PAGE 29.--1. MONSIEUR D'ANVILLE, a famous warrior and courtier during
the reigns of Henry II., Francis II., and Charles IX. During the
campaigns in Italy he was placed in charge of the light cavalry in the
Piedmont. He defeated the Spaniards at the bridge de la Stura and in
1557 won great renown by his victories about Fossano.
PAGE 30.--1. COURTENAY. Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, born about
1526, was the only son of Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter and Earl of
Devonshire. At the age of twelve he was imprisoned with his father in
the Tower and was not released till 1553. In this year he was appointed
Earl of Devonshire by Queen Mary and not long afterwards was honored
with the dignity of Knight of the Bath. He was at one time looked upon
as a probable match for the English Queen, but Philip of Spain was
preferred. He was for a long time regarded with affection by Elisabeth,
and was suspected of plotting to obtain her hand and to seize upon the
throne of England. He was therefore arrested and sent to the Tower in
March, 1554, and in the following May was taken to Fotheringay. In 1555
he was released on parole and exiled. He traveled to Brussels and then
to Padua, where he suddenly died in September, 1556.
PAGE 32.--1. MADAME = Madame Elisabeth de France, daughter of Henry II.
PAGE 33.--1. LES DERNIÈRES VISITES, "the latest callers"; a not
infrequent use of the abstract noun for the person.
2. CETTE PRINCESSE ÉTOIT SUR SON LIT. It was customary for ladies to
receive callers while reclining on a couch in their bedroom.
PAGE 34.--1. POUR PEU QU'ELLES SOIENT AIMABLES, "provided that they are
charming." _Pour_ used in this sense before pronouns and adjectives is
followed by the concessive subjunctive. (See Mätzner, _Französische
Syntax_, ii., §435.)
PAGE 37.--1. À L'HEURE DU CERCLE, "at the time that she was holding a
reception."
2. His death was caused by an accident that happened to him while
jousting with the Duke of Montgomery (see page 92).
3. The death of Guise is thus described by Brantôme: "The said Poltrot
was accustomed to go out with Monsieur de Guise together with the rest
of us, who were members of his household, and he was continually in
search of a suitable occasion to commit the deed. Monsieur passed over
the water in a little boat which waited for him every evening and then
went on horseback to his lodging, which was at some distance. Being on
a cross-road which is right well known, the other, who was waiting for
him in ambush, gave him the blow and then began to run and cry, 'Catch
him, catch him.' Monsieur de Guise, feeling himself wounded, staggered a
little, and said: 'That has been kept in store for me, but I believe it
will result in nothing.' With great courage he retired into his lodging,
where he was dressed and attended to by the best surgeons in France;
nevertheless, he died at the end of a week."
PAGE 38.--1. QUE JE LE FISSE APPELER, "that I should send him a
challenge."