arquis de Coeuvres endeavours to effect the return of the
Prince to France--His negotiation fails--Madame de Conde is placed under
surveillance--Her weariness of the Court of Brussels--The Duc de
Montmorency desires her return to Paris--M. de Coeuvres is authorized to
effect her escape from Brussels--The plot prospers--Indiscretion of the
King--The Queen informs the Spanish minister of the conspiracy--Madame
de Conde is removed to the Archducal palace--Mortification of the
King--The French envoys expostulate with the Archduke, who remains
firm--Henry resolves to declare war against Spain and Flanders--Fresh
negotiations--The King determines to head the army in person--Marie de
Medicis becomes Regent of France--She is counselled by Concini to urge
her coronation--Reluctance of the King to accede to her request--He
finally consents--"The best husband in the world"--Fatal
prognostics--Signs in the heavens--The Cure of Montargis--The Papal
warning--The Cardinal Barberino--The Sultan's message--Suspicious
circumstances--Supineness of the Austrian Cabinet--Prophecy of Anne de
Comans--Her miserable fate--The astrologer Thomassin--The Bearnais
noble--The Queen's dream--Royal presentiments--The hawthorn of the
Louvre--Distress of Bassompierre--Expostulation of the King--Melancholy
forebodings.

NOTE

_A brief memoir, with a portrait on steel, of Miss Pardoe will be found
prefixed to "The Court and Reign of Francis the First_."

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME

Duc de Guise (Henri de Lorraine, _Le Balafre_).
Duchesse de Guise.
Prince de Conde (Henri I. de Bourbon).
Ambroise Pare.
Mlle. de Torigni.
Duchesse de Bar.
Duc de Joyeuse.
Le Pere Ange.
Marechal de Matignon.
Marquis de Canillac.
Comtesse de Guiche.
Gabrielle d'Estrees (Duchesse de Beaufort).
Duc de Bouillon.
Comte d'Aubigny.
Isabella, Infanta of Spain.
Princess Arabella Stuart.
Isabeau de Baviere.
Prince Maurice of Orange.
Marie de Medicis.
Mlle. de Guise.
Mlle. de Mayenne.
Mlle. d'Aumale.
Mlle. de Longueville.
Mlle. de Rohan.
Mlle. de Luxembourg.
Mlle. de Guemenee.
Cardinal de Marquemont.
Cardinal d'Ossat.
Cardinal Duperron.
Duc de Piney-Luxembourg.
M. de Sillery.
Duc de Bellegarde.
Duc de Lude.
M. de Thermes.
Marquis de Castelnau.
Marquis de Montglat.
M. de Frontenac.
Baron de Bassompierre.
Marquise de Verneuil.
Queen Louise.
Comte d'Auvergne.
M. de Villeroy.
Duke of Savoy.
Duc de Biron.
Sebastian Zamet.
M. du Terrai