3.  Marechal de Bassompierre Engraved by Gouttiere from the Original by Alaux.

4.  Cardinal de Richelieu Engraved by Bourgeois.

5.  Anne of Austria Engraved by W. Greatbach from a Print by Masson, after P. Mignard.

6.  Marechal de Schomberg Engraved by Rouargue from the Original by Rouillard.

BOOK I

(Continued)

MARIE DE MEDICIS AS QUEEN

THE LIFE

OF

MARIE DE MEDICIS

CHAPTER IX

1610

Preparations for the coronation of Marie de Medicis—­Wherefore deferred—­They are resumed—­The Cathedral of St. Denis—–­Gorgeous coup d’oeil—­The procession—­Indignation of the ex-Queen Marguerite—­The Comte and Comtesse de Soissons leave Paris—­Magnificence of Marie de Medicis and her Court—­The coronation—­The Queen is affectionately received by the King on reaching the Palace—­The banquet—­The Court returns to the Louvre—­Last advice given by the King to the Queen-Regent—­Gloomy forebodings—­The Queen’s toilet—­The Duc de Vendome and the Astrologer—­The King’s coach—­Assassination of Henri iv—­The Queen and the Chancellor—­The royal children are placed under the care of M. de Vitry—­Examination of the royal body—­The King’s heart—­The state bier—­The royal funeral.

Having resolved that the coronation of the Queen should take place before his departure for Germany, and being anxious to commence the projected campaign with the least possible delay, Henry named the 5th of May as the day on which the ceremony was to be performed; but having learnt from a private despatch that the Archduke had resolved at the eleventh hour not to incur the hazard of a war with France upon so frivolous a pretext as the forcible retention of a Princess, who moreover, remained under his charge against her own free will, and that Madame de Conde was accordingly about to return to the French Court, he resolved to defer the pageant until the advent of the fair fugitive who would, as he felt, constitute its brightest ornament.  The succeeding courier from the Low Countries, however, dispelled this brilliant vision.  Whatever might have been the personal inclination of the Archduke, Philip of Spain determined to retain his hostage; and the return of the Princess to France was interdicted.  Enraged by the deceit which had been practised upon him, but unwilling to forfeit his word to the Queen, Henry had no alternative save to order the instant renewal of the preparations which he had himself suspended; and despite the entreaties of the municipal authorities of Paris, who represented the impossibility of completing their arrangements before the end of the month, he persisted in his resolution of causing the Queen to be crowned on the 13th, and commanded her public entry into Paris for the following Sunday.[1]