Historic Court Memoirs of France   By: Various

AN INDEX

Various Authors

Edited by David Widger

BOOKS

   MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE

   MEMOIRS OF JEAN FRANCOIS PAUL de GONDI, CARDINAL DE RETZ

   MEMOIRS OF MADAME LA MARQUISE DE MONTESPAN

   MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF LOUIS XIV.AND OF THE REGENCY, By the Duchess D'Orleans

   MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT AND OF THE REGENCY, By the Duke of Saint Simon

   MEMOIRS OF LOUIS XV. AND XVI., By Madame du Hausett, Princess Lamballe, and an Unknown English Girl

   MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE, QUEEN OF FRANCE, By Madam Camapn

   MEMOIRS COURT OF ST. CLOUD, By Lewis Goldsmith

   MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT, By Anthony Hamilton

CHAPTERS and ILLUSTRATIONS

MEMOIRS OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS QUEEN OF NAVARRE

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Marguerite de Valois—Etching by Mercier

Bussi d' Amboise—Painting in the Versailles Gallery

Duc de Guise—Painting in the Versailles Gallery

Catherine de' Medici—Original Etching by Mercier

Henri VI. and La Fosseuse—Painting by A. P. E. Morton

A Scene at Henri's Court—Original Photogravure

LETTERS LETTER I.

Introduction.—Anecdotes of Marguerite's Infancy.—Endeavours Used to Convert Her to the New Religion.—She Is Confirmed in Catholicism.—The Court on a Progress.—A Grand Festivity Suddenly Interrupted.—The Confusion in Consequence.

LETTER II.

Message from the Duc d'Anjou, Afterwards Henri III., to King Charles His Brother and the Queen mother.—Her Fondness for Her Children.—Their Interview.—Anjou's Eloquent Harangue.—The Queen mother's Character. Discourse of the Duc d'Anjou with Marguerite.—She Discovers Her Own Importance.—Engages to Serve Her Brother Anjou.—Is in High Favour with the Queenmother.

LETTER III.

Le Guast.—His Character.—Anjou Affects to Be Jealous of the Guises.—Dissuades the Queen mother from Reposing Confidence in Marguerite.—She Loses the Favour of the Queen mother and Falls Sick.—Anjou's Hypocrisy.—He Introduces De Guise into Marguerite's Sick Chamber.—Marguerite Demanded in Marriage by the King of Portugal.—Made Uneasy on That Account.—Contrives to Relieve Herself.—The Match with Portugal Broken off.

LETTER IV.

Death of the Queen of Navarre—Marguerite's Marriage with Her Son, the King of Navarre, Afterwards Henri IV. of France.—The Preparations for That Solemnisation Described.—The Circumstances Which Led to the Massacre of the Huguenots on St. Bartholomew's Day.

LETTER V.

The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day.

LETTER VI.

Henri, Duc d'Anjou, Elected King of Poland, Leaves France.—Huguenot Plots to Withdraw the Duc d'Alencon and the King of Navarre from Court.—Discovered and Defeated by Marguerite's Vigilance.—She Draws Up an Eloquent Defence, Which Her Husband Delivers before a Committee from the Court of Parliament.—Alencon and Her Husband, under a Close Arrest, Regain Their Liberty by the Death of Charles IX.

LETTER VII.

Accession of Henri III.—A Journey to Lyons.—Marguerite's Faith in Supernatural Intelligence.

LETTER VIII.

What Happened at Lyons.

LETTER IX.

Fresh Intrigues.—Marriage of Henri III.—Bussi Arrives at Court and Narrowly Escapes Assassination.

LETTER X.

Bussi Is Sent from Court.—Marguerite's Husband Attacked with a Fit of Epilepsy.—Her Great Care of Him.—Torigni Dismissed from Marguerite's Service.—The King of Navarre and the Duc d'Alencon Secretly Leave the Court.

LETTER XI.

Queen Marguerite under Arrest.—Attempt on Torigni's Life.—Her Fortunate Deliverance.

LETTER XII.

The Peace of Sens betwixt Henri III. and the Huguenots.

LETTER XIII.

The League.—War Declared against the Huguenots.—Queen Marguerite Sets out for Spa.

LETTER XIV.