Estrées

Estrées, GABRIELLE D', mistress of Henry IV. of France, was born about 1571. She had already parted with her virtue before she became acquainted with Henry, in 1590. For the sake of appearances, she was married to a gentleman of Picardy, named Liancourt, from whom, however, she soon separated. The king was so fond of her that, in spite of the opposition of Sully, he was about to divorce his consort, Marguerite de Valois, in order to marry Mme. de Liancourt, when the latter died suddenly at Paris on 10th April 1599.