-war to bring Condé from Guernsey—Reunion of the lovers—Theirmarriage—Condé takes the field again—Financial embarrassments of thenew ménage—Battle of Coutras: encounter between Condé and Saint-Luc—Ill-healthof the prince—He returns to Saint-Jean-d’Angely—He issuddenly taken ill, and dies in two days—Violent grief of his wife—Suspicionsof the doctors—An autopsy is performed, and the prince is declaredto have been poisoned—Letter of the King of Navarre to theComtesse de Gramont—Flight of the princess’s page, Belcastel, and herhead valet-de-chambre, Corbais—Arrest of her intendant, Brilland—TheKing of Navarre arrives at Saint-Jean-d’Angely, and orders the Princessede Condé to be placed under arrest—Terrible situation of the princess [125–138]
CHAPTER X
The King of Navarre appoints a special commission for the trial of Brilland—Brillandis put to the question—His confessions under torture implicatethe Princesse de Condé, but on the following day he disavows them—Heis found guilty and condemned to be dismembered by horses—The princessdenies the competency of the court and appeals to the Parlement of Paris—Butthe King of Navarre and the commissioners ignore the decrees of thatbody—The commission directs that the princess shall be brought to trial—Shegives birth to a son—The prosecution is dropped, but the princess remainsin captivity—The Président de Thou interests himself in her case—Meansby which he obtains from Henri IV. the recognition of her son’srights, and, with them, the acknowledgment of the princess’s innocence [139–148]
CHAPTER XI
Education of Henri II. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé—Appearance andcharacter of the young prince—He is offered and accepts the hand ofCharlotte de Montmorency, unaware that Henry IV. is desperately enamouredof the lady—Conversation of the King with Bassompierre—Marriageof Condé and Mlle. de Montmorency—Infatuation of the King forthe young princess—Condé refuses to accept the odious rôle assigned tohim, and “plays the devil”—Violent scenes between him and the King—Heremoves with his wife to Picardy—Amorous escapade of Henri IV.—Condé,summoned to Court for the accouchement of the Queen, leaves the princessbehind him—Indignation of Henri IV.—Condé flies with his wife toFlanders—-Fury of the King, who sends troops in pursuit of the fugitives—Refusalof the Archdukes to deliver them up—Condé goes to Cologne, whilethe princess proceeds to Brussels [149–162]
CHAPTER XII
Condé summoned by the Archdukes to Brussels—He places himself under theprotection of Philip III. of Spain—Mission of the Marquis de Cœuvres toBrussels—His attempted abduction of the Princesse de Condé—Condédeclared guilty of high treason—He leaves Brussels for Milan—Henri IV.and his Ministers threaten the Archdukes with war if the princess is notgiven up—Despatches of the Spanish Ambassador to his Court—Condé atMilan—Assassination of Henri IV.—Embarrassing position of Condé inregard to Spain—He returns to Brussels, but declines to see his wife—Hisreturn to France—He contemplates the dissolution of his marriage, butultimately consents to a formal reconciliation with the princess—His turbulentconduct during the regency of Marie de’ Medici—His arrest andimprisonment—The princess magnanimously shares her husband’s captivity—Dangerousillness of the prince—Birth of Anne Geneviève de Bourbon—Releaseof the Condés [163–178]
CHAPTER XIII
Birth of Louis de Bourbon, Duc d’Enghien (the Great Condé)—His early yearsat the Château of Montrond—His education—His personal appearance andcharacter—Wealth of the Condés—Life at Chantilly—Isabelle de Bouttevilleand Marthe du Vigean—Tender attachment of the Duc d’Enghienand Mlle. du Vigean—Subserviency of the Prince de Condé towardsRichelieu—He solicits for Enghien the hand of the Cardinal’s niece, Claire-Clémencede Maillé-Brézé—The young prince protests against the sacrificedemanded of him, but eventually consents—He is presented to Mlle. deMaillé-Brézé—First campaign of the Great Condé—He denies the rumourthat he has “no taste for his fiancée”—Fête at the Palais-Cardinal: aludicrous incident—Marriage of the Duc d’Enghien [179–195]
CHAPTER XIV
Serious illness of the Duc d’Enghien—Tyranny exercised over him by Richelieu—Anamusing anecdote—Death of the Cardinal—His will—Lawsuit betweenthe Prince de Condé and the Duchesse d’Aiguillon—Enghien contemplatesthe dissolution of his marriage, neglects his wife, and devoteshimself to Marthe du Vigean—He receives the command of the Army ofFlanders, gains the brilliant victory of Rocroi, and takes Thionville—TheDuchesse d’Enghien gives birth to a son—Indifference of the duke—Hereturns to Paris and endeavours to procure the dissolution of his marriage—Butthis project is frustrated by the interference of the Prince de Condé—Enghienis wounded at the battle of Nördlingen, and has a dangerousattack of fever—To the astonishment of his friends, he suddenly breaks offhis tender relations with Mlle. du Vigean—Despair of the lady, who, inspite of the opposition of her family, enters the Carmelites of the FaubourgSaint-Jacques [196–206]
CHAPTER XV
Notwithstanding his rupture with Mlle. du Vigean, the Duc d’Enghien continuesto treat his wife with coldness—The heart of the prince is fiercelydisputed by the ladies of the Court—Dissipated life of Enghien: paternalremonstrances—Liaison between the duke and Ninon de l’Enclos—Deathof Henri II. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé—Failure of the new Prince deCondé before Lerida—His brilliant victory at Lens—Beginning of theFronde—Condé remains faithful to the Court, and takes command of theroyal troops—The Duchesse de Châtillon becomes his mistress—Peace ofRueil—The arrogance and ambition of Condé causes the Court and theFrondeurs to join forces against him—The arrest of the Princes—ThePrincesse de Condé at Bordeaux—Death of the dowager-princess—Equivocalconduct of Madame de Châtillon—Episode of an unaddressed letter—Exileof Mazarin and release of the Princes—Continued indifference ofCondé towards his wife, notwithstanding her courageous efforts on hisbehalf—Negotiations between him and the Regent—His rupture with theFrondeurs, who draw towards the Court—Condé retires to Saint-Maur—Alliancebetween the Court and the Frondeurs—Proceedings againstCondé—The prince retires to Montrond and “draws the sword” [207–224]
CHAPTER XVI
Condé proceeds to Bordeaux, where he is rejoined by his relatives—He opensthe campaign with success, but is soon obliged to remain on the defensive—Returnof Mazarin—Condé on the Loire—Battle of Bléneau—He leaveshis army and proceeds to Paris—His futile negotiations—Battle of theFaubourg Saint-Antoine—Massacre of the Hôtel de Ville—The Frondegrows daily more discredited—Condé quits Paris and joins the Spaniardson the Flemish frontier—The Fronde at Bordeaux—Sanguinary affraysbetween the Ormée and the Chapeau Rouge—Courage and presence of minddisplayed by the Princesse de Condé and Madame de Longueville inseparating the combatants—Surrender of Bordeaux—The princess sails forFlanders to rejoin her husband—Her reception at Valenciennes—She iscruelly neglected by Condé—She removes from Valenciennes to Malines—Hermiserable existence—Condé applies to the Spanish Court for financialassistance—Brilliant military qualities displayed by him in the service ofhis country’s enemies—The princess gives birth to a daughter—Peace of thePyrenees—Return of Condé and his wife to France [225–234]
CHAPTER XVII
Arrival of Condé at the Court—His reception—He returns to Paris—His ingratitudetowards his wife—Dignified behaviour of Madame la Princesse—Affectionaterelations between Condé and his son—Indifference of theyoung prince towards his mother—Marriage of the Duc d’Enghien andAnne of Bavaria—The affair of Poland—Condé’s conquest of Franche-Comté—Themind of the Princesse de Condé becomes affected—The footmanDuval—Mysterious affair at the Hôtel de Condé: the princess iswounded in a brawl between Duval and the Comte de Bussy-Rabutin—Singularattitude of Monsieur le Prince—Trial of Duval—Calumnies againstthe Princesse de Condé: letter of Madame de Sevigné—The princess isexiled to the Château of Châteauroux, in Berry—Her departure: a touchingscene—Her captivity—Her hallucinations—Visit of Père Tixier [235–250]
CHAPTER XVIII
Termination of Condé’s military career—His retirement at Chantilly—Hisimprovements of the château and estate—His son, the Duc d’Enghien(Monsieur le Duc)—Portrait of this prince by Saint-Simon—His tyrannicaltreatment of his wife—His singular habits—Malicious practical joke whichhe perpetrates on the Duc de Luxembourg—His amours with the Duchessede Nevers, the Marquise de Richelieu, and the Comtesse de Marans—Hisnatural daughter by Madame de Marans legitimated and married to theMarquis de Lassay—His lack of military capacity—His children—Theeducation of his only son, the Duc de Bourbon, superintended by Condé—Marriageof the young prince to Mlle. de Nantes, elder daughter ofLouis XIV. and Madame de Montespan—The wedding-night—Conversionof Condé—His last illness—His death—His funeral oration by Bossuet—ThePrincesse de Condé remains in captivity—Her death [251–268]
CHAPTER XIX
Henri-Jules de Bourbon, fifth Prince de Condé—His affection for Chantilly—Improvementswhich he executes there—The “Galerie des Batailles”—Hisbusiness capacity—His relations with his son, the Duc de Bourbon(Monsieur le Duc)—Character of this prince—His ungovernable temperand vindictiveness—His intrigue with Madame de Mussy—She betrayshim for the Comte d’Albert—A violent scene—Madame de Mussy followsher new lover to Spain—Her sad fate—Other amours of Monsieur le Duc—Characterof Madame la Duchesse—Her intrigue with the Prince deConti—Her grief at his premature death—Last years of the Prince deCondé—His eccentricity becomes hardly distinguishable from madness—Anecdotesconcerning him—His death—His last instructions to his son—TheDuc de Bourbon retains his title, instead of assuming that ofPrince de Condé—His sudden death, eleven months after that of hisfather [269–280]
CHAPTER XX
Louis Henri de Bourbon-Condé—He assumes the title of Duc de Bourbon,instead of that of Prince de Condé, and is known as Monsieur le Duc—Hispersonal appearance—He loses an eye by a shooting accident—His militarycareer—He becomes President of the Council of Regency on the death ofLouis XIV.—His protection of John Law—His wealth—His character—Hismarriage with Marie Anne de Bourbon-Conti—Singular intrigue whichprecedes it—His indifference to his wife—His amours—The financierBerthelot de Pléneuf—Gallantries of Madame de Pléneuf—Saint-Simon’sportrait of her—Her daughter, Agnès de Pléneuf—Singular beauty andintelligence of this young girl—Violent jealousy which her mother conceivesfor her—Marriage of Agnès to the Marquis de Prie, who is soonafterwards appointed Ambassador at Turin—Her life at Turin—Disgraceand bankruptcy of Berthelot de Pléneuf—Financial straits of the de Pries—Madamede Prie comes to Paris to intercede with the Government onher husband’s behalf—Calumnies concerning her spread by her mother andher partisans—Her relations with the Regent [281–295]
CHAPTER XXI
Origin of the liaison between Monsieur le Duc and Madame de Prie considered—Extraordinaryascendency which the latter acquires over her lover—Fora while, the favourite leads a life of pleasure, but is soon obligedto give her attention to politics—Exasperation of Madame de Pléneuf’scoterie against her—Insecurity of Monsieur le Duc’s position—TheOrléans faction—Intrigues of the War Minister Le Blanc and the Belle-Isles—Hatredof Madame de Prie for Le Blanc—She resolves to crushthe common enemies of herself and Monsieur le Duc—Her skilful conduct—Murderof Sandrier de Mitry, chief cashier of La Jonchère, treasurerof the Emergency War Fund—Sinister suspicions concerning La Jonchèreand Le Blanc—Madame de Prie determines to get to the bottom of themystery—Her alliance with the Pâris brothers against the War Minister—Duboispersuades the Regent to withdraw his protection from Le Blanc—Arrestof La Jonchère and examination of his accounts—Disgrace andexile of Le Blanc—The death of Dubois puts a stop to the proceedings—Deathof Philippe d’Orléans—Monsieur le Duc becomes Prime Minister [296–313]
CHAPTER XXII
Beginning of the Ministry of Monsieur le Duc—His early popularity—Difficultiesof the situation—Philippe d’Orléans replaced by three newpowers: Louis XV., Fleury, and Philip V. of Spain—Futile negotiationsbetween Monsieur le Duc and the Orléans faction—Madame dePrie advises the prince to take the offensive—Resumption of the proceedingsagainst La Jonchère and his accomplices—Indignation andalarm of the Orléanists—Attempted assassination of La Guillonière, inmistake for Pâris-Duverney—-Conspiracy against the lives of Monsieur leDuc and his mistress—Madame de Prie insists on prompt and energeticaction, and Le Blanc and the Belle-Isles are thrown into the Bastille—Arrestof Lempereur and other persons—The Government is determinedon the total ruin of Le Blanc—Murder of Gazan de la Combe—La Blancclaims the privilege of being tried by the assembled chambers of theParlement—Efforts of Monsieur le Duc and Madame de Prie to counteractthe influence of Fleury over Louis XV.—Recall of Villeroy—Visit of theKing to Chantilly—Trial of Le Blanc—Extraordinary proceedings—Acquittalof the accused [314–331]
CHAPTER XXIII
Monsieur le Duc and Madame de Prie determine to break off the marriageof Louis XV. and the Infanta, and to marry the young King to aprincess capable of at once giving him an heir—Double interest of thefavourite in the accomplishment of this design—Question of the remarriageof Monsieur le Duc—Madame de Prie, unable to oppose this, selects MarieLeczinska—Rupture of the Spanish marriage—Exasperation of the Courtof Madrid—Difficulty of finding a suitable consort for Louis XV.—Madamede Prie accused of having barred the way of Mlle. de Vermandoisto the crown matrimonial—The favourite advocates the claimsof Marie Leczinska, who is eventually chosen—Triumph of Madame dePrie—Arrival of the new Queen—A model husband—Growing unpopularityof the Government and increasing influence of Fleury—An unsuccessfulintrigue—Madame de Prie retires from Court, but Monsieur le Ducinsists on her return—Disgrace of Monsieur le Duc—His mother and hismistress follow him to Chantilly—Madame de Prie is exiled to Normandy—Atouching farewell—Chivalrous behaviour of the prince—Death ofMadame de Prie—Remarriage of Monsieur le Duc—His death [332–350]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Agnès Berthelot de Pléneuf, Marquise de Prie[Frontispiece]
From a Painting by an unknown artist, in the collection of M. de Quatrebarbes
By permission of MM. Plon Nourrit
FACING
PAGE
Louis I. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé[26]
From an Engraving after a Drawing by Janet
Éléonore de Roye, Princesse de Condé[72]
From a Drawing by an unknown artist
Henri I. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé[102]
From an Engraving by Delpech, after the Painting by Mauzaisse
Charlotte Catherine de la Trémoille, Princesse de Condé[134]
From an Engraving by Miger, after the Painting by Le Monnier
Henri II. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé[164]
From an Engraving by Mathonier
Louis II. de Bourbon, Prince de Condé (the Great Condé)[182]
From an Engraving by Jacques Lubin
Claire Clémence de Maillé-Brézé, Princesse de Condé[198]
From an Engraving by Moncornet
Ninon de L’Enclos[210]
From a Miniature in the South Kensington Museum
Anne of Bavaria, Duchesse d’Enghien (afterwards Princesse de Condé)[238]
From an Engraving by Moncornet
Henri Jules de Bourbon, Duc d’Enghien (afterwards Prince de Condé)[252]
From an Engraving by Poilly, after the Painting by Mignard
Diane Gabrielle de Thianges, Duchesse de Nevers[254]
From a Contemporary Print
Louis III., Duc de Bourbon, Prince de Condé (called Monsieur le Duc)[264]
From a Contemporary Print
Louise Françoise, Duchesse de Bourbon (called Madame la Duchesse)[276]
From a Contemporary Print
Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prince de Condé (called Monsieur le Duc)[300]
From an Engraving by P. Drevet, after the Painting by Gobert
André Hercule, Cardinal de Fleury[316]
From an Engraving by Drevet, after the Painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud
Claude Le Blanc[330]
From an Engraving by Drevet, after the Painting by Le Prieur