upon Hugo gave him several mortal Stabs before the King's Face thô he made himself known to 'em on purpose to stop their fury out of that respect which was due to his Person and when they had done they threw themselves into a Forrest adjoyning and soon became invisible Several Months find away before the King could discover the Authors of so dating an enterprize but at 〈◊〉 he understood that the Murder was committed by the Queens Order and so far he was from shewing himself either griev'd or displeas'd at it that he lov'd her the more ever after and wholly fortook Almafrede who out of despair retired to a Convent and veil'd her self As for Foulqueâ— he underwent a severe Penance for having contributed to the Homicide being at Jerusalem whither he accompany'd Godfrey of Benillon and others of the Croisado For he caus'd himself to be drawn naked upon a Hurdle with a Rope about his Neck and to be whipp'd till the Blood came crying out with a loud voice Have mercy Lord upon the treacherous and perjur'd Foulques Bertrade Mistress to Philip. Anno 1086. Foulques Rechin going to pay a visit to Amaney Lord of Montfort and condole with him upon the death of his Mother fell in love with his Sister Bertrade He left nothing omitted to procure her Affection during the stay that he made at Montfort and not being able to obtain any Favour from her he resolv'd to marry her thô he were already marry'd to Ermengard the Daughter of Archambaut Lord of Bourbon and that he had a Son by her who was afterwards call'd Jeoffrey Martell To which effect he caus'd his Marriage with Ermengard to be declar'd null under pretence of being near akin and took Bertrade to Wife by whom he had a Son that bore his Fathers Name and who going to the Holy Land was King of Jerusalem In the mean time Foulques Rechin having had a Quarrel with his Brother Jeoffrey about sharing the Succession of their Father Foulques Nera the contest came to a Battle near Brochelac where Jeoffrey was overthrown and taken prisoner but took his being detain'd in Prison so hainously that for meer vexation he run mad Pope Gregory VII being inform'd how hardly Foulques had us'd his Brother and of the unlawfull Marriage which he had contracted with Bartrade excommunicated him Jeffery Martell who by this time was arriv'd to years of maturity taking advantage of the excommunication thunder'd out against his Father took Arms to revenge this Mothers Quarrel and set his Uncle at liberty Bertrade seeing her self so dangerously threatn'd by the ambitious Youth who was already become the head of a potent party sought which way to rid him out of the World and caus'd him to be poyson'd Pope Gregory being dead Foulques sent Embassadors to Vrban VI. who succeeded him to obtain his absolution offering to set his Brother at Liberty and to quit Bertrade Upon which the Pope empower'd Hugo Archbishop of Lion to take off the censure provided the Count perform'd what he had promis'd In the mean time Phillip coming to Tours to give Foulques a visit year 1093 and settle affairs between 'em in reference to the County of Gatinois which the Count had mortgag'd to him during the Wat with his Brother saw Bertrade who appear'd to him most charmingly beautiful notwithstanding those Clouds of sorrow that hung upon her countenance because her Husband was just going to put her away The King therefore having engag'd her to entrust him with the cause of her grief offer'd her his service and promis'd to marry her having under pretence of consanguinity vacated his Marriage with Bertha the Daughter of the Count of Frise whom he had banish'd to Montrevil upon the Sea Bertrade suffer'd her self to be surpriz'd with these alluring hopes and consented to be conveigh'd away by force The King thus satisfy'd after he and Bertrade had consulted upon the ways and means which way to effect their designe departed for Orleans and left behind him at Tours a Gentleman whose name was William Rechin to put the project in execution Bertrade and the Knight having conserted together how to manage the business she her self went to hear Mass at St. Martin's upon Easter-eve and after she had sent away the persons that attended her upon several errands slipt into a by Street where Rechin waited for her with two Horses She made choice of that which went most easily and being got a little way out of the City they met with laid Horses fresh and fresh every six Leagues and made such hast that before Night they reach'd Orleans where the King who had notice of every thing receiv'd 'em with those transports of joy that are hardly to be express'd He carry'd Bertrade to his Palace and by a thousand caresses endeavour'd to alleviate the Fatigues of her journey As for Foulques he did not much trouble himself for the loss of his Wife whom he lookt upon as an obstacle of his reconciliation with the holy See and finding himself well stricken in years he wholly gave off his debauchery Some time after Philip publickly espous'd Bertrade and caus'd her to be Crown'd with extraordinary magnificence He had two Sons by her Philip to whom he gave the Barony of Mang upon the Lâ—ire and whom he Marry'd to the Daughter of Gontier Lord of Montbery Henry who was design'd for the Church and a Daughter named Cecilia who was first marry'd to Tancrede Son of the Sister of Bremond Prince of Antiochia and after his death to Ponce the Son of Beritand Count of Tiral in Stiria descended from the Counts of Thoulouse However several Bishops who where present at the nuptials to which they were invited according to the custom of the Kingdom remonstrated to the King that the Church could not approve a Marriage directly contrary to all the Canons as well by reason of the proximity of Blood between him and Bertrade as for that Bertha was still living as well as Count Foulques But none of 'em took upon 'em to speak with more freedom then Yves Bishop of Chartres which exasperated the King to that degree that he caus'd him to be apprehended However in a short time after he releas'd him again at the sollicitation of the Clergy Pope Vrban VI. being inform'd of these disorders sent away on purpose a Legat into France who assembl'd a Council at Auâ—uâ— where it was decreed that Philip should be excomunicated But the Pope suspended the effect of the Decree till the next Year and then he thunder'd out his Anathema's against the King in the Council of Clermont The King terrifi'd with these censures parted from Bertrade for some time but he recall'd her shortly after by the consent of her Husband Foulques himself over whom she had so powerfull an ascendant that he sigh'd at her feet like the most passionate of Lovers The Popes Legats perceiving that the King had renewâ—d his crminal familiarity assembled another Councill
the King she never su'd to him for any favour for any of her acquaintance Therefore Marshal Grammont told her very well to the purpose one day when she complain'd to him that every body had forsaken her since her Rivalless came into credit That while she had an opportunity to be merry her self she should have taken care to make others merry if she had had a mind that others should have pitty'd her when she her self had an occasion to mourn But Madam de Montespan took a quite different course No considerable Employment was conferr'd but upon her solicitation and by her intercession She it was to speak properly that bestow'd every thing even to the very Ecclesiastical Benefices She advanc'd all her kindred to that degree of Grandeur to which otherwise they could never have attain'd In short she procur'd for her Brother who was no more then the Count of Vironne the Dignities of Duke and Peer and General of the Gallies and the Battoon of Marshal of France Which caus'd a Person of the First Quality in France to say speaking of Marshal de la Fueiltade and her Brother that one was Marshal of the Sword and the other Marshal of the Scabbard Never did Mistriss better understand to manage her Lovers humour then she did and that too when the King had not all that kindness for her that people imagin'd for 't is said that Madam de Lude who was but a * A Virgin that lives like a Nun but makes no vox nor renounces her Estate Canoness of Lorrain frequently shar'd with her the favours of the French Monarch which gave an occasion to the following Epigram Valiere was a Commoner Of Noble Race fair Montespan Du Lude had in the Church her Place And all the Three to serve one Man But would you know the main design Of the most great of Potentates The thing 's as clear as Noon-Sunshine He would unite the Three Estates Certain it is that la Valiere was of no very Noble Extraction Her Enemies were therefore wont to say after the King had made her a Dutchess that 't was but a few months ago that she was hardly a Gentlewoman and Madam who had been disapointed by the King upon her account never call'd her otherwise then the little Cittizens Daughter of Tours However it were the Canoness of Lorrain was the cause that Madam de Montespan spent many a night without closing her eyes Yet this was not the Rivalless that caus'd the change of the Kings Affection At the same time that M. de Montespan thought her Affairs in the most setl'd condition and that she lookt upon her self to be most solidly fix'd in the King s Affections a young Damsel surprizingly Beautiful was preferr'd to serve the Mounsieur's Dutchess as one of her Maids of Honour This was Mademoiselle de Fontange who might be said to be a Master-peice of Nature But before M. de Fontange appear'd M. de Montespan's Enemies made use of all their Artifices to set the King against her They told him a thousand stories to put him out of conceit with her But all their Artifices failing they thought there was no other way but to give him a home stroke upon the Conscienceside The Confessor who succeeded Anat had more wit then to undertake the Employmeut He knew what it had cost his Predecessor and the reproaches it had brought upon that silly Jesuit However they found out a Preacher who had the courage one day in his Pulpit before the King to tell him the story of David and Bathsheba 'T is true he seem'd to turn his matter another way but all men easily perceiv'd what he aim d at But after he came out of his Pulpit the King said the Preacher had made a very good Sermon and away he went to visit Madam de Montespan This pious fraud not succeeding it came into their heads to show him something of reality which might infuse into him an Aversion and Contempt of his Mistriss And the treachery of a Serving Maid gave 'em a favourable opportunity This Maid being brib'd deliver'd into their hands a Billet of M. de Montespan's hand writing which they counterfeited so well that by adding one single word there was a necessity for the King to fall into the snare and to acknowledge himself betrayd The Billet was given to the King as if it had been found by accident He read it nor was it possible for him to distinguish the difference of the Character That which was added though spoken after an Ambiguous manner presently gall'd him and put him into such a rage that he resolv'd forthwith to find out the Mystery Away he flung to Madam de Montespan whom he found reading a Courtly Novel What! Madam said the King with a kind ofscornful Air have you not left of these trifles yet T is true replyed Madam de Montespan that there is nothing of Solidity in these sort of books and I must acknowledge that they are no more then the Dreams and Visions of others that create in us either joy or sadness Nevertheless I am so weak sometimes as to suffer my self to be seduc'd and I could not read the Infidelity of a Mistriss mention'd in this little Story without paying some tears to the misfortune of her Lover I wonder reply'd the King that a thing so customary to your Sex should raise your passion to that degree He went on with his discourse in the same tune and carry'd it on so far that Madam de Montespan began to suspect some mystery Alas Sir said she such a Prince so rarely endow'd as your self have no reason to fear any such thing had he to do with the most fickle and inconstant of Women In a word they who possess a Merit so Illustrious as Yours are above these suspicions I so flatter'd my self hitherto reply'd the King but Kings are deceiv'd as well as other men This Conversation not a little troubl'd M. Montespan who was altogether innocent of what the King believ'd her Guilty of and therefore knowing herself to be free from all reproach she answer'd only with tenderness and tears Which so mollifi'd the King that without seeking any farther for the satisfaction which he desir'd he withdrew after he had privately conveigh'd the Billet into Madam de Montespan's Pocket The King had no sooner left her but M. de Montespan pulling out her Handkerchief to wipe her Eyes saw the fatal cause of her misfortune fall at her feet She took it up open'd it read it and soon perceiv d the soul play of her Enemies Now it was of that Importance for her to prevent as soon as might be the Kings first Impressions from sinking too deep into his mind that she went to him immediately and having made it out to him that something had been added the King was convinc'd and discours'd her with a thousand obliging tendernesses It never could be discover'd who the Authors of this Artifice were The Billet was so dextrously
THE ROYAL MISTRESSES OF FRANCE OR The Secret History OF THE AMOURS Of all the FRENCH KINGS From PHARAMOND the First Monarch Anno 418. to this present Time Made English from the French Original London Printed for Henry Rhodes at the Star the corner of Bride-lane in Fleet-street and John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultry 1695. To the READER MAny are those Excellent Observations and Instructive Admonitions that might be drawn from the following Sheets but lest the Men should take amiss my going about to descant upon their Follies and the Women be offended with me for unfolding the Arcana's of their Empire the Reader is left to make his own Reflexions himself I am none of those Enthusiast's who dream of Fifth Monarchies but I cannot tell what to think of it when I find the Women in so fair a way to erect One Some perhaps there are who may think these Stories Fabulous but such People display their Ignorance For certain it is that in the Main these short Stories agree exactly with what they call the Truth of History and as for the Circumstances which are added they may be justly thought rather to illustrate the Stories and discover the Causes of those odd Events which others only barely and obscurely relate For example 't is assuredly true that a Prince committed such and such miscarriages that such and such Persons of no Worth or Merit were advanced to high Prefernâ—â—ts and that others greatly deserving of their Prince and Country fell into disgrace while the True Historian as they call him is at a loss for the Reason of these Whimseys of Fortune But here the Riddle is unfolded Let no Man therefore censure that for fabulous which in the least he cannot taxe to savour either of Romance or Improbability THE AMOURS OF THE Kings of FRANCE c. The Amours of Pharamond First King of France THEY who apply themselves to the reading or History to the end they may reap Benefit by it ought to understand the true Causes of the most remarkable Events and this is that which cannot be known without being perfectly acquainted with the Intreagues of the Courts wherein they were acted For many times what is attributed to Policy has no other foundation then an erroneons Indulgence of Princes to their Mistresses or their Favourites And at the same time that they were believ'd â—o have in their Thoughts nothing more then the welfare of their Dominions t was only a burning Desire to revenge the quarrels wherein the Amours had engag'd ' em This is that which will be found in the sequel of this History wherein I have endeavour'd as much as lay within my Power to clear and give light to matters of â—act that seem'd obscure in regard the contemporary Historians were either ignorant or willing to conceal the weaknesses of those Princes under whose Reigns they liv'd I have very little to say of our first Kings not only because the Authors disagree among themselves touching the most memorable Events but also because the Princes themselves being oblig'd to be continually on Horseback for the preservation and establishment of their Dominions never minded Love but only as a trifling business to pass away time and were ignorant of the Delicacies of that passion which is the refinement of all Pleasure All Historians agree that we ought begin with * Anne 418. Pharamond when we go about to recount the extended series of Kings that have rul'd the â—â—ourishing Kingdom of France which is justify'd by a Medal that represents the Ceremony of his Coronation We shall say nothing of the Atchievements of that Prince which relate to the story of his Reign because they nothing concern our subject And for his Amours we are ignorant of 'em as also of the very name of his Wife and tho' It be very probable that such a Prince as he could not chuse but be engag'd in amorous Adventures worthy to have been transferr'd to Posterity yet in regard Historians make no mention of 'em neither can we deliver any thing of certainty concerning ' em No body doubts but what is said by the Author of the Romance which hears the Title of Pharamond was very ingeniously invented and thither it is that we refer all those who are Lovers of Fictions 'T is concluded on all hands that Pharamond was He who first introduc'd into France the Sallck Law which excludes Women from the Succession to the Crown At length after he had establish'd his Empire by several Conquests and Reign'd about 14 years he dy'd and left his Son Clodion to succeed him The Amours of Clodion CLODION the Son of Pharamond was call'd by the French to succeed his Father He was surnamed the Hairy because he wore his Locks very long which was at that time a mark of free Dominion But we are no more inform'd of his amorous Intreagues then of those of Pharamond Historians only report that the Queen his Wife walking one day upon the Sea stoâ—e was surpriz'd by a Monster that flung himself of a suddain out of the Salt water and that she had a Son by him who was call'd Meroveuâ— and was his Successor 'T is thought this Fable was invented by Meroveus to conceal the loose Amours of his Mother and to imprint Respect and Awe into the Minds of his Subjects by attributing to himself a birth so extraordinaâ—y The Amours of Childerick * Anno 459 or 460. CHILDERICK at his first coming to the Crown by no means follow'd the example of his Father M coveus's Virtues For he debauch'd the Wives and Daughters of his Subjects so notoriously and openly that he drew the Hatred of the whole Kingdom upon him and constrain'd 'em to depose him Upon which he retir'd into Turingia where King Basin at that time reign'd Now in regard he was of a very amorous Complexion and for that his misfortune had not cool'd the heat of his lustful Desires he soon became enamour'd of the King of Turingia's Wife who was a most lovely Princesse As for himself he was handsome in his Person and very pleasing in his Conversation so that it was not long before he reap'd the fruit of his Sighs The Queen Basina corresponded with his Affection in a most tender manner insomuch that his banishment became a pleasure to him But at length his Subjects having recall'd him home to the re-possession of his Throne his Love was forc'd to give way to his Ambition and he was constrain'd to quit his Fair Queen Who not being able to raze from her Heart the remembrance of Childerick follow'd him into France where he was re-settâ—d in his Kingdom neither regarding her Honour nor her Husband Childerick admiring to see her ask'd her what reason had induc'd her to leave her Husband Basin to follow him Thy Modesty answer'd she Thy Valour and thy noble Carriage have in a manner constrain'd me to come and seek thee for my Husband I am only in love with thy Virrtue and
length allow'd him to beg of the King the Cardinal of Tournon and Admiral Chabot to redeem his Life and Liberty at the price of the vast Wealth which he had acquir'd Nothing more manifestly prov'd him unworthy of his high fortune then his extream desire to survive his disgrace His carriage quite chang'd that fear and aversion which People had against his Person into a contempt which was no way advantageous to him seeing that they left him for some years in the Tower of Bourges without so much as thinking of him At ength he was so importunate with the Ministers of State that they order'd him to be brought to his Trial but not after such a method as he expected For they appointed Commissioners to try him chosen out of all the Parliaments of the Kingdom However they did him this justice to make choice of the most able and the most honest Nor were there ever in France any Judges whose Probitie and Abilities were more universally known then those of Peter Raymund President of the Parliament of Rouen who was order'd to draw up the Informations They were willing to give him that satisfaction whether it were that his enemies thought that they had more prooâ—s then they needed to ruin him or that the King who had no mind to pardon him as he had forgiven Admiral Chabot had taken all the precautions requisite to prevent any thing that might be spoken against the severity which he intended to inflict upon the chief Magistrate of the Kingdom However it were the Process lasted till the year 1545. because the Party accus'd finding himself abandon'd by all the world and ready to sink unrder the same Artifices with which he had oppress'd others made use of all the tricks that long experience had taught him and summon'd up all his cunning and his parts to defend himself He led his Judges through all the by-paths of Subterfuge and Evasion that Cavil could invent to elude or at least to delay his Condemnation He puzzl'd alike both his Judges and his Witnesses that were brought Face to Face against him and made so good a defence that he sav'd his Life whither it were that his Judges after a long debate did not find reasons enough to condemn him to Death or that the too open animosity of the prosecutors had infus'd compassion into those Magistrats by perswading 'em he was Innocent because his Enemies were so violent in seeking his ruin He heard bare-Headed the Decree pronounc'd that depriv'd him of his Dignities and Estate and confin'd him to perpetual Imprisonment for having Rob'd the Treasury fold Offices and traffick'd in several bargains misbecoming his quality The King surpriz'd at the mildness of the Decree could nor forbear testifying his resentment against the Judges and threw upon 'em those reproaches that extended even to accusations of being corrupted However his Majesty remitted the punishment of Imprisonment and Poyet was constrain'd for a Livelyhood to resume his first employment of Chamber-Counsellor in the Palace deeming himself happy that he had got himself out of the Bryars at any rate before Judges of approv'd integrity for that indeed there was as many persons convinc'd that he deserv'd Death as there were People that knew him The Dutchess d' Estampes after she had ruin'd all those that dar'd to obstruct her credit year 1587 seem'd to fear nothing but the Death of the King which was the only disturbance of her mind For thô the Duke d' Estampes her Husband had made a judicial enquiry into her behaviour since her Marriage yet she was well assur'd that he could make no use of it so long as the King liv'd however he was not immortal and the time would come when that cruel separation would happen The Dutchess also to her sorrow beheld the misfortune at a distrance and was sensible of the approaches of it For Francis I. decay'd insensibly in his Health and whither it were that his Physicians were ignorant of the true cause of his disease or whither they durst not discover it or whither they despair'd that His Majesty would submit to violent Remedies which could only correct the malignity of it they only put a stop in some measure to the outward effects which were most incommodious without ever going to the root of the Disease So that the King perceiving himself grow more unweildy every Day then other and loosing that vigour and Address which had formerly been the cause that he delighted with so much passion in the sports of Hunting and other laborious exercises liv'd a kind of morose Life of which the Dutchess was forc'd to bear all the inconveniencies at the same time that on the otherside she was afflicted and disturb'd to think what would become of her after the King's Death who in all probability could not be long Liv'd She was in some hopes of reassuming that place in her Husbands affection from whence jealousy had expel'd her in regard she was yet young and was the Mistress still of that same ravishing Beauty which had formerly charm'd him Nor was it unlikely but that compassion might overrule her Husbands Heart after the King's death had extinguish'd the cause of his jealousy by producing these effects therein which are expected from Love However it were Diana of Normandy's hatred seem'd to be much more formidable to her she was to be what she her self had been and it was to be presum'd that she would make use of all her credit to ruin her Enemy Diana was the Dauphin's Mistress as the Dutchess was the King's but there was no other resemblance between 'em either in their persons or their Wit The Dutchess was never more Beautiful then she was at that time nor had she lost any thing of that lustre which had caus'd her to be look'd upon by the most curious Eyes even by the Emperor himself as the most accomplish'd Beauty in Europe whereas the she-Seneschal had none of those Allurements which at one and twenty Years of Age had sav'd the Life of her Father Sr. Valier The Dutchess was not above thirty and the she Seneschal was suspected to be above threescore for she had caus'd her name to be torn out of the Register of the Christ'nings The Dutchess commanded naturally Diana of Poictiers by art and those different Empires were preserv'd by opposite means The Dutchess who fear'd not her being degraded till the King began to decay in his health stood less upon her guard and never laid any constraint upon her self when she spoke of Diana whereas the other conceal'd under feign'd demonstrations of respect and compliance the despite to see her self contemn'd and was in company when that terrible expression fell from the Dutchess's Lips that she was born the same Day that the Seneschal's Wife was marry'd Nevertheless she dissembled her resentment so long as the King was strong and lusty but she no sooner perceiv'd that His Majesty began to decline but she began to make the Dutchess sensible
such notable Tryals of her skill she thought it impossible for that same Prime Minister to deny her any thing and therefore she propounded to him the restoration of Madam de Chastetau-Neuf but in regard he could not consent to it without prejudice to his own particular interests he absolutely refus'd to gratifie her which occasion'd a Rupture so that afterwards there was never any sincere correspondence or reconciliation between ' em Chasteau-Neuf had been for some time already at Monrouge where he happen'd to arrive the same day that the Dutchess return'd to Paris by another Roade And perhaps if he had not stopt there but had come directly to Court without capitulating with the Queen he had oblig'd her by that frankness to have stuck close to him But being desirous to follow the example of Madam de Sensay who refus'd to return to Paris till she was resettl'd in her Employment he gave the Queen time to understand his temper without desiring his nearer approach But his case was not the same with that of Madam de Sensay who had no body to oppose her but a person for whom the Queen had no kindness whereas Chastau-Neuf besides that Monsieur the Prince's whole Family oppos'd him gave an occasion of jealousie to the Prime Minister and had no other way but by Addresses and by degrees to gain what the Lady of Honour obtain'd upon her first motion The Duke of Beaufort also lost himself by the same error for he thought the Queen so prepossess'd with an affection to him that he imagin'd he might be able to ruin Mazarin by shewing himself somewhat cold to that same Princess But that behaviour of his alter'd all the measures that had been taken for his advancement He had been already in nomination for a Cardinals Cap but when it was seen that he shew'd so little acknowledgment orders were sent away privately to Rome to desist from any farther sollicitation in his behalf Neither did the Duke of Vendome his Father carry himself with more prudence for he scrupl'd to accept of the Office of High-Admiral without the Anchorage not considering that it became him first of all at any rate to have worm'd himself into the Employment and then he might easily afterwards have extended his Priviledges He was so much at variance with himself what course to take that he made his addresses sometimes to the Cardinal and acknowledg'd himself beholding to him for his Preferment the next moment he sought an opportunity to get the Marshal d' Etrees to speak to de la Riviere and conjure him to bring about his designs and no sooner was he out of his sight but he endeavour d by indirect ways to engage Monsieur the Prince to serve him In short there was hardly an hour past over his head but he chang'd both his sentiments and his Party The Duke of Beaufort therefore seeing his measures broken by the removal of Chasteau-Neuf resolv'd to rid himself of the Cardinal and subordain'd certain persons to kill him as he went to the Palace Royal where the Queen then lay or else as he return'd But the Cardinal having an inkling of what was contriving against him immediatly went to the Palace Royal tho he knew the Queen was not there and sent for all his friends The Duke of Beaufort who narrowly watch'd him took notice of the swarm he had got about him and rightly guest from thence that his project had taken air which oblig'd him to defer the execution of it till the next day when he might have a better opportunity as he believ'd because the Cardinal was to go that day to Maisons and consequently to pass by the Hostle de Vendome However he was still disappointed for the Cardinal meeting the Duke of Orleance by the way the Duke took him into his Coach and the respect which they bore to the King's Uncle hinder'd the Conspirators from making any attempt In the Mean time the Queen being inform'd of the Duke of Beaufort's designs caus d him to be arrested and sent him away Prisoner to the Castle of Vincennes The Dutchess imagining that Monsieur the Prince had been the principle cause of the Duke of Beaufort's imprisonment and of Chastâ—au-Neufs misfortune resolv'd to be reveng'd Now tho Ladies are apt to flatter themselves in the opinion of their Beauty yet her Mirror had already several times inform'd her that her Charmes half worn away stood in need of some younger person to strengthen her party nor was she constrainâ—d to look out farther then her own Family The Daughter of the Countess of Vertus whom the Duke of Monbason her Father had married was as we have said already the most lovely Woman in France besides she had a secret despite against Monsieur the Prince's Sister who having marri'd the Duke of Longueville had depriv'd her of a Lover and therefore it was no hard matter for the Dutchess of Cheuvreux to win her into a Confederacy with her The Duke of Guise also who since his return had declar'd for that fair Dutchess engag'd all the Lorrain Princes to embrace his Party to which they were already well enclin'd out of respect to the Duke of Cheuvreux who was of the same Family These two Ladies having contracted a strict friendship resolv'd to satisfie their revenge by attacking the reputation of Madam de Longueviâ—â—e To that purpose they publisht the Letters which that Princess had written to the Duke of Beaufort They also counterfeited others which as they said had been written by Madam de Longueville to Coligni The Princess of Conde therefore understanding that the Dutchess of Monbason had spread abroad this report displaid her resentment and engag'd all her Friends to assist her in doing her self justice This quarrel divided the whole Court and made the Queen afraid least it should revive the ancient feud between the two Houses of Bourbon and Guise These two parties were equally matched because the Duke of Lorrain who had marri'd into the House of Guise had declar'd for Madam de Monbason and so this difference might be attended with pernicious consequences And tho the Queen were concern'd to hinder the Duke of Orleance from uniting too closely with the Prince of Conde for fear least their authority should prove prejudicial to hers yet in regard there was more danger in suffering 'em to push things on to the last extremity she laboured to reconcile the Ladies To which purpose she engag'd the Princess of Conde and the Dutchess of Longueville to accept of the satisfaction which Madam de Monbason was ready to give ' em Thereupon the Dutchess was wrought to declare in the Queen's presence to the two Princesses that she had no share in spreading the reports and that she utterly disown'd ' em On the other side the two Princesses as it had been agreed upon before declar'd that they were willing to believe her because Madam de Monbason said it It was also convenanted by the same accommodation that the
his advanc'd years would incline the Duke of Guise to listen to him with so much the more patience and he was willing to undertake the business The Duke of Guise had much ado at first to believe what Aged Cheuvreuse told him however it fixt some kind of jealousie in his mind Now Mademoiselle de Pons who was oblig'd to part with Malicorne upon her entrance into Guyenne not being able to live absent from him wrote to the Duke of Guise and desir'd he would be pleas'd that she might return to Paris The Duke well understanding the cause of her impatience desir'd her on the other side to stay for some time longer with her Parents but she without any respect to his request set forward and away she came When she was arriv'e the Duke of Guise brib'd one of her Chambermaids and by her means got into his hands the little Box wherein she lockt up all her Lovers Billet douxes and there he found a great number of Letters which plainly made out a form'd Intreague besides some other Letters from the Marshal de Aumont and Marshal d' Albert that spoke the Language of fortunate Lovers which drove him to his wits end Upon this he broke off with Mademoiselle de Pons and us d her very unworthily for he su'd her at Common-Law for a pair of Pendants valu'd at 50000 Crowns and a rich suit of Tapestry which he had given her but with very ill success So that the loss of his Suite redoubld his indignation and he resolv'd to assault her in her own house of which she having notice sent for the Marshal d'Aumont and Marshal d' Albert to protect her the one being Captain of the Guards the other Lieutenant of the King 's Light Horse Presently they hastn'd to her aid with a Body of Cavalry which was the reason that the Duke of Guise made no farther attempt Fain would Marshal d' Albert have made his Market of this piece of service and exacted compliances from Mademoiselle de Pons which she could not find in her heart to grant because she doated altogether upon Malicorne Thereupon that jealous Lover resolv'd to be reveng'd upon her for her ingratitude and entring to that purpose into a League with the Duke of Guise they resolv'd to get an Order from the King to take her away by force and send her into an Abby in the Pyreneans of which a Kinswoman of the Marshals was Abbess Madam de Pons having notice of this Conspiracy stole out of Paris in the habit of a Country market-woman with only two of her waiting women and went to Brussels under pretence of pursuing her Steward who having robb'd her was fled the same way At her departure she left the fatal Box wherein were all her Love Letters with Mademoiselle de Tieure who had been a Pensioner with her at Chassemidi with orders to deliver it to no person living but her self which was afterwards the cause of her breaking off with Malicorne as we shall relate in due place As for the Duke of Guise he being inform'd of her departure resolv'd to make a second voyage to Naples and to that purpose embark'd himself aboard the King 's Fleet. 1654. Nor was the Duke the only Person that prov'd unfortunate in his Amours for the Abbot Touquet who was no less violently in love with the Dutchess of Chatillon left nothing omitted to gain her affection but all the complacency she had for him was only in order to coaxe him out of considerable presents One day that he went to visit her he found her upon the Bed in a sullen moody humour nor could all that he could say to her put her out of it Thereupon he ask'd her chief woman what he should do to divert her and propounded several ways that were not accepted But at length the cunning Ouistrel who was acquainted with all her Mistresses knacks put it into the Abbots head to carry her to St. Germons Fair and the Maid and the Mistress acted their parts so well together that they got out of the incontinent Abbot a Service of Gilt Plate valu'd at above Fifty Thousand Crowns However she had other Admirers that came off at a cheaper rate among the rest Bouchu Intendant in Burgundy and Cambiac Canon in the Cathedral of Albi who was above fifty years of Age. As for Mademoiselle de Pons she made as great a Hurlyburly at the Court of Brusselles as she had done in France The Marquiss of Bouteville a Favourite of the Prince of Conde's and the Marquiss of Fuenclara a Captain under Don John of Austria both offer'd her their Services and to the first she lent a favourable ear The Prince himself also paid her some sedulities but finding more resistance then he expected he quitted her Lodgings full of Choller and Indignation Some days after he understood that Bouteville had not been so unkindly repuls'd which put him into such a Chafe that he swore to him he would never pardon him if he did not quit her forever offering on his part never to have any more to do with her Moreover to let him see that he would be exact to his word he obtain'd an order from Don John by which Madam de Pons was commanded to leave Brussells in twenty four hours and within eight days to depart the King of Spains Territories Howerver Bouteville paid her several private visits after she had receiv'd this Order and they agreed together that she should make a shew of departing and that after she had travell'd about four Leagues from Brussells she should return in the night time to a Chamber which he would hire for her in a by corner of the Town Nor was she worse then her word to Bouteville and for fifteen days together they enjoyâ—d each other in great tranquility But by misfortune Fuenclara having espi'd one of Madam de Depons's Chamber-maids looking out at the Window he learnt by her that her Mistress lay in that Lodging Incognito for it was not the first time that that same damsel had tasted of his liberality Mademoiselle de Pons finding her self discover'd would stay no longer at Brussells for fear of being affronted but withdrew to the Hague where she stay'd all the while that the Spaniards kept the field But after they had taken up their Winter Quarters Bouteville sent for his Mistress to Antwerp whither she was coming but he sent her word by one of the Trumpeters of his Rement to miss Antwerp and return to Brussells in regard the Prince of Conde was gone to give instructions about some thing to be done in the former City Madam de Pons no sooner receiv'd these tydings but she set forward and by an unlucky mischance met the Prince of Conde in a narrow hollow way in his return form visiting the Frontier Garrisons who thought he knew her but Lainett and the President Viole perswaded him to the contrary After this happy escape Madam de Pons arriv'd at Brussells and alighted at