New Year’s Day at Court—­The royal tokens—­A singular audience—­A proposition—­Birth of the Princess Christine—­Public festivities—­A ballet on horseback—­The King resolves to humble the Duc de Bouillon—­Arguments of the Queen—­Policy of Henry—­The Court proceeds to Torcy—­Surrender of Bouillon—­The sovereigns enter Sedan—­Rejoicings of the citizens—­State entry into Paris—­The High Court of Justice assigns to the ex-Queen Marguerite the county of Auvergne—­The “Te Deum”—­Marguerite makes a donation of her recovered estates to the Dauphin—­Inconsistencies of Marguerite—­Jealousy of the Queen of Madame de Moret—­Increasing coldness of the King towards that lady—­The frail rivals—­Princely beacons—–­Indignation of the Queen—­Narrow escape of the King and Queen—­Gratitude of the Queen to her preserver—­Insolent pleasantry of the Marquise de Verneuil—­A disappointment compensated—­Marriage of the Duc de Bar—­The King invites the Duchess of Mantua to become sponsor to the Dauphin, and the Duc de Lorraine to the younger Princess—­The Mantuan suite—­Preparations at Notre-Dame—­The plague in Paris—­The Court removes to Fontainebleau—­The royal christenings—­Increase of the plague—­Royal disappointments—­The Duchesse de Nevers—­Discourtesy of the King—­Dignity of the Duchess.

The description given by M. de Sully of his interview with their Majesties on the morning of the 1st of January 1606 is so characteristic of the time that we cannot conscientiously pass it over, although the feeling of the present day compels us to exclude many of its details.  Early in the forenoon the Duke proceeded to the Louvre to pay his respects to the august couple, and to present the customary offerings; but on reaching the apartment of the King, he was informed by MM. d’Armagnac and l’Oserai, the two valets-de-chambre on duty, that his Majesty was in the chamber of the Queen, who had been seriously indisposed during the night.  He consequently proceeded to the ante-room of his royal mistress, and as he found it vacant, advanced to the door of the chamber itself, against which he scratched gently, in order to attract the attention of Caterina Selvaggio or Mademoiselle de la Renouillere, her favourite attendants, and to ascertain the state of her health without awakening her.  He had no sooner done so, however, than several voices loudly inquired who was there, and among them the Duke recognized those of Roquelaure, Frontenac, and Beringhen.

Having declared his identity, and been announced to the King, he was immediately summoned in a cheerful voice by Henry himself:  “Come in, come in, Sully,” cried the monarch; “you will think us very idle until you learn what has kept us in bed so late.  My wife has been ill all night; but I will tell you all about it when there are not so many people present, and meanwhile let us see what you have brought for us as New Year’s gifts, for I observe that your three secretaries are with you laden each with a velvet bag.”