ball—­Jealousy of the Prince de Conde—­Indignation of the Queen—­Henry revenges himself upon M. de Conde—­Madame de Conde retires from the Court—­The King insists on her return—­The Prince de Conde feigns compliance—­The Prince and Princess escape to the Low Countries—­The news of their evasion reaches Fontainebleau—­Birth of a Princess—­Unpleasant surprise—­Henry betrays his annoyance to the Queen—­He assembles his ministers—­He resolves to compel the return of the Princess to France—­Conflicting counsels—­M. de Praslin is despatched to Brussels—­Embarrassment of the Archduke Albert—­He refuses an asylum to M. de Conde, who proceeds to Milan—­The Princess remains at Brussels—­She is honourably entertained—­Interference of the Queen—­Philip of Spain promises his protection to the Prince de Conde—­He is invited to return to Brussels—­The Marquis 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.

In the year upon which we are now about to enter the subject of our biography occupies, unfortunately, but a small space, destined as it was to give birth to the most violent and the most dangerous passion of the whole life of Henri IV, and that which left the most indelible stain upon his memory, both as a man and as a monarch.

On the 7th of February the Court went into mourning for the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the uncle of the Queen, to whom she was ardently attached, and all the Carnival amusements were consequently suspended, but not before the Queen had resolved upon the performance of the ballet which she had previously refused to sanction, when her royal consort had proposed as one of its performers the Comtesse de Moret, his late favourite.  The rehearsal of this entertainment took place on the 16th of January, and the nymphs of Diana were represented