Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/600

586 At the trial of baron Castelnau who was taken up in the affair, the noble and christian-like spirit he evinced so struck the queen-mother, that she joined her voice with those who interceded in his behalf; but it was in vain, for the young monarch, tutored by his uncles, confirmed the sentence of death. The royal family, and all the court, attended this and other executions, which were performed in the castle yard. Anne of Este, duchess of Guise, was the only person who expressed any horror at the sight: pale, and trembling, she uttered a loud shriek, then quitting the place, ran to her apartment. The queen-mother paid her a visit, and found her in. tears, desiring to know the cause of her grief: the duchess replied, "Alas! madam, never had mother a greater cause for affliction; what a dreadful storm of hatred, blood, and revenge, is now suspending over the heads of my unhappy children!"

The prince of Condé had retired to his own dominions; for though suspected to have been concerned in the plot of the Huguenots, it was not clearly ascertained; but the Guises wishing to get him and his brother the king of Navarre into their power, made use of the meanest and most dishonest artifices to effect it. Catherine united with them in exerting all those arts of hypocrisy in which she was so eminently versed; they succeeded but too well, and the king and prince too soon repented accepting the deceitful invitation, in repairing to court, attended only by their usual retinue. On entering the royal presence, they found his majesty seated between the duke and cardinal; he received them coldly, and conducted them to the apartment of the queen-mother, who on their appearance shrieked, and burst into tears. Condé was presently apprehended by the king's guards, upon his order; the king of Navarre, whose easy credulity had greatly contri- buted