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generosity； excellent lures to draw men particularly towards the just and
legitimate side。 If there is to be severity and punishment； let it be
deferred till success has been assured。 A great conqueror of past times
boasts that he gave his enemies as great an inducement to love him； as
his friends。 And here we feel already some effect of the favourable
impression produced upon our rebellious towns by the contrast between
their rude treatment； and that of those which are loyal to you。 Desiring
your Majesty a happiness more tangible and less hazardous； and that you
may be beloved rather than feared by your people； and believing that your
welfare and theirs are of necessity knit together； I rejoice to think that
the progress which you make is one towards more practicable conditions of
peace； as well as towards victory ！
Sire； your letter of the last of November came to my hand only just now；
when the time which it pleased you to name for meeting you at Tours had
already passed。 I take it as a singular favour that you should have
deigned to desire a visit from so useless a person； but one who is wholly
yours； and more so even by affection than from duty。 You have acted very
commendably in adapting yourself； in the matter of external forms； to
your new fortunes； but the preservation of your old affability and
frankness in private intercourse is entitled to an equal share of praise。
You have condescended to take thought for my age； no less than for the
desire which I have to see you； where you may be at rest from these
laborious agitations。 Will not that be soon at Paris； Sire？ and may
nothing prevent me from presenting myself there！Your very humble and
very obedient servant and subject；
MONTAIGNE。
From Montaigne； this 18th of January ＇1590＇。
XV。
To the same。＇ This letter is also in the national collection； among the
Dupuy papers。 It was first printed in the 〃Journal de l'Instruction
Publique；〃 4th November 1846。＇
SIRE；The letter which it pleased your majesty to write to me on the
20th of July； was not delivered to me till this morning； and found me
laid up with a very violent tertian ague； a complaint very common in this
part of the country during the last month。 Sire； I consider myself
greatly honoured by the receipt of your commands； and I have not omitted
to communicate to M。 the Marshal de Matignon three times most
emphatically my intention and obligation to proceed to him； and even so
far as to indicate the route by which I proposed to join him secretly； if
he thought proper。 Having received no answer； I consider that he has
weighed the difficulty and risk of the journey to me。 Sire； your Majesty
dill do me the favour to believe； if you please； that I shall never
complain of the expense on occasions where I should not hesitate to
devote my life。 I have never derived any substantial benefit whatever
from the bounty of kings； which I have neither sought nor merited； nor
have I had any recompense for the services which I have performed for
them： whereof your majesty is in part aware。 What I have done for your
predecessors I shall do still more readily for you。 I am as rich； Sire；
as I desire to be。 When I shall have exhausted my purse in attendance on
your Majesty at Paris； I will take the liberty to tell you； and then； if
you should regard me as worthy of being retained any longer in your
suite； you will find me more modest in my claims upon you than the
humblest of your officers。
Sire； I pray God for your prosperity and health。 Your very humble and
very obedient servant and subject；
MONTAIGNE。
From Montaigne； this 2d of September ＇1590＇。
XVI。
To the Governor of Guienne。
MONSEIGNEUR；I have received this morning your letter； which I have
communicated to M。 de Gourgues； and we have dined together at the house
of M。＇the mayor＇ of Bourdeaux。 As to the inconvenience of transporting
the money named in your memorandum； you see how difficult a thing it is
to provide for； but you may be sure that we shall keep as close a watch
over it as possible。 I used every exertion to discover the man of whom
you spoke。 He has not been here； and M。 de Bordeaux has shown me a
letter in which he mentions that he could not come to see the Director of
Bordeaux； as he intended； having been informed that you mistrust him。
The letter is of the day before yesterday。 If I could have found him； I
might perhaps have pursued the gentler course； being uncertain of your
views； but I entreat you nevertheless to feel no manner of doubt that I
refuse to carry out any wishes of yours； and that； where your commands
are concerned； I know no distinction of person or matter。 I hope that
you have in Guienne many as well affected to you as I am。 They report
that the Nantes galleys are advancing towards Brouage。 M。 the Marshal de
Biron has not yet left。 Those who were charged to convey the message to
M。 d'Usee say that they cannot find him； and I believe that； if he has
been here； he is so no longer。 We keep a vigilant eye on our gates and
guards； and we look after them a little more attentively in your absence；
which makes me apprehensive； not merely on account of the preservation of
the town； but likewise for your oven sake； knowing that the enemies of
the king feel how necessary you are to his service； and how ill we should
prosper without you。 I am afraid that； in the part where you are； you
will be overtaken by so many affairs requiring your attention on every
side； that it will take you a long time and involve great difficulty
before you have disposed of everything。 If there is any important news；
I will despatch an express at once； and you may conclude that nothing is
stirring if you do not hear from me： at the same time begging you to bear
in mind that movements of this kind are wont to be so sudden and
unexpected that； if they occur； they will grasp me by the throat； before
they say a word。 I will do what I can to collect news； and for this
purpose I will make a point of visiting and seeing men of every shade of
opinion。 Down to the present time nothing is stirring。 M。 de Londel has
seen me this morning； and we have been arranging for some advances for
the place； where I shall go to…morrow morning。 Since I began this
letter； I have learnt from Chartreux that two gentlemen； describing
themselves as in the service of M。 de Guise； and coming from Agen； have
passed near Chartreux； but I was not able to ascertain which road they
have taken。 They are expecting you at Agen。 The Sieur de Mauvesin came
as far as Canteloup； and thence returned； having got some intelligence。
I am in search of one Captain Rous； to whom 。 。 。 wrote； trying to
draw him into his cause by all sorts of promises。 The rumour of the two
Nantes galleys ready to descend on Brouage is confirmed as certain； they
carry two companies of foot。 M。 de Mercure is at Nantes。 The Sieur de
la Courbe said to M。 the President Nesmond that M。 d'Elbeuf is on this
side of Angiers； and lodges with his father。 He is drawing towards Lower
Poictou with 4000 foot and 400 or 500 horse； having been reinforced by
the troops of M。 de Brissac and others； and