The Rival Queens

The Rival Queens Page 43

by Nancy Goldstone

  Here “I do not give the least”: Ibid., 78–79.

  Here “She would not hear a word”: Ibid., 80.

  Here “She had discovered… matters were set to rights again”: Ibid., 82–83.

  Here “The bad administration of money”: Roeder, Catherine de’ Medici and the Lost Revolution, 531–32.

  Here “The most important and chief point”: Wood, The King’s Army, 281. For further data on the disastrous state of the kingdom’s finances, see Wood, 295–300.

  Here “The king is a young man”: Freer, Henry III, King of France and Poland, 1:389.

  Here “white pumps, high slippers”: Wintroub, “Words, Deeds, and a Womanly King,” 392.

  Here “For four whole days”: Van Dyke, Catherine de Médicis, 2:178.

  Here “The king made jousts”: Crawford, “Love, Sodomy, and Scandal,” 527.

  Here “wear their hair long”: Ibid., 524.

  Here “The King arrived… with his troop”: Ibid., 528.

  Here “this strong desire of the Queen Mother”: Van Dyke, Catherine de Médicis, 2:176–77.

  Here “After staying some time at Lyons”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 84.

  Here “This occasioned such jealousy”: Ibid., 84–85.

  Here “I now turned my mind to an endeavor”: Ibid., 85–86.

  Here “that puissant Hercules”: Freer, Henry III, King of France and Poland, 2:11.

  Here “start by being the master”: Pitts, Henry IV of France, 74.

  Here “I would rather that you reigned”: Freer, Henry III, King of France and Poland, 2:35–36.

  Here “slept, ate and played”: Pitts, Henry IV of France, 73.

  Here “persuaded the King my husband”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 85.

  Here “now entered more fully”: Ibid., 86.

  Here “my brother likewise”: Ibid.

  Chapter 12. The Great Escape

  Here “The character of people varies”: Machiavelli, The Prince, 26.

  Here “without equal in our time”: Williams, Queen Margot, 164. The exact quote in French is “le nonpair de son temps.”

  Here “an invincible courage”: Ibid.

  Here “received with all the favor”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 86.

  Here “an acquisition which”: Ibid., 87.

  Here “had no peer for courage”: Mariéjol, A Daughter of the Medicis, 72.

  Here “it is only with difficulty”: Frieda, Catherine de Medici, 318.

  Here “It is much discoursed”: Crawford, Love, Sodomy and Scandal, 519.

  Here delayed for hours: See Baillon, Histoire de Louise de Lorraine, 50–51.

  Here “The quarrel between the King of Navarre”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 49.

  Here “The court is the strangest place”: Van Dyke, Catherine de Médicis, 2:189.

  Here “At Paris my brother was joined by Bussy”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 86–87.

  Here “The King… mentioned it to the Queen”: Ibid., 87–88.

  Here “They knew that he was always”: Ibid., 89.

  Here “Bussy is assassinated!”: Ibid., 90.

  Here “The next day Bussy showed himself”: Ibid., 91.

  Here “The Queen my mother”: Ibid., 92.

  Here “commanded a regiment of guards”: Ibid., 89.

  Here “One night my husband”: Ibid., 93.

  Here “From this time he treated me”: Ibid.

  Here “Henri, by the grace of his mother”: Potter, “Kingship in the Wars of Religion,” 489. The entire quote is “Henri, par la grâce de sa mère incertain roi de France et de Pologne imaginaire, concierge du Louvre, marguilier de Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois et de toutes les églises de Paris, gendre de Colas, godronneur des collets de sa femme et friseur de ses cheveux, visiteur des étuves, gardien des Quatre Mendiants, père conscript des Blancs-Battus et protecteur des Caputiers.”

  Here “The King… told my husband”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 94.

  Here “I was so greatly offended”: Ibid., 95.

  Here “A few days after this”: Ibid.

  Here “It was concerted betwixt them”: Ibid., 97.

  Here “The King and the Queen my mother”: Ibid., 98.

  Here “There was now a general alarm”: Ibid.

  Here “They observed that”: Ibid., 99.

  Here “The major part of the nobility of the realm”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 51.

  Here “I was in tears the whole night”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 99.

  Here “Meanwhile my husband”: Ibid.

  Here “He prevailed on the King”: Ibid., 102.

  Here “Accordingly, they proceeded to the house”: Ibid., 104.

  Here “to enrich only a very few persons”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 53.

  Here Guast was discovered murdered: See Mémoires-Journaux de Pierre de L’Estoile, 1:92–93.

  Here “when he was killed”: Williams, Queen Margot, 181.

  Here “he regretted only two things”: Chamberlin, Marguerite of Navarre, 155.

  Here “He quite forgot his promise”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 100.

  Here “The King, supposing that I”: Ibid., 101.

  Here “My child, you are giving yourself”: Ibid., 105–6.

  Chapter 13. A Royal Hostage

  Here “Men commit injuries”: Machiavelli, The Prince, 34.

  Here “I remained a close prisoner”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 107.

  Here “Some few days after”: Ibid., 108–9.

  Here “Meanwhile, the King my husband”: Ibid., 107–8.

  Here “I received this letter during”: Ibid., 108.

  Here “I had found a secret pleasure”: Ibid., 112–13.

  Here “of his firm resolution”: Ibid., 110.

  Here “acquainted the King with my brother’s”: Ibid.

  Here “the King… on a sudden”: Ibid., 111.

  Here “expressed her hopes”: Ibid.

  Here “raised by the Huguenots”: Ibid., 113.

  Here “a free, public, and general”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 66.

  Here “With respect to these”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 114.

  Here the Peace of Monsieur: Ibid., 66.

  Here “in order to hate the Huguenots”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 81.

  Here “My mother, however, opposed it”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 114.

  Here “The peace being thus concluded”: Ibid., 114–15.

  Here “The Queen my mother expressed herself”: Ibid., 115.

  Here “When I still insisted upon going”: Ibid., 115.

  Here “There is much heartburning”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 68.

  Here “A league was formed”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 118–19.

  Here “had made the peace”: The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 69.

  Here “After some time, M. de Duras arrived”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 118.

  Here “The King received him very graciously”: Ibid., 117–18.

  Here “The King turned his thoughts”: Ibid.

  Here “The King called my brother”: Ibid., 119.

  Here “I went directly to the closet”: Ibid., 121–22.

  Here “I found them all of the opinion”: Ibid., 122.

  Here “He stated that he was”: Ibid., 123–24.

  Here “My brother acquiesced”: Ibid., 124.

  Here “She was as good as her word”: Ibid., 126.

  Here “ordered a courier”: Ibid., 127.

  Chapter 14. Queen of Spies

  Here “A prince need trouble little”: Machiavelli, The Prince, 81.

  Here “I
travelled in a litter”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 129.

  Here “excited great curiosity”: Ibid.

  Here “a polite and well-accomplished man”: Ibid., 131.

  Here “I employed all the talents”: Ibid., 131.

  Here “took every opportunity of discoursing”: Ibid., 132.

  Here “Although he had hitherto”: Ibid., 133–34.

  Here “On our arrival at Mons”: Ibid., 134.

  Here “the Countess and I were on so familiar”: Ibid., 135.

  Here “We entertain the utmost dislike”: Ibid., 136–37.

  Here “to which he has an ancient claim”: In the late fourteenth century and for most of the fifteenth, Flanders was ruled by the duke of Burgundy (younger brother of Charles V, king of France) and his descendants. For more on this, see my earlier book The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc.

  Here “I told her that the King of France… who do him favors”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 137–38.

  Here “He explained to me”: Ibid., 140.

  Here “considerable value”: Ibid., 141.

  Here “After an exchange of compliments”: Ibid., 142.

  Here “Namur appeared with particular advantage”: Ibid., 143.

  Here “The house in which I was lodged”: Ibid.

  Here “seemed more proper for a great king”: Ibid.

  Here “Don John having sent”: Ibid., 144.

  Here “In short, Don Juan”: Ibid., 144.

  Here “and there took a most polite”: Ibid., 145.

  Here “I was every morning”: Ibid., 155.

  Here “he had found it entirely changed”: Ibid., 157.

  Here “the King had repented”: Ibid., 158.

  Here “I found I was in great danger”: Ibid., 157.

  Here “as he was acquainted”: Ibid., 159.

  Here “Mondoucet did not return”: Ibid.

  Here “who most certainly acted towards me”: Ibid.

  Here “I suspected a plan”: Ibid.

  Here “They paid no respect”: Ibid., 160–61.

  Here “In the morning we were suffered”: Ibid., 161.

  Here “In consequence… it was a day”: Ibid.

  Here “They bawled out to us from within”: Ibid., 161–62.

  Here “At length I got him into my lodgings”: Ibid., 162.

  Here “At length, after much bawling”: Ibid., 163.

  Here “The principal person amongst them”: Ibid., 163.

  Here “Thus had they concerted a double plot”: Ibid., 164.

  Here “Accordingly, I assembled as many”: Ibid., 165.

  Here “resolved to act according to my counsel”: Ibid.

  Here “Hereupon, the citizens flew”: Ibid.

  Here “escorted by two or three”: Ibid., 166.

  Here “I hastened onto the boat”: Ibid.

  Here “In spite of all their remonstrances”: Ibid.

  Here “I had intelligence”: Ibid., 169.

  Here “I consider it amongst”: Ibid., 170.

  Here “Oh Queen! How happy I am”: Ibid.

  Here “which appeared to us”: Ibid., 171.

  Here “M. de Montigny delivered”: Ibid., 171–72.

  Chapter 15. Royal Rivalries

  Here “Above all a prince must endeavor”: Machiavelli, The Prince, 95.

  Here “I was received very graciously” Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 172.

  Here “both of them approved”: Ibid., 173.

  Here “she recollected it well”: Ibid.

  Here “Instead of dispatch”: Ibid.

  Here “My brother met with”: Ibid., 173–74.

  Here “these licentious young courtiers”: Ibid., 175.

  Here “Bussy had a degree of courage”: Ibid.

  Here “some new dispute betwixt them”: Ibid.

  Here “to fight it out to the death”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 96.

  Here “well lectured my brother”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 177.

  Here “other allusions to the meanness”: Ibid.

  Here “as it would put a stop”: Ibid., 178.

  Here “The quarrels of Bussy are bound”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 96.

  Here “was greatly uneasy on account”: Ibid., 176.

  Here “The King, however, staying”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 178.

  Here “How could you, Madame”: Ibid., 178–79.

  Here Catherine was obliged to heave herself: See Memoires-Journaux de Pierre de L’Estoile, 1:230–35. Marguerite’s version of events is supported by this account.

  Here “I will show you what it is”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 179.

  Here “The King endeavored to force it”: Ibid., 180.

  Here “feared some fatal event”: Ibid., 180–81.

  Here “as I know she loves me”: Ibid., 181.

  Here “Though I have received”: Ibid.

  Here “There is not a good Frenchman”: Ibid., 186.

  Here “I observed to my brother”: Ibid., 186–87.

  Here “With a great deal of gravity”: Ibid., 187.

  Here “could scarcely refrain from talking”: Ibid.

  Here “The Queen my mother”: Ibid.

  Here “Sire, if it is your pleasure”: Ibid., 191.

  Here “When we consulted”: Ibid, 195.

  Here “when all was prepared”: Ibid., 195–96.

  Here “I observed that she was much”: Ibid., 196.

  Here “You know I have pledged myself”: Ibid., 197.

  Here “proving unfaithful to my brother”: Ibid.

  Here “would have died rather than be”: Ibid.

  Here “You cannot, Madame, but be”: Ibid., 197–98.

  Here “all this was said by me”: Ibid., 198.

  Here “I had much rather pledge my life”: Ibid.

  Here “Remember what you now say”: Ibid.

  Here “Rising from my bed”: Ibid.

  Here “We next lowered Simier”: Ibid.

  Here “I was almost dead with alarm”: Ibid., 199.

  Here “violently at the door”: Ibid., 199–200.

  Here “I told my women”: Ibid., 200.

  Here “they went away”: Ibid.

  Here “One of them was indiscreet”: Ibid., 200–201.

  Here “Pushing her away”: Ibid., 201.

  Here “By consent of the abbot”: Ibid., 199.

  Here “I found him sitting”: Ibid., 201.

  Here “They both told me”: Ibid.

  Here “However, I was ready still”: Ibid.

  Here “This caused a cessation”: Ibid., 202.

  Here “complying with my wishes”: Ibid., 203.

  Here “with the power of nomination”: Ibid.

  Here “over and above the customary”: Ibid.

  Here “covered their dead bodies”: Crawford, “Love, Sodomy, and Scandal,” 532.

  Here “M. d’Entragues did only”: Macdowall, Henry of Guise, 90.

  Chapter 16. Queen of Navarre

  Here “Well-ordered states and wise princes”: Machiavelli, The Prince, 81.

  Here “For my husband had been greatly”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 205.

  Here “I remember (for I was there)”: Bourdeïlle and Saint-Beuve, Illustrious Dames at the Court of the Valois Kings, 158–59.

  Here “For three days she has”: Mariéjol, A Daughter of the Medicis, 107.

  Here “I received every mark of honor”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 205.

  Here “which was held by the Huguenots”: Ibid.

  Here “We found the Queen and all her maids”: Mariéjol, A Daughter of the Medicis, 109.

  Here “took a mistress like the others”: Williams, Queen Margot, 254.

  Here “It was the intention of the Queen my mother”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 205.

  Here “the Catholic religion not be
ing tolerated”: Ibid., 206.

  Here “having been, for some years”: Ibid., 206–7.

  Here “ordered the guard to arrest”: Ibid., 207.

  Here “I complained of it”: Ibid.

  Here “Le Pin, with the greatest disrespect”: Ibid.

  Here “This insolent speech”: Ibid., 208.

  Here “The King, however, continued”: Ibid., 209.

  Here “little Geneva”: Ibid.

  Here “He took notice of my”: Ibid., 210.

  Here “The King was very assiduous with Fosseuse”: Ibid., 211.

  Here “Great Henry’s daughter”: Mariéjol, A Daughter of the Medicis, 120.

  Here “showed how the wind blew”: Ibid., 121.

  Here “No sooner [had] he lost sight of her”: Ibid., 209.

  Here “Our Court was so brilliant”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 210.

  Here “This difference of religion”: Ibid., 211.

  Chapter 17. The Lovers’ War

  Here “Whoever is the cause of another”: Machiavelli, The Prince, 16.

  Here “The king has such a strong desire”: Holt, The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, 116.

  Here that “[I] had at length”: Ibid., 239.

  Here “I might be more shunned”: Freer, Henry III, King of France and Poland, 2:231.

  Here “She told her husband”: Chamberlin, Marguerite of Navarre, 209.

  Here “The King my husband”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 211–12.

  Here “This was what I feared”: Ibid., 212–14.

  Here “The peace my brother made”: Ibid., 221.

  Here “He [François]… acquired from it”: Ibid., 221.

  Here “The King my husband was equally”: Ibid., 221–22.

  Here “My brother returned to France”: Ibid., 222.

  Here “the Queen your daughter went”: Merki, La Reine Margot et la Fin des Valois, 248.

  Here “She altered her conduct towards me”: Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, 224.

  Here “For his part, he avoided me”: Ibid.

  Here “persuaded the King my husband”: Ibid.

  Here “I had every day news”: Ibid., 225.

  Here “The pregnancy of Fosseuse was now”: Ibid., 226–27.

  Here “Far from showing any contrition”: Ibid., 227–28.

  Here “The physician delivered the message”: Ibid., 228–29.

  Here “I answered that I had”: Ibid., 229.

 

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