and marched out at the head of the French troops with all the honours of war. In the religious wars under Charles IX., Montluc commanded in Guienne, of which province he was made lieutenant for the king, after having defeated the Calvinists at the battle of Ver in 1562. He sullied his great actions in this war by his cruelty, in which he seemed to emulate the famous baron des Adrets, the commander on the other side. He was even charged with violating the conditions he had made with the enemy, after their surrender. At the siege of the castle of Rebastein, he received a shot through both cheeks, which deformed him so much, that he was obliged ever after to wear a mask; he revenged the wound by the massacre of every person in the fortress. He was at the siege of Rochelle in 1573, and in the following year he was recompensed for his long services with the marshal's staff. He died at his estate in Agenois in 1577, after sixty years military duty, during which he was never once beaten when he commanded. Montluc had all the qualities of a great warrior, invincible courage, indefatigable activity, extraordinary presence of mind, and instant decision in all emergencies, joined with a natural eloquence, which gave him a great influence over his soldiers and brother commanders. He was, however, boastful, violent, and sanguinary. In his 75th year he undertook to compose from memory his " Commentaries," or the history of his, life and actions, which were first published at Bordeaux by Florimond Remond, in 1592, folio. This is reckoned a work of admirable instruction for military men, and Henry IV. used to call it the soldier's bible.

ANNE of PISSELIEU, duchess of Estampes, a woman of great beauty. She was maid of honour to Louisa of Savoy, when she went to meet her son Francis I., at Madrid, and that monarch fell in love with her. Though Francis forgot himself with her, he yet attempted to cover her dishonour by marrying her to one of his followers, whom he created duke of Estampes. In the declining years of the monarch, the duchess, who still possessed the influence of her charms, corresponded with Charles V., to counteract the views of the dauphin and of his mistress, De Poictiers. By her perfidious communications, Charles, at the head of an almost famished army, was enabled to take Epernay and Chateau Tierre, where the magazines of the French troops were deposited, and as no measures were taken without consultation with Francis, every secret was imparted to the faithless mistress, and by her to the enemy, so that the ruin of the kingdom seemed inevitable. After the death of Francis, the worthless favourite returned to her country seat and died a protestant.

CLAUDE DE LORRAINE, duke of Guise, fifth son of duke Rene II., of Lorraine, settled in France. At the battle

of Marignan he displayed such valour, that he received more than twenty wounds. He died in 1550.

MICHAEL DE L'HOSPITAL, a truly illustrious chancellor of France, was born about 1505, at Aigueperse in Auvergne. His father was physician to the constable Bourbon, and afterwards chief manager of his affairs, for which he was rewarded with lands at Auvergne, and the country of Montpensier. Michael was educated for the law in the most celebrated universities of France and Italy, and at the same time he greatly distinguished himself by his proficiency in polite literature. He was in early life made one of the auditors of the rota at Rome, the duties of which he quitted, to follow the law court at Paris. Here he passed through various high offices, continually rising in esteem for his ability and integrity. In 1560, he was elevated to the dignity of chancellor of France. At this period the kingdom was divided between the factions of contending interests. L'Hospital was a true patriot, and preferred the honour of the crown and country, to that of any interest supported by the great. To carry his point he was sometimes obliged to give way, and even to consent to a severe edict against the Protestants; this he did with much regret, and he never ceased to advocate the cause of toleration. In 1562, he was the champion of the decree which allowed freedom of worship to the Protestants. He was more than once accused of being himself a Protestant, and was excluded from those councils in which the bloody massacre was planned. The papal legate would gladly have removed him from office, which he was unable to do, till at length the whole influence of the court was bent on exterminating by violence the reformed religion. He now resigned his seals, and retired into the country to spend the remainder of his days, with his books and his friends, and in this retreat he declared that he enjoyed more happiness than he had ever done in public life. The felicity of privacy was cruelly interrupted by the detestable massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572. It was imagined that he might, on account of his great integrity, be included among the number of victims, and when a troop of horse approached his house, he was asked if he would defend himself with firearms; By no means," said he," and if the wicket is not wide enough to admit the assassins, set open the great gates." The men, who were sent on the bloody errand, were overtaken by a message from the king, announcing that L'Hospital was not among the proscribed, and was told that the authors of the deed had pardoned him his constant opposition to their plans; "I did not indeed know," said the excellent man," that I had merited either death or pardon." He survived this shock but a short time, dying in the year 1573, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was author of "Latin poems," which have gone

through many editions, and which are grave, but easy and energetic; also of" Harangues before the States of Orleans;" "Memoirs containing treaties of Peace, &c. ;" " A Discourse in favour of Peace," and other tracts. His eulogy, in better times, was made a prize subject by the French academy in 1777, and his statue was erected in marble by Lewis XVI., but his noble and manly conduct has erected to his memory a statue more durable than marble. "No one," says his biographer, was more determined in resistance to injustice, and if ever he acceded to measures which he disapproved, it was only to prevent worse.'

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CHARLES DE COSSE, marshal Du Brissac, was born about the year 1506, and educated with Francis, dauphin of Viennois and duke of Brittany, of whom his father was governor. He devoted himself to arms, and was greatly distinguished in several wars, on account of which his sovereign Francis I., created him a knight of his order. After successfully serving in various parts of Italy, he returned to France, and contributed not a little to the capture of Havre de Grace from the English. He died of the gout in 1563, leaving be hind him a character of great worth, for energy, integrity, and humanity. Many anecdotes are on record that do much credit to Cosse, as a man and an officer; of these we shall mention but one. Having fulfilled a commission in Piedmont, and no farther business being left for his army, it was disbanded, and the men not knowing how to obtain the means of subsistence, exclaimed in an angry tone," Where shall we get bread." " Of me," said the general, " as long as I have any." At the same time the people who had advanced goods to the soldiers on the word of Brissac, entreated him to save them from ruin. He gave them all that he possessed, and then invited them to accompany him to the court of France. The Guises refused to afford the necessary relief, upon which the marshal said to his wife, "Here are the people who have ventured their property upon my promises, government refuses to sanction the agreement, and they are ruined." "Let us defer the marriage of our daughter, and give to these unfortunate people the money destined for her portion.". The lady acceded to his wishes, and he was thus enabled to pay half the debt, and give security for the remainder.

CLAUDE DE L'AUBESPINE, baron of Chateau Neuf. He was a descendant of a noble family at Chartrain, and filled the office of secretary of state under several of the kings of France. He died in 1567.

PAUL RICHARD MOUVANS, surnamed the Brave, a protestant officer, who was born at Castellane in Provence, of a respectable family, and made a considerable figure in the civil wars of France. His brother, who was likewise a protes

tant, having been killed in a popular tumult excited by the Romish priests, at Draguignan, he took up arms to revenge his death, and having assembled 2000 men committed great devastations in Provence. Being pursued by count Teude, at the head of 6000 men, he took post in a convent strongly fortified by nature, resolved to defend himself to the last extremity. The count proposed an interview, to which Mouvans agreed, on condition that his brother's murderers should be punished, and that those who had taken up arms with him should not be molested. These terms being accepted, he dismissed his troops, reserving only a guard of fifty men. The parliament of Aix had received orders from the court to punish him capitally for being concerned in the conspiracy of Amboise. Baron de la Garde made an attempt to apprehend him, but he was repulsed with considerable loss. Mouvans at length retired to Geneva, where he lived for some time in tranquillity, nobly rejecting the splendid offers made him by the duke of Guise if he would join the catholics. He returned to France at the commencement of the troubles, after the massacre of Vassa in 1562, and continued to distinguish himself in the protestant armies. His conduct at Sisterton, where he commanded, together with captain Lenas, when that city was besieged by the count de Somerine, is particularly admired. After sustaining an assault of seven hours, in which the besiegers were repulsed with considerable loss, he left the city during the night with his troops and those of the inhabitants who chose to accompany him. The number of the inhabitants amounted to 4000 men, women, and children. Musketeers were placed in the front and rear, while the defenceless and unarmed occupied the centre. They were afterwards obliged to go out of the way, and to cross steep and rugged mountains, to avoid the ambuscades laid for them on the road. They stopped some days in the valleys of Augrone, and Pragelas, where they were cordially received, and supplied with provisions by the Vaudois. After a march of twenty-one days, under the greatest fatigue and famine, they at length arrived at Grenoble. Baron des Adrets sent them under an escort to Lyons, where they remained till the treaty of pacification. In 1568 Mouvans was defeated at Mesignai, in Perigord, and lost his life in the engagement. Upon this occasion he commanded, with Peter Gourde, the advanced guard of the protestant army.

RENE DE LORRAINE, MARQUIS D'ELBOEUF, seventh son of Claude of Guise, died 1566. His grandson, Charles, married Catharine, the daughter of Henry IV., and died in 1657. These illustrious characters were concerned in the intrigues of the French court under Richelieu and Mazarin. The last male descendant of this house was Maurice, duc d'Elbœuf, of whom some account will be found in its proper place.

GASPARD DE SAULX DE TAVANES, marshal of France, one of the most eminent commanders of his time, born in 1509, was descended from an ancient family in Burgundy. He was brought up at court as one of the king's pages, and was taken prisoner with Francis I., at the battle of Pavia. He afterwards served with distinction in the war in Piedmont; and became particularly attached to the duke of Orleans, second son of Francis, with whom and others of his courtiers, he joined in a number of frolics and disorders, only pardonable in young men who wanted other occupation for their love of adventure. Tavanes was more honourably employed in quelling the revolt of the Rochellers in 1542, and at the battle of Cerisoles in 1544. After the death of the duke of Orleans, the king gave him half that prince's company, and made him his chamberlain. Henry II., in 1552, promoted him to the post of maréschal de camp, in which he gained great reputation during the wars of Charles V. At the battle of Retug, he was the principal cause of the defeat of the famous German Reisters, whose commander had boasted that with them alone he would rout all the French gens-d'armes. Tavanes, who did not want self-confidence, was sufficiently sensible of the value of his own exertions on this day, and when the duke of Guise said to him, "M. de Tavanes, we made the finest charge today that was ever seen;"" Sir," he replied, "you supported me very well." On this occasion the king took from his own neck the collar of the order of St. Michael, and threw it upon that of Tavanes as he returned covered with blood and dust. He assisted in 1558 at the capture of Calais and Thionville. During the civil wars of Francis II. and Charles IX. he reduced the insurgents of Dauphine and Burgundy, and displayed a violent hatred to the protestants. He even, in 1567, formed a league against them, called La Confierie du Saint Esprit, but the court suppressed this effusion of party zeal as a dangerous innovation. He was afterwards chief of the council to the duke of Anjou, and had a great share in the victories of James and Moncontour. For his services he was recompensed, in 1570, with the staff of marshal of France. Brantome represents him as one of the principal advisers of the horrible massacre of St. Bartholomew; and says, that on that day he went through the streets of Paris, crying to the people, “Let blood, let blood! physicians say that bleeding is as good in August as in May." It is said, however, that he had the merit of opposing the design of including the king of Navarre in the massacre. In 1573, being directed by the king to repair to the siege of Rochelle, he obeyed, though a convalescent from illness; but relapsing by the road, he died at his castle of Sully in June, being in his 62d year, and at that time governor of Provence, and admiral of the Levant seas, A singular proof