Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/66

52 but not a proud look. Her air and smile inspired tenderness accompanied with veneration and respect.

Anne was conscious of her charms; and believed it to be the prerogative of the fair, to be beloved, even without hope. Thus, she was flattered by the homage of the duke de Montmorenci; and, when she learnt he had recovered his freedom, considered herself as injured, arid would see him no more. The duke of Buckingham, who came as ambassador to negociate a marriage between our Charles I. and Henrietta of France, made no mystery of the passion he had conceived for her. Ready to embark, at Calais, he left his future sovereign there, on some frivolous pretence, that he might return to court, for another look at the queen. Scarcely had he arrived in England, than he wanted to return; but Lewis XIII. would not consent to it; and Buckingham afterwards did all he could to embroil the two countries, that he might come back to treat of peace. The queen, who had the most romantic ideas of the privileges of beauty, afterwards became more discreet, and would submit no longer to be talked to of love.

Lewis XIII. would have pardoned her coquetry, if he had not suspected her of political intrigues. She hated cardinal Richelieu, and did not conceal it. Barriere, one of her people, offered to kill him. "No;" said the queen, "to that I cannot consent; for lie is a priest." Yet she was suspected of plotting his death. She is said to have known of a conspiracy against him; for not having revealed which, though convicted of no active part, the son of the famous de Thou was beheaded, in 1642. Richelieu caused her more than once to be examined by some of the presidents of the Parisian parliament, respecting Spanish plots against his.