PAGE 43.--1. LE DUC D'ALBE (1508-1582). Ferdinand Alvarez of Toledo,
Duke of Alva, was a descendant of one of the most illustrious families
of Spain. He early showed a genius for war and politics, and in the
service of Charles V. was a violent opponent of the Protestants of
Germany. He commanded the imperial forces at Metz opposed to the Duke of
Guise, and not long after he was sent into Italy, where he reduced the
power of the Pope. In 1559 he espoused Elisabeth of France in behalf of
Philip II. In 1566 he was sent into Flanders to take charge of the
Spanish forces sent against the Netherlanders; on account of his
cruelties he was superseded in 1575. On his return to Spain he was
treated with great distinction, but was subsequently banished from the
court and exiled on account of some act of disobedience. He was,
however, soon recalled and put in command of the army sent against
Portugal, and succeeded in bringing back that country in allegiance to
Spain.
2. TENANTS DU TOURNOI, "champions of the tournament." The _tenants_ are
those who begin the tournament and proclaim the first challenges by
means of notices which are published by the heralds with the number of
courses and the names of the combatants. The name is derived from
_tenir_, because these champions undertook to hold (_tenir_) their
places against every assailant. (See Le Père Ménestrier, _Des Tournois_,
p. 194.)
3. CHÂTEAU DES TOURNELLES, a palace built at the end of the present Rue
des Francs-Bourgeois. On account of its connection with the death of
Henry II., Catherine de Medici ordered the edifice to be demolished.
Henry IV. began the erection on its site of the Place Royale, which was
completed a year or two after his death. The revolutionists of 1789
deprived the square of its name and took away the statue of Louis XIII.
erected by Richelieu. It is now known as the _Place des Vosges_.
PAGE 44.--1. CHASTELART. Pierre de Bascosel de Chastelart was grandson
of the celebrated Bayard, whom he resembled in personal appearance. On
being presented to Mary Stuart, he conceived a violent passion for her
and celebrated her charms in verse. He followed her to Scotland, but was
soon compelled to return to Paris; there he mourned for her a year, and
at last contrived to pass over again to Scotland. On account of his
rashness and imprudence he was condemned to death; his affection for the
princess, however, lasted till the end. Brantôme says of him:
"Chastelard had as great talent and wrote as sweet and refined poetry as
any nobleman in France."
2. This episode is probably based upon an event that took place shortly
after the death of Louis XIII. Madame de Montbazon was the rival at
court of the Duchess of Longueville, daughter of the Prince of Condé.
One day, two unsigned love-letters were found in the salon of the
former, who alleged that they were written in Madame de Longueville's
hand and were the property of Maurice de Coligny. They were, however,
written by Madame de Fouquerelles, and their real owner was the Marquis
of Maulevrier. At the suggestion of the latter, La Rochefoucauld proved
the falsity of Madame de Montbazon's accusations, recovered the letters,
and burnt them in the presence of the Queen. The affair did not end
here, but led to a duel, in which Coligny received a mortal wound at the
hands of Henry of Guise, the champion of Madame de Montbazon. (See "The
Last Duel in the Place Royale," _Macmillan's Magazine_, October, 1895.)
PAGE 50.--1. ON LUI EN FIT LA GUERRE, "They taunted him about it" (see
page 83, line 9).
2. À L'HEURE MÊME, "immediately." (See also page 57, line 32; page 63,
line 11; page 75, line 7.) On the position of _même_, see Mätzner,
_Französische Syntax_, ii, § 534, 12.