[354] Catherine de Lorraine, daughter of Charles, Duc de Mayenne, and niece of Guise le Balafre.  She married (in 1599) Charles de Gonzaga, Duc de Nevers, who subsequently became, by the death of Vincent I, Duke of Mantua.  She died on the 8th of March 1618, at the early age of thirty-three years.

[355] Amours du Grand Alcandre, p. 48.  Dreux du Radier, vol. vi. pp. 88-90.

CHAPTER VII

1607

Profuse expenditure of the French nobles—­Prevalence of duelling under Henri IV—­Meeting of the Prince de Conde and the Duc de Nevers—­They are arrested by the King’s guard—­Reconciliation of the two nobles—­The Duc de Soubise is wounded in a duel—­Profligacy of Madame de Moret—­The King insists upon her marriage with the Prince de Joinville—­Indignation of the Duchesse de Guise—­A dialogue with Majesty—­The Prince de Joinville is exiled—­Madame de Moret intrigues with the Comte de Sommerive—­He promises her marriage—­He attempts to assassinate M. de Balagny—­He is exiled to Lorraine—­Mademoiselle des Essarts—­Birth of the Duc d’Orleans—­Peace between the Pope and the Venetians—­The Queen and her confidants—­Death of the Chancellor of France—­Death of the Cardinal de Lorraine—­Royal rejoicings—­The last ballet of a dying Prince—­Betrothal of Mademoiselle de Montpensier to the infant Duc d’Orleans—­Sully as a theatrical manager—­The Court gamester—­Death of the Duc de Montpensier—­The ex-Queen Marguerite founds a monastery—­Influence of Concini and Leonora over the Queen—­Arrogance of Concini—­Indignation of the King—­A royal rupture—­The King leaves Paris for Chantilly—­Sully and the Queen—­The letter—­Anger of the King—­Sully reconciles the King and Queen—­Madame de Verneuil and the Duc de Guise—–­Court gambling—­Birth of the Duc d’Anjou—­Betrothal of the Duc de Vendome and Mademoiselle de Mercoeur—­Reluctance of the lady’s family—­Celebration of the marriage—­Munificence of Henry—­Arrival of Don Pedro de Toledo—­His arrogance—­Admirable rejoinder of the King—­Object of the embassy—­Passion of Henry for hunting—­Embellishment of Paris—­Eduardo Fernandez—­The King’s debts of honour—­Despair of Madame de Verneuil—­Defective policy—­A bold stroke for a coronet—­The fallen favourite.

Despite the presence of the pestilence the gaieties of the past winter had surpassed, alike in the Court and in the capital, all that had hitherto been witnessed in France.  The profusion of the nobles, whom no foreign war compelled to disburse their revenues in arming their retainers, and in preparing themselves to maintain their dignity and rank in the eyes of a hostile nation, was unchecked and excessive; while, as we have already shown, the monarch felt no inclination to control an outlay by which they thus voluntarily crippled their resources.