The Queen and the Courtesan Read Online Free PDF Page A

herself ever closer, showering kisses over his mouth and bearded chin. ‘I reminded my father that the word of a king was of equal value to his signature, and that I, a mere subject, could never dare to demand such a promise. But he is adamant, and since he will not relent, can you not indulge this whim? Of what consequence is it? If you love me, and value the love I hold for you, how can you hesitate to comply with his desire? Name what conditions you please, I am ready to accept them, content to obey your slightest wish. In everything .’
    And leading the King to a couch she gave him most, if not quite all, he desired. The document was duly signed before the day was out.
    We, Henry fourth, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, promise and swear before God on our faith and word as a King, to Messers François de Balzac, Lord of Entragues, a Knight of our Orders, that [he] giving us as companion Demoiselle Henriette Catherine de Balzac, his daughter, in case in six months, beginning from the first day of this present one, she should become enceinte, and should give birth to a son, then and instantly we will take her to be our wife and legitimate spouse, whose marriage we will solemnize publicly and in face of our Holy Church according to the rites required and customary in such a case. For greater confirmation of the present promise we promise and swear as herein stated to ratify and renew it under our seals, immediate after we have obtained from our Holy Father the Pope the dissolution of our marriage with Dame Marguerite of France, with the permission to marry again as may seem fit to us. In witness whereof we have written and signed these presents.
    At the Wood of Malesherbes, this day the first of October, 1599.
    Henry.
    Rosny was furious. He picked up the carefully worded document, read it to the end, then ripped it in two.
    â€˜Since you wish to know my opinion, that is what I think of such a promise.’ Had he not just rejoiced at finally being rid of the obstacle to his plans to provide France with an honourable queen, he most certainly had no wish for another.
    â€˜ Ventre Saint Gris! ’ cried the King. ‘What are you about? Have you gone mad?’
    â€˜I fear so, Sire,’ Rosny answered. Privately he thought it was his monarch who had lost his wits. ‘I am a fool. Would that I were the only one in France. Sire, remember how d’Entragues and his daughters created a scandal in the time of the Duchess de Beaufort. Did you yourself not insist that I give une baggage orders to quit Paris?’
    Flushed with irritation Henry refuted this. ‘It was my dear angel who insisted the girl leave, as she was foolishly beset with jealousy over a simple dance.’
    â€˜But the promise of marriage will only serve to bring Your Majesty into derision. In addition, the document would prove a serious obstacle both to the projected divorce from Queen Marguerite and to a suitable matrimonial alliance which might benefit France. I beg you to think carefully on this, Sire. Queen Margot will not surrender her title to any demoiselle, nor will the Pope insist that she does. You could well lose all hope of alliance with the Italian princess, Marie de Medici, who is by all reports a lovely young woman as well as rich, and find yourself once again shackled to Queen Margot with no prospect of escape.’
    Furious at being so challenged, yet knowing the argument to be sound, Henry strode from the room. But obstinately refusing to back down he called for his private secretary to write out a fresh promise of marriage to replace the one which Rosny had destroyed. Then he mounted his horse and went hunting, an expedition which conveniently took him to Malesherbes, where he remained for several days.
    The matter was far from settled. Balzac decided he would be satisfied with nothing less than the post of Marshal of France, a position for which Henry considered him entirely unsuitable as he did