The Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, vol 2 | Page 9

lively,
affable, and engaging. The Comtesse de Lalain is remarkably so, and is,
moreover, a woman of great sense and elevation of mind, in which
particular, as well as in air and countenance, she carries a striking
resemblance to the lady your cousin. We became immediately intimate,
and commenced a firm friendship at our first meeting. When the supper
hour came, we sat down to a banquet, which was succeeded by a ball;
and this rule the Count observed as long as I stayed at Mons, which
was, indeed, longer than I intended. It had been my intention to stay at
Mons one night only, but the Count's obliging lady prevailed on me to
pass a whole week there. I strove to excuse myself from so long a stay,
imagining it might be inconvenient to them; but whatever I could say
availed nothing with the Count and his lady, and I was under the
necessity of remaining with them eight days. The Countess and I were
on so familiar a footing that she stayed in my bedchamber till a late
hour, and would not have left me then had she not imposed upon
herself a task very rarely performed by persons of her rank, which,
however, placed the goodness of her disposition in the most amiable
light. In fact, she gave suck to her infant son; and one day at table,
sitting next me, whose whole attention was absorbed in the promotion
of my brother's interest,--the table being the place where, according to
the custom of the country, all are familiar and ceremony is laid
aside,--she, dressed out in the richest manner and blazing with
diamonds, gave the breast to her child without rising from her seat, the
infant being brought to the table as superbly habited as its nurse, the
mother. She performed this maternal duty with so much good humour,
and with a gracefulness peculiar to herself, that this charitable
office--which would have appeared disgusting and been considered as
an affront if done by some others of equal rank--gave pleasure to all
who sat at table, and, accordingly, they signified their approbation by
their applause.
The tables being removed, the dances commenced in the same room
wherein we had supped, which was magnificent and large. The

Countess and I sitting side by side, I expressed the pleasure I received
from her conversation, and that I should place this meeting amongst the
happiest events of my life. "Indeed," said I, "I shall have cause to regret
that it ever did take place, as I shall depart hence so unwillingly, there
being so little probability, of our meeting again soon. Why did Heaven
deny, our being born in the same country!"
This was said in order to introduce my brother's business. She replied:
"This country did, indeed, formerly belong to France, and our lawyers
now plead their causes in the French language. The greater part of the
people here still retain an affection for the French nation. For my part,"
added the Countess, "I have had a strong attachment to your country
ever since I have had the honour of seeing you. This country has been
long in the possession of the House of Austria, but the regard of the
people for that house has been greatly, weakened by the death of Count
Egmont, M. de Horne, M. de Montigny, and others of the same party,
some of them our near relations, and all of the best families of the
country. We entertain the utmost dislike for the Spanish Government,
and wish for nothing so much as to throw off the yoke of their tyranny;
but, as the country is divided betwixt different religions, we are at a
loss how to effect it if we could unite, we should soon drive out the
Spaniards; but this division amongst ourselves renders us weak. Would
to God the King your brother would come to a resolution of
reconquering this country, to which he has an ancient claim! We should
all receive him with open arms."
This was a frank declaration, made by the Countess without
premeditation, but it had been long agitated in the minds of the people,
who considered that it was from France they were to hope for redress
from the evils with which they were afflicted. I now found I had as
favourable an opening as I could wish for to declare my errand. I told
her that the King of France my brother was averse to engaging in
foreign war, and the more so as the Huguenots in his kingdom were too
strong to admit of his sending any large force out of it. "My brother
Alencon," said I, "has sufficient means, and might be induced to
undertake it. He has equal valour, prudence, and benevolence with the
King