Produced by David Widger THE COMPLETE PROJECT GUTENBERG HISTORIC COURT MEMOIRS OF FRANCE AN INDEX Various Authors Edited by David Widger Project Gutenberg Editions 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.