That Sorbin, confessor to Charles IX., should have denied this is perfectly natural. Henry of Navarre would stink in the confessor’s nostrils as a pestilent heretic. As to the credibility of Sorbin (a bigot and a controversialist), I would refer to the _Mémoires de l’état de France sous Charles IX._, vol. 3, page 267. According to the _Confession de Saucy_, Sorbin de St. Foy “was made a Bishop for having placed Charles IX. among the Martyrs.” FRANCES (MINTO) ELLIOT. August, 1873. PREFACE All my life I have been a student of French memoir-history. In this species of literature France is remarkably rich. There exist contemporary memoirs and chronicles, from a very early period down to the present time, in which are preserved not only admirable outlooks over general events, but details of language, character, dress, and manners, not to be found elsewhere. I was bold enough to fancy that somewhat yet remained to tell;--say--of the caprices and eccentricities of Louis XIII., of the homeliness of Henri Quatre, of the feminine tenderness of Gabrielle d’Estrées, of the lofty piety and unquestioning confidence of Louise de Lafayette, of the romantic vicissitudes of Mademoiselle de Montpensier; and that some pictures might be made of these old French personages for English readers in a way that should pourtray the substance and spirit of history, without affecting to maintain its form and dress. In all I have written I have sought carefully to work into my dialogue each word and sentence recorded of the individual, every available trait or peculiarity of character to be found in contemporary memoirs, every tradition that has come down to us. To be true to life has been my object. Keeping close to the background of history, I have endeavoured to group the figures of my foreground as they grouped themselves in actual life. I have framed them in the frames in which they really lived. FRANCES ELLIOT. FARLEY HILL COURT, Christmas, 1872. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I--FRANCIS I. 1 II--CHARLES DE BOURBON 6 III--BROTHER AND SISTER 12 IV--THE QUALITY OF MERCY 20 V--ALL LOST SAVE HONOUR 28 VI--BROKEN FAITH 33 VII--LA DUCHESSE D’ÉTAMPES 42 VIII--LAST DAYS 49 IX--CATHERINE DE’ MEDICI 55 X--A FATAL JOUST 58 XI--THE WIDOWED QUEEN 63 XII--MARY STUART AND HER HUSBAND 67