The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
CHRISTINA OF DENMARK
DUCHESS OF MILAN AND LORRAINE
1522-1590
Christina, Duchess of Milan
CHRISTINA OF DENMARK
DUCHESS OF MILAN ANDLORRAINE
1522-1590
BY JULIA CARTWRIGHT(MRS. ADY)
AUTHOR OF "ISABELLA D'ESTE," "BALDASSARRE CASTIGLIONE,""THE PAINTERS OF FLORENCE," ETC.
La gracieuse, bonne et belle!
Pour les grans biens qui sont en elle,
Chacun est prest de la louer.
Qui se pourrait d'elle lasser?
Toujours sa beauté renouvelle.
Dieu, qu'il la fait bon regarder,
La gracieuse, bonne et belle!
Par deça, ne delà la mer,
Ne sçay Dame ne Damoiselle
Qui soit en tous biens parfais telle;
C'est un songe que d'y penser,
Dieu, qu'il la fait bon regarder!"
NEW YORK
E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY
1913
PREFACE
Christina of Denmark is known to the world byHolbein's famous portrait in the National Gallery.The great Court painter, who was sent to Brusselsby Henry VIII. to take the likeness of the Emperor'sniece, did his work well. With unerring skill he hasrendered the "singular good countenance," the clearbrown eyes with their frank, honest gaze, the smilehovering about "the faire red lips," the slenderfingers of the nervously clasped hands, which Brantômeand his royal mistress, Catherine de' Medici,thought "the most beautiful hands in the world."And in a wonderful way he has caught the subtlecharm of the young Duchess's personality, and madeit live on his canvas. What wonder that Henry fellin love with the picture, and vowed that he would havethe Duchess, if she came to him without a farthing!But for all these brave words the masterful King'swooing failed. The ghost of his wronged wife,Katherine of Aragon, the smoke of plundered abbeys,and the blood of martyred friars, came between himand his destined bride, and Christina was nevernumbered in the roll of Henry VIII.'s wives. Thissplendid, if perilous, adventure was denied her. Butmany strange experiences marked the course of herchequered life, and neither beauty nor virtue couldsave her from the shafts of envious Fortune. Her[Pg vi]troubles began from the cradle. When she was littlemore than a year old, her father, King Christian II.,was deposed by his subjects, and her mother, thegentle Isabella of Austria, died in exile of a brokenheart. She lost her first husband, Francesco Sforza,at the end of eighteen months. Her