The book of the ladies

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Pierre de Bourdeille Brantôme. The book of the ladies

INTRODUCTION.1

DISCOURSE I. ANNE DE BRETAGNE, QUEEN OF FRANCE

DISCOURSE II. CATHERINE DE’ MEDICI, QUEEN, AND MOTHER OF OUR LAST KINGS

DISCOURSE III. MARIE STUART, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND, FORMERLY QUEEN OF OUR FRANCE

DISCOURSE IV. ÉLISABETH OF FRANCE, QUEEN OF SPAIN

DISCOURSE V. MARGUERITE, QUEEN OF FRANCE AND OF NAVARRE, SOLE DAUGHTER NOW REMAINING OF THE NOBLE HOUSE OF FRANCE.12

DISCOURSE VI. MESDAMES, THE DAUGHTERS OF THE NOBLE HOUSE OF FRANCE.19

1. Madame Yoland de France

2. Madame Jeanne de France

3. Madame Anne de France

4. Madame Claude de France

5. Madame Renée de France

6. Mesdames Charlotte, Louise, Magdelaine, and Marguerite de France

7. Mesdames Élisabeth, Claude, and Marguerite de France

8. Madame Diane de France

9. Marguerite de Valois, Queen of Navarre

DISCOURSE VII. OF VARIOUS ILLUSTRIOUS LADIES.22

1. Isabelle d’Autriche, wife of Charles IX., King of France [daughter of the Emperor Maximilian II.]

3. Marie d’Autriche, wife of Louis, King of Hungary [sister of the Emperor Charles V.]

4. Louise de Lorraine, wife of Henri III., King of France

5. Marguerite de Lorraine, wife of Anne, Duc de Joyeuse.24

6. Christine of Denmark, niece of the Emperor Charles V. Duchesse de Lorraine

7. Marie d’Autriche, wife of the Emperor Maximilian II

8. Blanche de Montferrat, Duchesse de Savoie

9. Catherine de Clèves, wife of Henri I. de Lorraine, Duc de Guise

10. Madame de Bourdeille

APPENDIX

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II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

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INASMUCH as I must speak of ladies, I do not choose to speak of former dames, of whom the histories are full; that would be blotting paper in vain, for enough has been written about them, and even the great Boccaccio has made a fine book solely on that subject [De claris mulieribus].

I shall begin therefore with our queen, Anne de Bretagne, the most worthy and honourable queen that has ever been since Queen Blanche, mother of the King Saint-Louis, and very sage and virtuous.

.....

After dinner the court of parliament sent to tell and to command the grand almoner Amyot to go and say grace after meat for them as if for the king. To which he made answer that he should do nothing of the kind, for it was not before them he was bound to do it. They sent him two consecutive and threatening commands; which he still refused, and went and hid himself that he might answer no more. Then they swore they would not leave the table till he came; but not being able to find him, they were constrained to say grace themselves and to rise, which they did with great threats, foully abusing the said almoner, even to calling him scoundrel, and son of a butcher. I saw the whole affair; and I know what Monsieur commanded me to go and tell to M. le cardinal, asking him to pacify the matter, because they had sent commands to Monsieur to send to them, as representatives of the king, the grand almoner if he could be found. M. le cardinal went to speak to them, but he gained nothing; they standing firm on their opinion of their royal majesty and authority. I know what M. le cardinal said to me about them, telling me not to say it, – that they were perfect fools. The chief president, de Thou, was then at their head; a great senator certainly, but he had a temper. So here was another disturbance to make that princess say again that King Charles, either living or dead, on earth or under it, that body of his stirred up the world and threw it into sedition. Alas! that he could not do.

I have told this little incident, possibly more at length than I should, and I may be blamed; but I reply that I have told and put it here as it came into my fancy and memory; also that it comes in à propos; and that I cannot forget it, for it seems to me a thing that is rather remarkable.

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