After talking gravely and engaging him in earnest conversation, walking up and down the church, she directed her steps toward the tomb of Mademoiselle de La Roche, who had been dead for three months.  She stopped here, and again took his hand, saying, “My cousin” (thus addressing him because a daughter of D’Albret was married into our family of Bourdeille; but of this I do not boast, for it has not helped me particularly), “do you not feel something move below your feet?”

“No, Madame,” he replied.

“But reflect again, my cousin,” she insisted.

My brother answered, “Madame, I feel nothing move.  I stand upon a solid stone.”

“Then I will explain,” said the Queen, “without keeping you longer in suspense, that you stand upon the tomb and over the body of your poor dearly-loved Mademoiselle de La Roche, who is interred here; and that our friends may have sentiment for us at our death, render a pious homage here.  You cannot doubt that the gentle creature, dying so recently, must have been affected when you approached.  In remembrance I beg you to say a paternoster and an Ave Maria and a de profundis, and sprinkle holy water.  Thus you will win the name of a very faithful lover and a good Christian.”

* * * * *

M. LE CONSTABLE ANNE DE MONTMORENCY

From ‘Lives of Distinguished Men and Great Captains’

He never failed to say and keep up his paternosters every morning, whether he remained in the house, or mounted his horse and went out to the field to join the army.  It was a common saying among the soldiers that one must “beware the paternosters of the Constable.”  For as disorders were very frequent, he would say, while mumbling and muttering his paternosters all the time, “Go and fetch that fellow and hang me him up to this tree;” “Out with a file of harquebusiers here before me this instant, for the execution of this man!” “Burn me this village instantly!” “Cut me to pieces at once all these villain peasants, who have dared to hold this church against the king!” All this without ever ceasing from his paternosters till he had finished them—­thinking that he would have done very wrong to put them off to another time; so conscientious was he!

* * * * *

TWO FAMOUS ENTERTAINMENTS

From ‘Lives of Courtly Women’

I have read in a Spanish book called ‘El Viaje del Principe’ (The Voyage of the Prince), made by the King of Spain in the Pays-Bas in the time of the Emperor Charles, his father, about the wonderful entertainments given in the rich cities.  The most famous was that of the Queen of Hungary in the lovely town of Bains, which passed into a proverb, “Mas bravas que las festas de Bains” (more magnificent than the festivals of Bains).  Among the displays which were seen during the siege of a counterfeit castle, she ordered for one day a fete in honor of the Emperor her brother, Queen Eleanor her sister, and the gentlemen and ladies of the court.