There was nothing ready, the officials and servants
were absent, and scattered about the town of Paris and the neighbouring
villages. It was already dark, for this was during the shortest days
of the year, the weather too was adverse on account of the rain, and
neither her litter nor her baggage mules were at hand. Seeing this, the
courageous Queen borrowed the litter of Madame Margaret, her niece,(1)
got in it, and contenting herself with scant escort, started from Paris
and went as far as Bourg-la-Reine.
1 The daughter of Francis I., subsequently Duchess of Savoy.
"When they had arrived there she did not alight at her lodgings, but
went straight to the church, which she at once entered, saying to
those about her, that her heart told her I know not what concerning her
daughter's fate, and affectionately begging them all to withdraw and
leave her alone for an hour in the church. All obeyed and in great
uneasiness waited for their mistress at the church door; the Senechale
de Poitou,(1) a very faithful lady, and very solicitous about Margaret,
alone entering with her.
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