This woman, whose name and life have eluded history,
foretold one year as the length of Francois's reign.
"Give me your opinion on all this," said Catherine to Chiverni.
"We shall have a battle," replied the prudent courtier. "The king of
Navarre--"
"Oh! say the queen," interrupted Catherine.
"True, the queen," said Chiverni, smiling, "the queen has given the
Prince de Conde as leader to the Reformers, and he, in his position of
younger son, can venture all; consequently the cardinal talks of
ordering him here."
"If he comes," cried the queen, "I am saved!"
Thus the leaders of the great movement of the Reformation in France
were justified in hoping for an ally in Catherine de' Medici.
"There is one thing to be considered," said the queen. "The Bourbons
may fool the Huguenots and the Sieurs Calvin and de Beze may fool the
Bourbons, but are we strong enough to fool Huguenots, Bourbons, and
Guises? In presence of three such enemies it is allowable to feel
one's pulse."
"But they have not the king," said Albert de Gondi. "You will always
triumph, having the king on your side.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174