The book of the ladies / Illustrious Dames: The Reign and Amours of the Bourbon Regime

INDEX.

A, B, C, D, É, F, G, H, I, J, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, Y

Anne de Bretagne, Queen of France, wife of Charles VIII. and of Louis XII., her inheritance, lovers, and first marriage, 25, 26;
her beauty, wisdom, and goodness, 26;
spirit of revenge, 27, 28;
second marriage, 29;
the first queen to hold a great court, a noble school for ladies, 29, 30;
how King Louis honoured her, 30-32;
her death and burial, 32-34;
her noble record, 34, 35, 37;
her tomb at Saint-Denis, 39;
the founder of a school of manners and perfection for her sex, 42, 43;
Sainte-Beuve’s remarks upon her, 40-43, 219.
Anne de France (Madame), daughter of Louis XI., 216-218.
Blanche de Montferrat, Duchesse de Savoie, 293-297.
Book of the Ladies (The), BrantÔme’s own name for this volume, 1.
Bourdeille (Madame de), 297, 298.
Bourdeille (Pierre de), AbbÉ de BrantÔme, his name for the present volume, 1;
origin and arms of his family, 3, 4;
general sketch of his life and career, 4-19;
his retirement, 20;
his books, his will, 21;
titles of his books, when first printed, 22, 23.
Castelnaud (Pierre de), his account of BrantÔme, 1-3.
Catherine de ClÈves, wife of Henri de Lorraine, Duc de Guise, “le BalafrÉ,” 297.
Catherine de’ Medici, Queen of France, wife of Henri II., 44;
sketch
of the Medici, 45-48;
her marriage to the dauphin, 48-50;
personal appearance and tastes, 51-54;
her mind, 54;
conduct as regent and queen-mother, BrantÔme’s defence of it, 57-72;
her liberality and public works, 74;
her accomplishments and majesty, 75-77;
her court, 77-80, 81, 82;
Henri IV.’s opinion of it, 83;
her death at Blois, 83;
Sainte-Beuve’s estimate of her, 85-88;
H. de Balzac’s novel upon her, 86;
MÉzeray’s opinion of her, 85;
her daughter Élisabeth’s fear of her, 145, 146; 164, 165, 167, 289, 290, 300.
Charles IX., King of France, his funeral attended by BrantÔme, 35-37; 198, 264, 265, 271, 272.
Charlotte de France (Madame), daughter of FranÇois I. and Queen Claude, died young, 223.
Chastellard (Seigneur de), his journey with BrantÔme in attendance on Marie Stuart to Scotland, 99;
his story and death, 117-120.
Christine of Denmark, wife of the Duc de Lorraine, 283-291.
Claude de France (Madame), daughter of Louis XII. and Anne de Bretagne, wife of FranÇois I., died young, 223.
Claude de France (Madame), daughter of Henri II. and Catherine de’ Medici, wife of the Duc de Lorraine, 229-231.
CordeliÈre (La), man-o’-war built by Anne de Bretagne, which fought the “Regent of England,” both ships destroyed, 30, 299.
Dargaud (M.), his impulsive history of Marie Stuart, 122.
Diane de France (Madame), Duchesse d’AngoulÊme, illegitimate daughter of Henri II., 231-234.
Élisabeth de France, Queen of Spain, daughter of Henri II. and Catherine de’ Medici, second wife of Philip II. of Spain, 137-151, 229, 230, 270, 271.
Élisabeth de France, Queen of Spain, daughter of Henri IV. and Marie de’ Medici, her portraits by Rubens, 212.
Fleur-de-lis, how connected with the Florentine lily, 45.
FranÇois I., King of France, 219, 220, 236, 237, 238, 241, 245-249, 254.
Germaine de Foix, wife of King Ferdinand of Spain, 142, 143.
Guise (Henri I., Duc de), le BalafrÉ, 117, 198, 199, 273, 283, 288.
Guise (Catherine de ClÈves, Duchesse de), 283, 289.
Henri II., King of France, 231, 232.
Henri III., King of France, 177, 178, 180, 184, 196-198, 234, 267, 280, 283, 285, 286, 292.
Henri IV., King of France, opinion of Catherine de’ Medici, 83, 87, 88; 176, 180, 181, 201, 209;
remark at the coronation of Marie de’ Medici, 210; 234.
Isabelle d’Autriche, Queen of France, daughter of Maximilian II., wife of Charles IX. of France, 262-270.
Isabella of Bavaria, wife of Charles VI. of France, first brought the pomps and fashions of dress to France, 157.
Jeanne d’Autriche, wife of Jean, Infante of Portugal, 270-273.
Jeanne de France (Madame), daughter
of Louis XI., married to and divorced by Louis XII., 215, 216.
Labanoff (Prince Alexander), his careful research into the history of Marie Stuart, 121.
L’HÔpital (Michel de), chancellor of France, epithalamium on the marriage of Marie Stuart and FranÇois II., 124;
his changed feeling, 131, 132.
Louis XII., King of France, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 39, 41-43.
Louise de France (Madame), daughter of FranÇois I. and Queen Claude, died young, 223.
Louise de Lorraine, Queen of France, wife of Henri III., 280-282, 283.
Magdelaine de France (Madame), daughter of FranÇois I. and Queen Claude, wife of James V. of Scotland, 223, 224.
Maintenon (Madame de), a pendant to Anne de Bretagne, 43.
Maison-Fleur (M. de), 91, 97, 300.
Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre, sister of FranÇois I., wife of Henri d’Albret, King of Navarre, grandmother of Henri IV., 234;
her poems, 235;
her devotion to her brother, 237-240, 245, 249;
interest in the phenomenon of death, 242;
her “Nouvelles,” 242, 243, 244;
Sainte-Beuve’s essay on her, 243-261;
her learning and comprehension of the Renaissance, 244, 245;
her letters, 249;
Erasmus’ opinion of her, 250, 251;
favours, but does not belong
to, the Religion, 251-255;
her writings, the Heptameron, 255-260;
the patron of the Renaissance, 261;
her works, 303.
Marguerite de France (Madame), daughter of FranÇois I. and Queen Claude, wife of the Duc de Savoie, 224-229.
Marguerite, Queen of France and of Navarre, daughter of Henri II. and Catherine de’ Medici, wife of Henri
IV., BrantÔme visits her at the Castle of Usson and dedicates his work to her, 19;
mention of her in his will, 22;
his discourse, 152-193;
her beauty and style of dress, 153-163;
her mind and education, 164-166;
marriage to Henri IV., 167;
BrantÔme’s argument in favour of the Salic law, 168-175;
difficulty of religion between herself and her husband, 176;
her dignity and sense of honour, 178-180;
retirement in the Castle of Usson, 183;
on ill terms with her brother Henri III., 184;
her beautiful dancing, 185;
her liberality and generosity, 186-190;
love of reading, 191;
corresponds with BrantÔme, 191;
Sainte-Beuve’s essay on her, 193;
reasons why she began her Memoirs, 195;
faithfulness to the Catholic religion, 195;
intimacy with her brother d’Anjou, Henri III., 196, 197;
her love for Henri Duc de Guise, le BalafrÉ, her marriage to Henri IV., 198;
the Saint-Bartholomew, 201;
her Memoirs, 202, etc.;
anecdote of a Princesse de Ligne, 205;
friendship with her brother, Duc d’AlenÇon, 206;
her letters, 208;
her life at Usson, 209;
divorce from Henri IV., 209, 210;
return to Paris, eccentricities, appearance at the coronation of Marie de’ Medici, 210-212;
comparison with Marie Stuart, 213;
her real merit, 213, 231.
Marguerite de Lorraine, wife of the Duc de Joyeuse, 282, 283.
Marie d’Autriche, wife of the Emperor Maximilian II., 291-293.
Marie d’Autriche, sister of the Emperor Charles V. and wife of Louis, King of Hungary, 273-280.
Marie Stuart, Queen of France and Scotland, her parentage, 89;
youthful accomplishments and beauty, 90-93;
marriage to FranÇois II., and widowhood, 93, 94;
her poem on her widowhood, 94-96, 294;
Charles IX.’s love for her, 96;
returns to Scotland,
BrantÔme accompanies her, 97-101,
marriage to Darnley, 101;
BrantÔme’s defence of her, 102;
her disasters, 103;
her imprisonment in England, 104;
her death, as related to BrantÔme by one of her ladies there present, 105-115;
Sainte-Beuve’s essay on Marie Stuart and summing up of her life, 121-136, 289;
her poem on her widowhood, translation, 301.
MÉzeray (FranÇois Eudes de), his History of France, his picture of Catherine de’ Medici, 85.
Mignet (FranÇois Auguste), his invaluable History of Marie Stuart, 121, 122, 136.
Moland (M. Henri), his essay on BrantÔme used in the introduction to this volume, 1.
Niel (M.), librarian to Ministry of the Interior, his collection of original portraits and crayons of celebrated persons of the 16th century, 86, 87.
Patin (Gui), his feelings in Saint-Denis before the tomb of Louis XII. and Anne de Bretagne, 40, 41.
Philip II. of Spain, 138, 139, 142.
RenÉe de France (Madame), daughter of Louis XII. and Anne de Bretagne, wife of the Duke of Ferrara, 220-223.
Roederer (Comte), his Memoirs on Polite Society, study of Louis XII. and Anne de Bretagne, 41-43.
Ronsard (Pierre de), 91, 124, 156, 157, 160, 185, 224.
Sainte-Beuve (Charles-Augustin), his remarks on Anne de Bretagne, 40-43;
his estimate of Catherine de’ Medici, 85-88;
his essay on Marie Stuart, 121-136;
on Marguerite de Navarre, 193-213;
on Marguerite de Valois, 243-261.
Salic Law (the), BrantÔme’s argument about it, 168-175.
Tavannes (Vicomte de), Memoirs, 136.
Vignaud (M. H.), his introduction to BrantÔme’s “Vie des Dames Illustres” used in the introduction to this volume, [1] Taken chiefly from the Essays preceding the various editions of BrantÔme’s works published in the 18th and 19th centuries; some of which are anonymous; the more recent being those of M. H. Vignaud and M. Henri Moland.—Tr.

[2] See Appendix.

[3] See Appendix.

[4] Here follow the names of ninety-three ladies and sixty-six damoiselles; among the latter are “Mesdamoiselles Flammin (Fleming?) Veton (Seaton?) Beton (Beaton?) Leviston, escossoises.” The three first-named on the above list are the daughters of Henri II. and Catherine de’ Medici.—Tr.

[5] Henri III. convoked the States-General at Blois in 1588; the Duc de Guise (Henri, le BalafrÉ) was there assassinated, by the king’s order, December 23, 1588; his brother, Cardinal de Bourbon, the next day.—Tr.

[6] HonorÉ de Balzac’s volume, in the Philosophical Series of his “Comedy of Human Life,” on Catherine de’ Medici, while called a romance, is really an admirable and carefully drawn historical portrait, and might be read to profit in connection with BrantÔme’s account of her.—Tr.

[7] See Appendix.

[8] See Appendix.

[9] See Appendix.

[10] George Buchanan, historian and Scotch poet, who wrote libels and calumnies against Marie Stuart in prison. (French editor.)

[11] She was the daughter of Henri II. and Catherine de’ Medici, married to Philip II., King of Spain, after the death of Queen Mary of England.—Tr.

[12] Daughter of Henri II. and Catherine de’ Medici,—“La Reine Margot.”—Tr.

[13] BrantÔme’s words are gorgiasetÉs and gorgiasment; do they mark the introduction of ruffs around the neck, gorge?—Tr.

[14] The Salic law: so called from being derived from the laws of the ancient Salian Franks,—according to Stormonth, LittrÉ, and Cassell’s CyclopÆdia.—Tr.

[15] Marguerite was married to Henri, King of Navarre, six days before the massacre of Saint-Bartholomew, August, 1572.

[16] Marguerite lived eighteen years in the castle of Usson, from 1587 to 1605. She died in Paris, March 27, 1615, at the age of sixty-two, rather less than one year after BrantÔme. (French editor.)

[17] It is noticeable in the course of this “Discourse” that BrantÔme wrote it at one period, namely, about 1593 or 1594, and reviewed it at another, when Henri IV. was in full possession of the kingdom, but before the end of the century and before the divorce. (French editor.)

The passage to which the foregoing is a note is evidently an addition to the text.—Tr.

[18] The story goes that she refused to answer at the marriage ceremony; on which her brother, Charles IX., put his hand behind her head and made her nod, which was taken for consent. In after years, the ground given for her divorce was that of being married against her will. The marriage took place on a stage erected before the west front of the cathedral of Notre-Dame; the King of Navarre being a Protestant, the service could not be performed in the church. It was here, in view of the assembled multitude, that Marguerite’s nod was forcibly given when she resolutely refused to answer. Following BrantÔme’s delight in describing fine clothes, the wedding gown should be mentioned here. It was cloth of gold, the body so closely covered with pearls as to look like a cuirass; over this was a blue velvet mantle embroidered with fleurs-de-lys, nearly five yards long, which was borne by one hundred and twenty of the handsomest women in France. Her dark hair was loose and flowing, and was studded with diamond stars. The Duc de Guise, le BalafrÉ, with his family connections and all his retainers, left Paris that morning, unable to bear the spectacle of the marriage.—Tr.

[19] Meaning the daughters of the kings of France only.—Tr.

[20] She was daughter of Charles, Duc d’AngoulÊme, and Louise do Savoie, great-granddaughter of Charles V., and sister of FranÇois I.—Tr.

[21] See Appendix.

[22] See Appendix.

[23] The tomb of Marguerite and Philibert is still to be seen in the beautiful church, and the above motto, which is carved upon it, has been the theme of much antiquarian discussion.—Tr.

[24] The picture of the Ball at Court, under Henri III., attributed to FranÇois Clouet (see chapter ii. of this volume), was given in celebration of her marriage. She advances, with her sweet and modest face (evidently a portrait) in the centre of the picture. Henri III. is seated under a red dais; next him is Catherine de’ Medici, his mother, and next to her is Louise de Lorraine, his wife; leaning on the king’s chair is Henri Duc de Guise, le BalafrÉ, murdered by Henri III. at Blois in 1588.—Tr.

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