[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."
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.