Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, the — Volume 1 [Court memoir series] eBook
consort of Henry IV, King of France Queen Marguerite
My brother threw himself into it, and went to a house
about a quarter of a league out of Paris, where horses
were stationed ready; and at the distance of about
a league farther, he joined a party of two or three
hundred horsemen of his servants, who were awaiting
his coming. My brother was not missed till nine
o’clock, when the King and the Queen my mother
asked me the reason he did not come to sup with them
as usual, and if I knew of his being indisposed.
I told them I had not seen him since noon.
Thereupon they sent to his apartments. Word was
brought back that he was not there. Orders were
then given to inquire at the apartments of the ladies
whom he was accustomed to visit. He was nowhere
to be found. There was now a general alarm.
The King flew into a great passion, and began to
threaten me. He then sent for all the Princes
and the great officers of the Court; and giving orders
for a pursuit to be made, and to bring him back, dead
or alive, cried out:
“He is gone to make war against me; but I will
show him what it is to contend with a king of my power.”
Many of the Princes and officers of State remonstrated
against these orders, which they observed ought to
be well weighed. They said that, as their duty
directed, they were willing to venture their lives
in the King’s service; but to act against his
brother they were certain would not be pleasing to
the King himself; that they were well convinced his
brother would undertake nothing that should give his
Majesty displeasure, or be productive of danger to
the realm; that perhaps his leaving the Court was
owing to some disgust, which it would be more advisable
to send and inquire into. Others, on the contrary,
were for putting the King’s orders into execution;
but, whatever expedition they could use, it was day
before they set off; and as it was then too late to
overtake my brother, they returned, being only equipped
for the pursuit.
I was in tears the whole night of my brother’s
departure, and the next day was seized with a violent
cold, which was succeeded by a fever that confined
me to my bed.
Meanwhile my husband was preparing for his departure,
which took up all the time he could spare from his
visits to Madame de Sauves; so that he did not think
of me. He returned as usual at two or three in
the morning, and, as we had separate beds, I seldom
heard him; and in the morning, before I was awake,
he went to my mother’s levee, where he met Madame
de Sauves, as usual.
This being the case, he quite forgot his promise to
my brother of speaking to me; and when he went, away,
it was without taking leave of me.
The King did not show my husband more favour after
my brother’s evasion, but continued to behave
with his former coolness. This the more confirmed
him in the resolution of leaving the Court, so that
in a few days, under the pretence of hunting, he went
away.
