In illustrating Busbecq’s letters from France reference is frequently made to contemporary writers, and it may be useful to the reader to have some idea of their different characters, and positions, and of the historical value of their statements. (1). J. A. de Thou, the historian, son of Christopher de Thou, President of the Parliament of Paris. Jurist and statesman. Busbecq’s intimate friend and warm admirer. Quoted as _Thuanus_. Edition, Geneva, 1620, &c. (2). Pierre de l’Estoile. Audiencier de la Chancellerie de Paris. A quiet man, who took no part in politics. He kept a diary which is generally known as _Journal de Henri III._ and _Henri IV._, but is really _his own private diary_ during the reigns of those monarchs. Quoted as _De l’Estoile_. Edition, Paris, 1875, &c. (3). Pierre de Bourdeille, Abbé and Seigneur of Brantôme. Soldier and courtier. Gentleman of the Chamber to Charles IX. and Henri III. His ideas are those of the French Court of that period, and consequently his standard of morality is very low. He was a friend of Alençon, du Guast, Bussy, de Viteaux, La Noue, &c., and a great admirer of Marguerite, to whom he dedicated several of his works. Having been disabled by a fall from his horse, he devoted his last years to writing memoirs of the celebrated men and women he had known, a treatise on duelling, &c. Quoted as _Brantôme_. Edition, Paris, 1822. (4). Marguerite de Valois, wife of Henry of Navarre, sister of Charles IX., Henri III., and Alençon, wrote an autobiography which she addressed to Brantôme. Quoted as _Mémoires de Marguerite_. Edition, Paris, 1842. (5). Theodore Agrippa d’Aubigné. Friend and adherent of Henry of Navarre. He wrote a _Histoire universelle_ and _Mémoires_. Quoted as _Aubigné, Histoire_. Edition S. Jean d’Angely, 1616, &c. The _Mémoires_ are quoted from the Panthéon Littéraire. Paris, 1836. (6). Louis Gonzaga, Duc de Nevers. Soldier and statesman. The compilation known as his Memoirs is quoted as _Mémoires de Nevers_. Edition, Paris, 1665. (7). Venetian ambassadors:—John Michel, sent in 1575 to congratulate Henri III. on his coronation and marriage. Jerome Lippomano, ambassador in 1577-1579. Their reports are contained in _Collection de Documents inédits sur l’Histoire de France, Première Série, Relations des Ambassadeurs Vénitiens_. Quoted as _Ambassadeurs Vénitiens_. (8). Guillaume and Michel Le Riche. Avocats du Roi at Saint-Maixent in Poitou. Their Journal is quoted as _Le Riche_. Edition, Saint-Maixent, 1846. (9). Famianus Strada. A Jesuit priest who wrote the history of the wars in the Netherlands. Motley has drawn largely from his work. Quoted as _Strada_. Edition, Rome, 1648. LETTER I.