Inthemidstofthecaresofgovernment，MontaignefoundtimetoreviseandenlargehisEssays，which，sincetheirappearancein1580，werecontinuallyreceivingaugmentationintheformofadditionalchaptersorpapers。Twomoreeditionswereprintedin1582and1587;andduringthistimetheauthor，whilemakingalterationsintheoriginaltext，hadcomposedpartoftheThirdBook。HewenttoParistomakearrangementsforthepublicationofhisenlargedlabours，andafourthimpressionin1588wastheresult。Heremainedinthecapitalsometimeonthisoccasion，anditwasnowthathemetforthefirsttimeMademoiselledeGournay。Giftedwithanactiveandinquiringspirit，and，aboveall，possessingasoundandhealthytoneofmind，MademoiselledeGournayhadbeencarriedfromherchildhoodwiththattidewhichsetinwithsixteenthcenturytowardscontroversy，learning，andknowledge。ShelearntLatinwithoutamaster;andwhen，theageofeighteen，sheaccidentallybecamepossessorofacopyoftheEssays，shewastransportedwithdelightandadmiration。
ShequittedthechateauofGournay，tocomeandseehim。Wecannotdobetter，inconnectionwiththisjourneyofsympathy，thantorepeatthewordsofPasquier:\"Thatyounglady，alliedtoseveralgreatandnoblefamiliesofParis，proposedtoherselfnoothermarriagethanwithherhonour，enrichedwiththeknowledgegainedfromgoodbooks，and，beyondallothers，fromtheessaysofM。deMontaigne，whomakingintheyear1588alengthenedstayinthetownofParis，shewentthereforthepurposeofforminghispersonalacquaintance;andhermother，MadamedeGournay，andherselftookhimbackwiththemtotheirchateau，where，attwoorthreedifferenttimes，hespentthreemonthsaltogether，mostwelcomeofvisitors。\"ItwasfromthismomentthatMademoiselledeGournaydatedheradoptionasMontaigne’sdaughter，acircumstancewhichhastendedtoconferimmortalityuponherinafargreatermeasurethanherownliteraryproductions。
Montaigne，onleavingParis，stayedashorttimeatBlois，toattendthemeetingoftheStates—General。Wedonotknowwhatparthetookinthatassembly:butitisknownthathewascommissioned，aboutthisperiod，tonegotiatebetweenHenryofNavarre（afterwardsHenryIV。）andtheDukeofGuise。Hispoliticallifeisalmostablank;butDeThouassuresusthatMontaigneenjoyedtheconfidenceoftheprincipalpersonsofhistime。
DeThou，whocallshimafrankmanwithoutconstraint，tellsusthat，walkingwithhimandPasquierinthecourtattheCastleofBlois，heheardhimpronouncesomeveryremarkableopinionsoncontemporaryevents，andheaddsthatMontaignehadforeseenthatthetroublesinFrancecouldnotendwithoutwitnessingthedeathofeithertheKingofNavarreoroftheDukeofGuise。Hehadmadehimselfsocompletelymasteroftheviewsofthesetwoprinces，thathetoldDeThouthattheKingofNavarrewouldhavebeenpreparedtoembraceCatholicism，ifhehadnotbeenafraidofbeingabandonedbyhisparty，andthattheDukeofGuise，onhispart，hadnoparticularrepugnancetotheConfessionofAugsburg，forwhichtheCardinalofLorraine，hisuncle，hadinspiredhimwithaliking，ifithadnotbeenfortheperilinvolvedinquittingtheRomishcommunion。ItwouldhavebeeneasyforMontaignetoplay，aswecallit，agreatpartinpolitics，andcreateforhimselfaloftypositionbuthismottowas，’OtioetLibertati’;andhereturnedquietlyhometocomposeachapterforhisnexteditiononinconveniencesofGreatness。
TheauthoroftheEssayswasnowfifty—five。Themaladywhichtormentedhimgrewonlyworseandworsewithyears;andyetheoccupiedhimselfcontinuallywithreading，meditating，andcomposition。Heemployedtheyears1589，1590，and1591inmakingfreshadditionstohisbook;andevenintheapproachesofoldagehemightfairlyanticipatemanyhappyhours，whenhewasattackedbyquinsy，deprivinghimofthepowerutterance。Pasquier，whohasleftussomedetailshislasthours，narratesthatheremainedthreedaysinfullpossessionofhisfaculties，butunabletospeak，sothat，inordertomakeknownhisdesires，hewasobligedtoresorttowriting;andashefelthisenddrawingnear，hebeggedhiswifetosummoncertainofthegentlemenwholivedintheneighbourhoodtobidthemalastfarewell。Whentheyhadarrived，hecausedmasstobecelebratedinapartment;andjustasthepriestwaselevatingthehost，Montaignefellforwardwithhisarmsextendedinfrontofhim，onthebed，andsoexpired。Hewasinhissixtiethyear。