some meditation which was written down." (2)

1 _Oraison funèbre, &c._, p. 60.

2 _Ibid._, p. 68.

Margaret's time was far from being wholly occupied in this manner,
for she actively assisted her husband in carrying out improvements and
reforms in Beam. The result was that the country, naturally good and
fertile, but left in bad condition, uncultivated and sterile through the
carelessness of its inhabitants, soon changed its appearance owing to
the efforts of Henry and his wife. From all the provinces of France
labourers were attracted who settled there and improved and fertilised
the fields.(1)

1 _Vies el Éloges des Dames illustres_, vol. ii. p. 272.

Henry d'Albret also devoted himself to the placing of the country in a
proper state of defence, and fortified several of the towns. Navarreinx,
commanding the valley of the Gave of Oloron, was virtually rebuilt by
him and transformed into a perfect stronghold, as was evidenced during
the religious wars, when it successfully withstood the artillery
of Terrade, the Catholic commander. Long afterwards, when Vauban
inaugurated his new system of fortification, he came to Navarreinx, and
on seeing the ramparts raised by Margaret's husband was so favourably
impressed, that instead of levelling them to the ground he contented
himself with adding to them and making various improvements. Henry
d'Albret was also anxious to refortify Sauveterre, which the Prince of
Orange, with one of the Imperial armies, had captured in 1523, when he
half-demolished the old castle of Montreal, then the most formidable