Evergreen Gallant

Born heir to the small state of Navarre, it seemed unlikely that Henri wouldever come to the throne of France; and his amatory adventures caused despairin those Huguenots who looked to him to lead them in the conflict which wasdividing France. A father at fifteen, he was sent to become a soldier underthe great Coligny, but still found time for love affairs. yet when hismother died mysteriously, he began to change; and the man who rosde to Paristo play the part of bridegroom in the "Blood-Red Wedding" was alert frotreachery. Facing death nonchalantly , accepting the Mass in exchange forhis life, amusing himself with the mistress whom he knew had been set to spyon him, he deluded even Catherine de' Medici. Life with the tempestuousMargot was like a succession of farcical incidents from the Decameron.Reputed to have had more mistresses than any King of France, he passedlightly from one to another. There were the spies of Catherine de' Medici,promiscuous Charlotte de Sauves and gentle Dayelle; Fosseuse who came intoconflict with Margot; Corisande whom he loved as a wife; Gabrielle who hadbeen sold to a King and otehrs by her rapacious mother; Henriette, with tehacid tongue; these, and others occupied him until the day of his death whenhe was pursuing the youful Charlotte de Montmorency. In addition to hismistresses there were two wives to plague him; flamboyant Margot, whoseadventures rivalled his own, and Marie de' Medici, who came to torment hislater years. This was the man who, affectionately known as teh EvergreenGallant because all through his life he was in love with some woman, broughtprosperity back to a war-scarred country, declared Paris to be worth a Mass,and was recognized as the greatest King the French had ever known.