Chapter I: Front Matter

A GALLANT OF LORRAINE

VOL. I.

“C’étoit un homme de grande qualité, beau, bien fait, quoique d’une
taille un peu épaisse. Il avoit bien de l’esprit et d’un caractère
fort galant. Il avoit du courage, de l’ambition et l’âme du grand
roi.”

BUSSY-RABUTIN TO MADAME DE SCUDÉRY,
AUGUST 16, 1671.

FRANÇOIS, SEIGNEUR DE BASSOMPIERRE, MARQUIS D’HAROUEL, MARÉCHAL DE
FRANCE.

From an engraving by Lasne.

[_Frontispiece_]

A GALLANT
OF LORRAINE

FRANÇOIS, SEIGNEUR DE BASSOMPIERRE,
MARQUIS D’HAROUEL, MARÉCHAL
DE FRANCE (1579-1646)

BY

H. NOEL WILLIAMS

AUTHOR OF “FIVE FAIR SISTERS,” “A PRINCESS OF INTRIGUE,”
“THE BROOD OF FALSE LORRAINE,” ETC.

_IN TWO VOLUMES_

_With 16 Illustrations_

VOL. I

_LONDON: HURST & BLACKETT, LTD.
PATERNOSTER HOUSE, E.C._

PREFATORY NOTE

Although the _Mémoires_ of the Maréchal de Bassompierre are acknowledged to be one of the chief authorities for the history of France during the early part of the seventeenth century, they have never been translated into English, nor, if we except the charming but all too brief sketch of the marshal by Comte Boudet de Puymaigre in his _Poètes et Romanciers de la Lorraine_ (Paris, 1848), has any biography of their author yet been attempted. That such should be the case is certainly very surprising, since seldom can a man have led so eventful a life, or played so many different parts with distinction, as did François de Bassompierre. Soldier, courtier, diplomatist, gallant and wit, he was to the Courts of Henri IV and Louis XIII very much what the celebrated Maréchal de Richelieu was to that of Louis XV, and when on that fatal February day in 1631 the gates of the Bastille closed upon him, not to reopen for twelve long years, one of the most interesting careers in French history practically terminated. In my endeavour to give a full and authentic account of this career, I have naturally found my chief source of information in Bassompierre’s own _Mémoires_, which he wrote, or rather arranged and revised, during his imprisonment in the Bastille; but I have also consulted a large number of other works, both contemporary and modern. Most of these are mentioned either in the text or the footnotes, but I desire to take this opportunity of acknowledging my great indebtedness to the admirable notes of the Marquis de Chantérac, who so ably edited the edition of the marshal’s _Mémoires_ published by the Société de l’Histoire de France.

H. NOEL WILLIAMS.

LONDON, _May_, 1921.

CONTENTS

VOL. I

CHAPTER I

Birth of François de Bassompierre--Origin of the Bassompierre family--A romantic legend--His grandfather--His father--His early years--He and his younger brother Jean are sent to the University of Pont-à-Mousson, and afterwards to that of Ingoldstadt--Their studies at Ingoldstadt--Death of their father, Christophe de Bassompierre--Journey of the two brothers through Italy--Their return to Lorraine.....pp. 1-14

CHAPTER II

Visit of the Bassompierre family to Paris--François dances in a ballet before Henri IV at Monceaux--He is presented to the King, who receives him very graciously--He decides to enter the service of Henri IV--He escorts his Majesty’s mistress, Gabrielle d’Estrées, Duchesse de Beaufort, to Paris--Sudden illness and death of the duchess--Extravagant grief of Henri IV, who, however, soon finds consolation in the society of Henriette d’Entragues--Affray between the Prince de Joinville and the Grand Equerry Bellegarde at Zamet’s house, where the King is staying--Visit of Bassompierre to Lorraine--He returns to Paris.....pp. 15-29

CHAPTER III

Bassompierre accompanies Henri IV in his campaign against Charles Emmanuel of Savoy--His narrow escape at the taking of Montmélian--He goes with the King to visit Henriette d’Entragues, Madame de Verneuil, at La Côte-Saint-André, and reconciles Henri IV with his mistress--Marriage of the King to Marie de’ Medici--Presentation of Madame de Verneuil to the Queen--Visit of Bassompierre to Lorraine--He returns to find the royal _ménage_ in a very troubled state, owing to the jealousy of the wife and the mistress--He assists at a conference, in which the Chancellor recommends the King to get rid of Madame de Verneuil at any cost--He accompanies the Maréchal de Biron on a visit to England--He is present at the arrest of Biron at Fontainebleau, in June, 1602--Condemnation and execution of the marshal.....pp. 30-37