PEACE OR WAR?
On the 7th of June there was a sitting of the king's council, and there
was a very full attendance of members of the council of state. About
Henri II. and the princes of the blood were this day assembled Anne de
Montmorency, the Cardinal de Lorraine and his brother Charles de Guise,
Archbishop of Reims, the chancellor Olivier de Lenville, President
Bertrand, Comte d'Aumale, Sedan, Humières, and Saint-André and his
son.
Vicomte d'Exmès, in his capacity of captain of the Guards, stood near
the door, with bared sword.
All the interest of the session was, as usual, centred in the
contentions between the rival ambitions of the houses of Montmorency and
Lorraine, represented on this occasion in the council by the constable
himself and the cardinal.
"Sire," said the Cardinal de Lorraine, "the danger is imminent, and the
enemy at our gates. A formidable army is being assembled in Flanders;
and Philip II. may invade our territory to-morrow, and Mary of England
declare war against you. Sire, you have a crying need for the presence
of a gallant leader, young and vigorous, who is not afraid to act
boldly, and whose very name would incite terror in the Spaniard by
reminding him of recent defeats."
"Like the name of your brother, Monsieur de Guise, for example," said De
Montmorency, sarcastically.
"Like the name of my brother, to be sure," replied the cardinal,
valiantly; "like the name of the victor of Metz, of Renty, and of
Valenza. Yes, Sire, the Duc de Guise is the man whom you should summon
home at once from Italy, where men and supplies are lacking, where he is
like to be compelled to raise the siege of Civitella, and where his
presence and that of his army, which might be so useful against the
threatened invasion here, can be of no further use."
The king turned carelessly toward Monsieur de Montmorency, as if to say,
"Now it is your turn."
"Sire," the constable replied to his glance, "recall the army, by all
means; and this absurd conquest of Italy, about which there has been so
much braggadocio, will end, as I have always said, in ridicule. But what
need have you of the general? Look at the latest intelligence from the
North: the Flemish frontier is quiet; Philip II. is quaking in his
shoes; and Mary of England hasn't a word to say. You may still renew
the truce, Sire, or dictate terms of peace, as you choose. It is no
adventurous captain of whom you now have need, but a shrewd and
experienced minister, who is not blinded by the rash impetuosity of
youth, and in whose eyes war is not the mere plaything of an insatiable
ambition, but who can lay the foundations of an honorable peace on terms
consistent with the glory and dignity of France--"
"Like yourself, for instance, Monsieur le Connétable," interrupted the
Cardinal de Lorraine, bitterly.
"Like myself," was Anne de Montmorency's proud reply; "and I frankly
advise the king not to trouble himself further about the chances of a
war which can take place only if he chooses, and when he chooses.
Interior affairs, the condition of the treasury, and religious interests
have a much stronger claim upon our attention; and a prudent
administrator to-day will be worth a thousand times more than the most
enterprising general."
"And will have a thousand times greater claim upon his Majesty's favor,
eh?" was the cardinal's sharp retort.
"His Eminence has rounded out my reflection for me," continued
Montmorency, coolly; "and since he has put the question on that ground,
I will venture to ask his Majesty for a proof that my services in behalf
of peaceful measures are gratifying to him."
"What proof is that?" said the king, sighing.
"Sire, I beg your Majesty to make a public declaration of the honor
which you condescend to do my house by bestowing upon my son the hand of
Madame d'Angoulême. I must have this official demonstration and solemn
promise, so that I may steadfastly pursue my present course, without
having to combat the suspicions of my friends and the clamor of my
enemies."
This bold request was received, despite the king's presence, with signs
of applause or displeasure, according as the councillors belonged to one
or the other faction.
Gabriel turned pale and shuddered; but he recovered his courage somewhat
when he heard the Cardinal de Lorraine reply with spirit,--
"The Holy Father's bull, annulling the marriage of François de
Montmorency and Jeanne de Fiennes, has not yet arrived, so far as I
know, and may not arrive at all."
"Then we must get along without it," said the constable; "secret
marriages may be annulled by royal decree."
"But a decree cannot be made retroactive," was the cardinal's retort.
"But such an effect may be given to it, may it not, Sire? Say it aloud,
I conjure you, that those who attack me, as well as I myself, may have a
certain demonstration of your approbation of my views! Tell them that
your royal favor will go so far as to give a retroactive effect to this
just decree!"
"No doubt I can do it," said the king, whose feeble indecision seemed to
be yielding to this firm and steady language.
Gabriel had to lean heavily upon his sword to save himself from falling.
The constable's eyes shone with delight. The peace party seemed to be on
the verge of a decided triumph, thanks to his daring.
But at this moment the sound of trumpets was heard in the courtyard. The
air they were playing was an unfamiliar one, and the members of the
council looked wonderingly at one another. The usher came in almost
immediately, and bowing to the ground, announced,--
"Sir Edward Fleming, herald of England, begs the honor of being admitted
to your Majesty's presence."
"Let the herald of England enter," said the king, marvelling, but
outwardly calm.
He made a sign, and the dauphin and the princes came and stood about
him, while the other members of the council took their places outside
the royal circle. The herald, accompanied only by two armed attendants,
was ushered in. He saluted the king, who nodded his head slightly from
the sofa on which he remained seated.
Then said the herald,--
"Mary, Queen of England and France, to Henri, King of France: For having
maintained friendly relations with the English Protestants, enemies of
our religion and our State, and for having tendered and promised them
aid and protection against the just and deserved penalties incurred by
them, we, Mary of England, do declare war by land and by sea against
Henri of France. And as a gage of this defiance, I, Edward Fleming,
herald of England, do here fling down my gauntlet of battle."
At a sign from the king the Vicomte d'Exmès stepped forward and picked
up Sir Edward's glove. Then Henri said coolly to the herald the one
word,--
"Thanks!"
Thereupon he took off the magnificent necklace which he wore, and gave
it to Gabriel to hand to the herald, and said, inclining his head once
more,--
"You may now withdraw."
The herald bowed low and left the hall. A moment later the blare of the
English trumpets was heard once more, whereupon the king broke the
silence.
"Well, my Cousin de Montmorency," said he to the constable, "you seem to
have been a little too hasty in promising peace, and in answering for
the good intentions of Queen Mary. This alleged patronage of the English
Protestants is a mere pious pretext to conceal the love of our sister of
England for her young husband Philip II. War with the husband and wife
both! Well, so be it! A king of France need not fear all Europe; and if
the Flemish frontier will only give us a little time to look around--
Well, Florimond, again? What is it now?"
"Sire," said the usher, re-entering, "a special courier with important
despatches from Monsieur le Gouverneur de Picardie."
"Go and see what it is, I beg, Monsieur le Cardinal de Lorraine," said
the king, graciously.
The cardinal returned with the despatches, which he handed to the king.
"Ah, ah, gentlemen," said the king, casting his eye upon them, "a
different sort of news this. The forces of Philip II. are assembling at
Givet, and Monsieur Gaspard de Coligny advises us that the Duke of Savoy
is at their head. A worthy foe! Your nephew, Monsieur le Connétable,
thinks that the Spanish troops are about to attack Mezières and Rocroy,
so as to cut off Marienbourg. He asks for speedy reinforcements, to
enable him to strengthen these places, and hold his own in case he is
attacked."
The whole assemblage was in a state of great emotion and excitement.
"Monsieur de Montmorency," said Henri, smiling calmly, "you are not
happy in your predictions to-day. 'Mary of England,' said you, 'has not
a word to say;' and we have only just been hearing her trumpets
sounding. 'Philip II. is afraid, and the Low Country quiet,' you added.
Now, the King of Spain seems to be no more afraid than ourselves, while
the Flemish are very far from quiet. I must say that I am convinced that
the prudent administrator will have to make way for the gallant
soldier."
"Sire," said Anne de Montmorency, "I am Constable of France, and war
knows even more of me than peace."
"Very true, my good cousin, and I am glad to see that you remember
Bicocque and Marignan, and that warlike impulses are coming back to you
again. Draw your sword from the scabbard, then, and I shall rejoice. All
that I wish to say is that we must think now of nothing but war, and of
honorable and glorious war. Monsieur le Cardinal de Lorraine, be good
enough to write to your brother, Monsieur de Guise, to return
immediately. As for internal affairs and family matters, they must be
postponed; and I think we shall have to wait for the Pope's
dispensation, Monsieur de Montmorency, before considering farther the
proposed marriage of Madame d'Angoulême."
The constable made a wry face, while the cardinal smiled, and Gabriel
breathed again.
"Come, gentlemen," added the king, who seemed to have shaken off his
indifference all at once, "come, we must collect our thoughts now with
so many serious matters to consider. The session is at an end for this
morning, but the council will meet again this evening. Till evening,
then, and God protect France!"
"_Vive le roi_!" cried the members of the council with one voice.
And the assemblage dispersed.