Marriages of Henri iv—­Marguerite de Valois—­Her character—­Her marriage with the King of Navarre—­Massacre of Saint Bartholomew—­Henri, Duc d’Anjou, elected sovereign of Poland—­Death of Charles IX—­Accession of Henri iii—­Conspiracy of the Duc d’Alencon—­Revealed by Marguerite—­Henry of Navarre escapes from the French Court—­Henry of Navarre protests against his enforced oath—­Marguerite is imprisoned by her brother—­The Duc d’Alencon returns to his allegiance—­Marguerite joins her husband at Bearn—­Domestic discord—­Marriage-portion of Marguerite—­Court of Navarre—­Dupin insults the Queen of Navarre—­Catherine de Medicis induces Marguerite to return to France—­The Duc d’Alencon again revolts—­Marguerite arrests a royal courier—­She is banished with ignominy from the French Court—­She is deprived of her attendants—­Henry of Navarre refuses to receive her in the palace—­Marguerite returns to Agen—­Her licentiousness—­Agen is stormed and taken by the Marshal de Matignon—­Marguerite escapes to the fortress of Carlat—­The inhabitants of the town resolve to deliver her up to the French King—­She is made prisoner by the Marquis de Canillac, and conveyed to Usson—­She seduces the governor of the fortress—­Death of the Duc d’Alencon—­Poverty of Marguerite—­Accession of Henri iv—­He embraces the Catholic faith—­His dissipated habits—­The Duc de Bouillon heads the Huguenot party—­Henri iv proceeds to Brittany, and threatens M. de Bouillon—­Festivities at Rennes—­Henri iv becomes melancholy—­He resolves to divorce Marguerite, and take a second wife—­European princesses—­Henry desires to marry la belle Gabrielle—­Sully expostulates—­Sully proposes a divorce to Marguerite—­The Duchesse de Beaufort intrigues to prevent the marriage of the King with Marie de Medicis—­She bribes Sillery—­Diplomacy of Sillery—­Gabrielle aspires to the throne of France—­Her death—­Marguerite consents to a divorce—­The Pope declares the nullity of her marriage—­Grief of the King at the death of Gabrielle—­Royal pleasures—­A new intrigue—­Mademoiselle d’Entragues—­Her tact—­Her character—­A love-messenger—­Value of a royal favourite—­Costly indulgences—­A practical rebuke—­Diplomacy of Mademoiselle d’Entragues—­The written promise—­Mademoiselle d’Entragues is created Marquise de Verneuil.

However celebrated he was destined to become as a sovereign, Henri iv of France was nevertheless fated to be singularly unfortunate as a husband.  Immediately after the death of his mother, the high-hearted Jeanne d’Albret, whom he succeeded on the throne of Navarre, political considerations induced him to give his hand to Marguerite, the daughter of Henri ii and Catherine de Medicis, a Princess whose surpassing beauty and rare accomplishments were the theme and marvel of all the European courts, and whose alliance was an object of ambition to many of the sovereign princes of Christendom.