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Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I to Edict of Nantes - James Aitken Wylie

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farourn would be crimson."[1] In the midst <strong>of</strong> all<br />

this the preparations for the marriage went rapidly<br />

on.<br />

The K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Navarre alTived <strong>in</strong> Paris <strong>in</strong> deep<br />

mourn<strong>in</strong>g, "attended by eight hundred gentlemen<br />

all likewise <strong>in</strong> mourn<strong>in</strong>g." "But," says Margaret de<br />

Valois herself, "the nuptials <strong>to</strong>ok place a few days<br />

afterwards, with such triumph and magnificence as<br />

none others <strong>of</strong> my quality; the K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Navarre and<br />

his troop hav<strong>in</strong>g changed their mourn<strong>in</strong>g for very<br />

rich and f<strong>in</strong>e clothes, and I be<strong>in</strong>g dressed royally,<br />

with crown and corset <strong>of</strong> tufted erm<strong>in</strong>e, all blaz<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with crown jewels, and the grand blue mantle with<br />

a tra<strong>in</strong> four ells long, borne by three pr<strong>in</strong>cesses, the<br />

people chok<strong>in</strong>g one another down below <strong>to</strong> see us<br />

pass."[2] The marriage was celebrated on the 18th<br />

<strong>of</strong> August by the Card<strong>in</strong>al <strong>of</strong> Bourbon, <strong>in</strong> a<br />

pavilion erected <strong>in</strong> front <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal entrance<br />

<strong>of</strong> Notre Dame. When asked if she accepted Henry<br />

<strong>of</strong> Navarre as her husband, Margaret, it is said,<br />

rema<strong>in</strong>ed silent;[3] whereupon the k<strong>in</strong>g, putt<strong>in</strong>g his<br />

hand upon her head, bent it downward, which<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terpreted as consent, the ceremony went<br />

320

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