The Courtships of Queen Elizabeth

s to Elizabeth-Illness and death of Charles IX.-Imprisonment of Alen?on-Huguenot plots and exec

ged that, as the Queen of England intended to stay a week at Dover in the ensuing month of August, an opportunity for a meeting between her and the Prince might be found. The Queen-mother told Dale that Alen?on had grown greatly during his absence at Rochelle, "and that his beard had grown, which helps much his imperfections."85 He had good hopes, too, that the young Prince173 would openly become a Protestant. When August came, however, Catharine began to cry off, and Dale thought she would not let her son come unless "some further

f August to see Elizabeth at Dover and explain the reason for Alen?on's absence. He took letters from the King, Catharine, and Alen?on, and was to obtain, if possible, some assurance from the Queen.174 He accompanied her as far on her journey to London as Canterbury, and there took his leave with many loving but vague messages. By him Elizabeth wrote to Alen?on (September 15th) thanking him for the visit he intends making her, and saying she considers herself fortunate that the sea cannot restrain his desire to see her. Besides the formal letter he had sent by Retz, Alen?on had written another in much warmer terms. "He had been," he says, "twice near his last sigh, but is now, thank God, better, although still with continual fe

re it with a portrait of the Prince that had been sent to her. If he found the marks very bad, he was confidentially to tell Retz that there were several obstacles to the match, which was unpopular in England, and so put off the matter. He was also to study how the impending changes and Anjou's absence in Poland would affect Alen?on. Anjou had delayed his departure until the sick king grew suspicious and insisted upon his going. Catharine went with him to the French frontier, and as she dared not lose sight of Navarre and Alen?on, she took them with her. Whilst the party were in Picardy, a few miles only from the English coast, the Huguenot agents were busy planning the escape of the two younger princes to England, from whence they might rally the Protestant forces and work their will in France. As soon as Alen?on took leave of his brother, the new King of Poland, he sent one of his valets de chambre to Elizabeth with a loving letter dated early in November,

harine had taken him and Navarre to St. Germain with her, and it had been arranged that the general movement was to be preceded by the forcible rescue of the princes by a body of chosen horsemen under an officer named Guitry. But the intention was betrayed in time to frustrate it, panic seized the courtiers, La Mole, Alen?on's chosen friend, lost his head, and told the whole story to Navarre's wife Margaret, who divulged it to her mother. Flight to Catholic Paris was the only course for Catharine and the sick King, and thither they fled during the night, the Queen-mother taking with her in her own carriage both Alen?on and Navarre.88 Both the princes were kept prisoners for the next month or so, but the faithful La Mole and the Count de Coconas were busy the while planning their escape. Elizabeth had given a safe conduct, all was ready and the horses waiting on the178 18th of April, but Catharine was on the alert and once more stopped the princes. La Mole and Coconas were seized with an Italian magician, and charged, amongst other things, with causing the illness of the King by witchcraft. Young La Mole was subjected to the most inhuman torture, his legs crushed by the boot, his flesh seared with fire, but the poor lad could only cry out in pity for himself, and declare that he had plotted nothing but his master's flight. Coconas and others, who were probably deeper in the secret intentions of the Huguenots, made more incriminating admissions,89 and Catharine grasped the n

er he might see the Duke, he replied: "Oui Jesus!" as one would say, why of course you can. But Alen?on well knew the falseness behind it all, and was afraid to say anything; so Leighton got no confirmation from him. He afterwards saw the Queen-mother, who was somewhat indignant at Elizabeth's meddling in her family quarrels,

nd "took Alen?on about with her as a show, "but she never relaxed her hold upon him and Navarre for one moment. When her son himself asked why she was keeping him prisoner, she told him she must hold him fast until his brother Henry came from Poland. She was no doubt right in doing so, for the Huguenots were suspiciously busy, and Catharine almost came to words with Leighton about the plots of some of his suite. During the interview she had with him she pointed out how she had always desired to be friendly with his mistress, and had

sked. North of course agreed with her, when she replied, 'It is from no fault on our part that the marriage with your mistress has not taken place.'"92 When Lord North took leave of Alen?on in November the prince was careful not to mention love matters, but only spoke of "service" and "duty," but, says Dale, he wrung him by the arm, the old token between them, as one that would say "et cupio et timeo."93 North, howeve