The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-21

rule she deprecated extreme measures and
was not cruel. but she was indifferent to the
sanctity of human life. and to escape di faculties
would sacrifice both friends and foes without
hesitation"
Before Henry IT. had breathed his last,
Catherine commanded Diana do Poiters to re-
store the crown jewels which the King had
presented to her. and to retire from court. The
naughty favOrite answered that until the King
was dead she had no master"
But it was only matter Of few moments
Henry died DIANA who had been the favOrite
of two kings. father and sou, stepped down, and
Catherine. the wife Of one king and the mother
of three, stepped into power. Two of her sons,
Francis III. and Charles TX, were young and
all. including Henry III, who was the last 20 as
cend the throne, were easily influenced By their
mother. Frances III. was but boy. who soon
died and left tho throne to Charles TX. All
was rivalry among the great mobiles, as well as
In the churches Charles TX. issued a treaty
of peace with the Huguenots, and to further
cement the union offered the hand of his sister
Marguerite to Henry of Navarro, representing
the Protestants. OF HcHry's bride it is said:
The greatest ornament of Charles ks court
was Marguerite de Valois. She was always
msgnifeentIy attired. for she adored dress aud
jewels like a true ValOis, and she conVersed
easily in Spanish Latin, italian, and Greek to
the delight of scholars of the realm and OF
learned visitors from foreign courts" A
Polish Ambassador said of her: after having
seen her there is nothing mere to see. and
would willingly initiate those pilgrims to Mecca,
who. after gazing at the tomb of their Prophet
destroy their eyes, so that no other view shall
profane them"
But Marguerite had been coquet from her
girlhood; "she cultivated the art Of inspiring
devotion, and fitted from passion to passion,
incapable of deep thought and unstable as
Mercury. She had several firtations on
bsnd-perhaps it was one true love afair-and
was Ioath to marry. She refused to take part
in the marriages service, and the King her
brother, had 10 put his hand roughly on her
head and force her to bow in assent to the
service. She refused to speak to Henry for
seven mouths, and firted desperately with the
eourtiers IN the meantime. However later in
life, though she never was truo to him, she was
very friendly with her husband helped him |
in all his projects. and made no fuss over his
unfaithfulness, which was quite as notorious az
hers.
cat the time Of bis marriage Henry was 10
years Of age He had short black hair and
beard. with bushy eyebrows, which accented |
his keen, restless eyes. His nose was beaked
like an eagles and had the appearance of
nearly meeting protruding chin. The ex-
preston of the countenance was frank and |
Jovisl in spite of the sardonc smile that habitu-
ally lowered over his lips. He was spare and |
active, and did not seem to know what fatigue /
meant" In all the pctures-and the book is /
filled with excellent ones-Henry looks tall, |
graceful, and dashing.
Henry III. had declared Henry of Navarro
the rightful heir, but at the Kings death
Henry found no crown awaiting him, but had |
to go right out to battle for it, and brave SOL
der he proved to be, his white plume always
in the front. His victories surprised all Eu-
rope, as well as France. Here was great sol
der. "The Pope was not surprised. He said
he had noticed that the Bernais wore out moro
boots and shoes and spent less time in bed than
Msyenns did at the table,"
Henry W. found himself at Paris with the
most conflicting of conditions. The Protest
ants and Catholics were jealous of each other and
1istrusted the King. The Pope was ready to
confirm any Catholic Prince whom the States |
General should elect to the vacant throne; and
there were plenty Of claimants. France in
sisted on having Catholic King, and even his
Huguenot supporters advised Henry to accept
the Catholic religion and the throne Of France,
and TO bring peace to his country
Sully, years after the Kings death, wrote
that Henry, who had never deceived man, was
far from any intention of deceiving God. As
lprightness and sincerity formed the depth of
bis heart, as they did of his own words, am
that nothing would have been capa-
Bile OF making him embrace religion which he
iespised or doubted
THE more moderate Protsstants were per-
Iuaded Of the advisability of the Kings CONVEX
ION. and it is believed that on that account thew
lid not exert themselves to prevent it, Henry
his determination in these words: 'I
I'm moved with compassion at the misery and |
'aiamities of my people. I have discovered
what they desire, and I wish. with safe con-
cience, to content them He promised tho
duguenot friends never to suffer wrong nor yio-
ence to be done them, and the next morning
vas received into the Catholic Church" To the
Protestants he gave the Edict of Nantes to
insure their freedom.
THE Duke of Tuscany ones called Henry a
hero who conquered France inch by inch. and
yet could not manage two unruly women"