The period covered coincides very nearly with the first half of Marguerite’s own life.  Incidents of her girlhood are given, leading to more important matters, personal and political, up to the twenty-ninth year of her age.  The letters end, therefore, some seven years prior to the death of her brother, Henry III. of France, and while she was still merely Queen of Navarre.  It will always be a matter of regret that the latter half of her life was not likewise covered.

These Memoirs first appeared in printed form in 1628, thirteen years after their author’s death.  They enjoyed great popularity, and in 1656 were translated into English and published in London, with the following erroneous title:  “The grand Cabinet Counsels unlocked; or, the most faithful Transaction of Court Affairs and Growth and Continuance of the Civil Wars in France, during the Reigns of Charles the last, Henry III., and Henry IV., commonly called the Great.  Most excellently written, in the French Tongue, by Margaret de Valois, Sister to the two first Kings, and Wife of the last.  Faithfully translated by Robert Codrington, Master of Arts.”  Two years later the work was again translated, this time under the title of “Memorials of Court Affairs.”  The misleading portion of Codrington’s title is in regard to the reign of Henry IV.  As already shown, the letters cease before that time, although chronicling many events of his early career.  The present careful translation has been made direct from the original, adhering as closely as permissible to the rugged but clear-cut verbal expressions of 16th century France.

Queen Marguerite herself is described by historians and novelists as a singularly attractive woman, both physically and mentally.  Of a little above the average height, her figure was well-rounded and graceful, her carriage dignified and commanding.  One writer thus describes her:  “Her eyes were full, black, and sparkling; she had bright, chestnut-coloured hair, and complexion fresh and blooming.  Her skin was delicately white, and her neck admirably well formed; and this so generally admired beauty, the fashion of dress, in her time, admitted of being fully displayed.”  To her personal charms were added a ready wit and polished manners.  Her thoughts, whether spoken or written, were always clearly and gracefully expressed.  In her retirement, at the close of her life, she often amused herself by writing verses which she set to music and afterwards sang, accompanying herself upon the lute, which she performed upon skilfully.

Regarding her personal character there has been diversity of opinion—­as, indeed, there has been in the case of nearly every exalted personage.  After her separation from the king, she was the subject of a scandalous attack, entitled Le Divorce Satyrique, ou les Amours de la Reyne Marguerite de Valois; but this anonymous libel was never seriously considered.  M. Pierre de Bourdeville, Sieur de Brantome (better