A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Margaret de Valois, (Queen of Navarre)
Afflicted at the death of her husband, and no less at the captivity of a brother she tenderly loved, Margaret went to Madrid, on purpose to comfort the latter in his sickness, and found him in so pitiable a state, that if she had not gone, as he afterwards declared, he should have died; and by her firmness, she engaged Charles V. to abate the rigour of his confinement; but knowing his constitution, and the turn of his mind, better than all his physicians, she paid such unremitting attention to both, that he soon recovered. On his return to France, he gave her the most evident proofs of his gratitude and affection; and married her, in 1527, to Henry d'Albret, king of Navarre and prince of Beam, by whom she had the celebrated Jane d'Albret.
By her marriage articles she had more power and privileges than queens generally have; and in concert with her husband, devoted all her cares to the benefit of her subjects: and they had the pleasure of seeing their wisdom and patriotism rewarded, by the flourishing state of the kingdom. By the encouragement she lent to free religious discussion, and the favour she shewed the reformers, she laid the ground work of the protestant religion in that kingdom. It has been said by the catholics, that she died in their communion; and they affirmed that the countenance she had all along shewn to the protestants was merely from a spirit of toleration and compassion for their sufferings. This, however, is not probable. She was a constant reader of the Bible, and had a fancy to have plays taken from different parts of it, and acted before herself and the king, in which the follies and vices of the Romish ecclesiastics were severely handled: and throughout her works, she takes every opportunity of commenting upon them. She at one time interceded so powerfully with her brother, who was tenderly attached to her, and painted so eloquently the sufferings of the Huguenots, that he appeared inclined to favour them, till some zealots so angered him by libels, that he began to persecute them, and Margaret could no more interfere in their favour. She had written a book, called The Mirror of sinful Souls, which was censured by the Sorbonne, who, however, were induced to deny their award, at the interference of Francis, who, though in some instances he felt disposed to blame her, would let no indignities be offered to his beloved sister, without resenting them. The constable Montmorenci told him once, that if he would exterminate heretics, he must begin with his own family, thereby alluding to Margaret: but he answered, he would hear no more on that head; saying, she loved him too well to disbelieve what he believed, or to embrace a religion prejudicial to the state. Yet he could not be ignorant of her sentiments, which she took no great pains to conceal, openly hearing and protecting the popular ministers of the reformed. In this she suffered some vexations from her husband, who being told that they said prayers, and gave some instructions in the queen's chamber, contrary to the doctrine and practice of his ancestors, went in with a design to punish the minister; but finding he had escaped, his anger fell on his spouse, to whom he gave a blow, saying, "Madam, you want to be too wise!" and immediately acquainted her brother with what he had done; but Francis, ever mindful of his dignity and affection, severely reprimanded him for it.
This princess disliked to hear the name of death. She used often to say to those who discoursed of it, and the happiness which ensues, "all this is true; but we continue so long before we enjoy it."
Her curiosity in attending the last moments of a dying person is remarkable. It was one of her maids of honour. Some of her ladies asked her, why she looked on her with so much attention? She answered, that having often heard many learned men assert, that the soul left the body the moment it died, she was willing to see if there came from it any perceptible noise, or sound, but that she could perceive nothing. She gave a reason of her expectation, which was, that having asked the same learned men why a swan sings before it dies, they answered, that it was on account of the spirits, which were labouring to get out through its long neck. Thus, she said, she had also a mind to see that soul or spirit go out, or hear the noise or sound it made at leaving the body. She added, that if she were not well settled in the faith, she should not know what to think of its separation from the body; but that she would believe what her God and her church commanded her without any further inquiry.
Her Heptameron was a collection of stories in the manner of Boccacio, composed in a flowing and beautiful stile, and evidently intended to forward the interests of virtue, though written in a stile too free to be at present allowable, although perhaps not considered so at the time. They display great wit and fertility of invention, and some are founded on real life. She used to write them at her ease, in her carriage. They were published at Amsterdam, 1692, 2 vols. 8vo. John de la Haye, her valet de chambre, collected her poems, and published them, 1547, 8vo. with this title: Les Marguerites de la Marguerite des Princesses, très illustre Reine de Navarre. They consist of four mysteries or pious dramas, and two farces; le Triomphe de l'Agneau, a poem; Thirty Spiritual Songs; and Le Miroir de l'Ame Pécheresse; with other pieces on various subjects, which display much wit and invention.
Margaret was eloquent and beautiful, and had great political knowledge. During the imprisonment of her brother, she assisted Louisa, her mother, in the regency—and was of great use in conciliating the nobility, and maintaining the peace of the kingdom, from her affability and address. She was very charitable, and "ne dédaignant personne" thought nobody beneath her attention.