she appeared to be angry, saying: “Did I
not know it yesterday?” It was then that those
about her recollected what I have now related, and
concluded that it was no delirium, but one of those
revelations made by God to great and illustrious persons.
Ancient history furnishes many examples of the like
kind amongst the pagans, as the apparition of Brutus
and many others, which I shall not mention, it not
being my intention to illustrate these Memoirs with
such narratives, but only to relate the truth, and
that with as much expedition as I am able, that you
may be the sooner in possession of my story.
I am far from supposing that I am worthy of these
divine admonitions; nevertheless, I should accuse
myself of ingratitude towards my God for the benefits
I have received, which I esteem myself obliged to
acknowledge whilst I live; and I further believe myself
bound to bear testimony of his goodness and power,
and the mercies he hath shown me, so that I can declare
no extraordinary accident ever befell me, whether
fortunate or otherwise, but I received some warning
of it, either by dream or in some other way, so that
I may say with the poet
“De mon bien, on mon mal, Mon esprit m’est
oracle.”
(Whate’er of good or ill befell, My mind was
oracle to tell.)
And of this I had a convincing proof on the arrival
of the King of Poland, when the Queen my mother went
to meet him. Amidst the embraces and compliments
of welcome in that warm season, crowded as we were
together and stifling with heat, I found a universal
shivering come over me, which was plainly perceived
by those near me. It was with difficulty I could
conceal what I felt when the King, having saluted the
Queen my mother, came forward to salute me.
This secret intimation of what was to happen thereafter
made a strong impression on my mind at the moment,
and I thought of it shortly after, when I discovered
that the King had conceived a hatred of me through
the malicious suggestions of Le Guast, who had made
him believe, since the King’s death, that I espoused
my brother Alencon’s party during his absence,
and cemented a friendship betwixt the King my husband
and him.
What Happened at Lyons.
An opportunity was diligently sought by my enemies
to effect their design of bringing about a misunderstanding
betwixt my brother Alencon, the King my husband, and
me, by creating a jealousy of me in my husband, and
in my brother and husband, on account of their mutual
love for Madame de Sauves.
One afternoon, the Queen my mother having retired
to her closet to finish some despatches which were
likely to detain her there for some time, Madame de
Nevers, your kinswoman, Madame de Rais, another of
your relations, Bourdeille, and Surgeres asked me
whether I would not wish to see a little of the city.
Whereupon Mademoiselle de Montigny, the niece of
Madame Usez, observing to us that the Abbey of St.
