“When I knew that you were living as an honourable princess, and were respecting such a husband, a member of so great a family, I desired to do you service, and I esteemed myself happy. But now that I see you thus accused, if your justification does not appease this widespread rumour of so iniquitous a deed, I have received too much honour from the late Monseigneur my husband to be willing that any one should surpass me in the desire to be the most cruel enemy that you have ever had, although I shall nevertheless weep for your disgrace.... And if you have been instigated to this crime, as is reported, hasten to denounce those who have given you this pernicious counsel, for the sake of your life and honour; and I shall implore God to punish the guilty and protect the innocent. “From Paris this IX. April 1588. “She who was formerly your mother-in-law to do you service. “FRANÇOISE D’ORLÉANS”[131] CHAPTER X The King of Navarre appoints a special commission for the trial of Brilland--Brilland is put to the question--His confessions under torture implicate the Princesse de Condé, but on the following day he disavows them--He is found guilty and condemned to be dismembered by horses--The princess denies the competency of the court and appeals to the Parlement of Paris--But the King of Navarre and the commissioners ignore the decrees of that body--The commission directs that the princess shall be brought to trial--She gives birth to a son--The prosecution is dropped, but the princess remains in captivity--The Président de Thou interests himself in her case--Means by which he obtains from Henri IV. the recognition of her son’s rights, and, with them, the acknowledgment of the princess’s innocence. After ordering the arrest of the Princesse de Condé, the King of Navarre appointed a special commission, composed of twelve judges, for the trial of Brilland; while, as the accused had protested against his examination being conducted by Fiefbrun, who appears to have been a personal enemy, Henri replaced him by Valette, Grand Provost of Navarre, the more willingly since he was aware that Fiefbrun was a devoted partisan of the princess.