Chapter I: Front Matter

THE LOVE-AFFAIRS OF THE
CONDÉS

Héliogr. Chauvet Imp. Eudes

_Agnès Berthelot de Pléneuf,
Marquise de Prie._

Plon-Nourrit & C^{ie} Edit.]

THE LOVE-AFFAIRS
OF THE CONDÉS

(1530–1740)

BY
H. NOEL WILLIAMS
AUTHOR OF
“A PRINCESS OF ADVENTURE”

WITH SEVENTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1912

TO
MY WIFE

PREFATORY NOTE

The principal authorities, both contemporary and modern, which I have consulted in the preparation of this volume are mentioned either in the text or the footnotes. I desire, however, to acknowledge my obligations to the following works by modern writers: Duc d’Aumale, “Histoire des Princes de Condé;” M. Édouard Barthélemy, “La Princesse de Condé: Charlotte Catherine de la Trémoille;” M. Henri Bouchot, “Les Femmes de Brantôme;” Victor Cousin, “La Jeunesse de Madame de Longueville;” Comte Jules Delaborde, “Éléonore de Roye, Princesse de Condé (1535–1564);” M. I. Henrard, “Henri IV. et la Princesse de Condé;” MM. Homberg and Jousselin, “La Femme du Grand Condé;” Comte Hector de la Ferrière, “Trois Amoureuses au XVI^{e} siècle;” and M. H. Thirion, “Madame de Prie (1698–1727).”

H. NOEL WILLIAMS.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

PAGES

Origin of the House of Condé--Louis de Bourbon, first
prince of the name--His modest _début_ at the Court--His
personal appearance and character--Enmity between the
Bourbons and the Guises--Condé attaches himself to the
party of the Connétable Anne de Montmorency, and marries
the latter’s niece, Éléonore de Roye--Noble character
of Éléonore--Gallantries of Condé--His early military
career--Death of Henry II.--Progress of the Reformation in
France--Condé embraces Protestantism and places himself at
the head of the opposition to the Guises--He is arrested at
Orléans, brought to trial for high treason and condemned to
death--But is saved by the opportune death of François II. 1–15

CHAPTER II

Critical condition of France at the accession of Charles
IX.--Character and policy of Catherine de’ Medici--The
Triumvirate--Catherine leans to the side of the
Reformers--The “Edict of January”--Massacre of Vassy--Condé
remains faithful to the Protestant cause--Beginning of
the civil war--The Protestants, at first successful, soon
in a desperate position--Condé turns to England for aid:
Treaty of Hampton Court--Fall of Rouen--Condé marches on
Paris--Battle of Dreux: the prince taken prisoner--Second
Captivity of Condé--Assassination of Guise--Conference
on the Île-aux-Bœufs--The maids-of-honour--Peace of
Amboise--Condé follows the Court 16–28

CHAPTER III

Catherine de’ Medici and her “_escadron
volant_”--Adroitness with which the Queen employs the
charms of her maids-of-honour to seduce the Huguenot
chief--The King of Navarre and _la belle_ Rouet--Policy
of Catherine after the Peace of Amboise--She determines
to compromise Condé with his foreign allies and the
French Protestants, by encouraging his taste for
sensual pleasures--And selects for his subjugation
her maid-of-honour and kinswoman Isabelle de
Limeuil--Description of this siren--Her admirers --Her
mercenary character--Beginning of her _liaison_ with the
prince--Condé and Elizabeth of England--Mlle. de Limeuil,
inspired by Catherine, seeks to persuade Condé to break
with Elizabeth--Mission of d’Alluye to England--Condé is
induced to take up arms against his late allies--Siege and
surrender of Le Havre 29–42