cardinal took charge of the treasury
and the clergy.

Catherine now began her political career by a drama which, though it did
not have the dreadful fame of those of later years, was, nevertheless,
most horrible; and it must, undoubtedly, have accustomed her to the
terrible after emotions of her life. While appearing to be in harmony
with the Guises, she endeavored to pave the way for her ultimate triumph
by seeking a support in the house of Bourbon, and the means she took
were as follows: Whether it was that (before the death of Henri II.),
and after fruitlessly attempting violent measures, she wished to awaken
jealousy in order to bring the king back to her; or whether as she
approached middle-age it seemed to her cruel that she had never known
love, certain it is that she showed a strong interest in a seigneur of
the royal blood, Francois de Vendome, son of Louis de Vendome (the house
from which that of the Bourbons sprang), and Vidame de Chartres,
the name under which he is known in history. The secret hatred which
Catherine bore to Diane was revealed in many ways, to which historians,
preoccupied by political interests, have paid no attention. Catherine's
attachment to the vidame proceeded from the fact that the young man had
offered an insult to the favorite. Diane's greatest ambition was for the
honor of an alliance with the royal family of France. The hand of her
second daughter (afterwards Duchesse d'Aumale) was offered on her behalf
to the Vidame de Chartres, who was kept poor by the far-sighted policy
of Francois I. In fact, when the Vidame de Chartres and the Prince de
Conde first came to court, Francois I. gave them--what? The office of
chamberlain, with a paltry salary of twelve hundred crowns a year, the
same that he gave to the simplest gentlemen. Though Diane de Poitiers
offered an immense dowry, a fine office under the crown, and the favor
of the king, the vidame refused. After which, this Bourbon, already
factious, married Jeanne, daughter of the Baron d'Estissac, by whom he
had no children. This act of pride naturally commended him to Catherine,
who greeted him after that with marked favor and made a devoted friend
of him.

Historians have compared the last Duc de Montmorency, beheaded at
Toulouse, to the Vidame de Chartres, in the art of pleasing, in
attainments, accomplishments, and talent. Henri II. showed no jealousy;
he seemed not even to suppose that a queen of France could fail in her
duty,