course I was to take My Friends had the goodness to represent to me the little Security I must hope for from a man of that Caprice in a place so Remote and where his Power was so absolute That after what had passed betwixt us I was a Fool to imagine I should ever be suffered to return from thence That he had sent my Jewels before for no other reason but to confine himself for ever to that his Government where he should not be obliged to give any account of his Conduct as at Paris and if ever I should have need of my Friends I should be so far from them that they could do me no other good but unprofitably to wish my Condition were better These Considerations that were but too apparent and too well grounded made me take Sanctuary once more at Madam the Countesses the night before Monsieur Mazarine was to begin his Journey fearing lest he would have used Violence to have forced me along with him I was so full of Perplexity and Distraction to see my self anew reduced to this Necessity that I forgot to bring away my small Jewels which were left me for my daily use and might be worth about fifty thousand Crowns as they were the only Treasure I had left Madam the Countesse was so provident as to ask me for them as soon as she saw me by that means I had time enough to send for them away He came the next day to know what I meant Answer was made him that I meant two things the one Not to go into Alsatia the other That he should restore me my great Jewels which he sent before unto Alsatia and which were the first cause of our Breach For Alsatia he would have been contented to excuse me since he saw no great likely-hood of being able to perswade me to it But for my Jewels he would make no peremptory answer therefore as soon as she left us Madam the Princess of Baden carried me to Mons Colberts to beseech him to seize them into his own hands He believed I ought not to be refused that Favour They were forced to be brought back and they have remained ever since in his hands Now the Question was What should become of me Monsieur Mazarine left me my Choice of going to live at the Hotel de Conty or at Abbey of Chelles the only two places in the World he knew I hated mortally and that for very just Reasons The Oppression of Spirit under which I lay would not give me leave to determine which I should chuse of those two places equally odious to me I was fain to let others chuse for me and the reasons I had against the Pallace of Conty being more prevalent the Abbey of Chelles was preferred before that of Conty Here it was in this Solitude that I had time to make Reflections upon the Duty which my Friends told me was incumbent upon me to desire a Separation of Goods in favour of my poor Children before Monsieur Mazarine had spent all which at last I resolved to do Though I was convinced in my own Sense I ought to solicite it yet the particular Reasons I had to referre all this to Monsieur Colbert's Judgement whom I caused to be sounded upon this matter and finding him averse to it put a stop to all Some six months afterwards Monsieur Mazarine coming out of Alsatia made me a Visit as he passed that way to oblige me to discharge two young women which Madam the Countesse had given me since his departure for Alsatia I did not believe my self bound to satisfie his Desires in this particular being I knew it was for no other reason he desired it but out of his Animosity against her His Resentment of this Denial put him upon petitioning the King to have me removed from thence to some other Monastery upon I know not what pretexts But the real Truth was because the Abbesse of Chelles who was his Aunt treated me civilly and that I was well enough satisfied with my abode there He prevailed and though that Abbesse was as she had cause much offended and gave as favourable an account of my behaviour there as could be desired Yet Monsieur Le Premier came to tell me That I should oblige the King in going to the Nunnery of St. Maries of the Bastile And Madam De Toussi came with six Guards to conduct me Some time after Monsieur Mazarine going into Britany came thither to see me but was presently out of all Patience because I wore Patches for I had some on by chance that day and told me he would not speak to me untill I had taken them off No man ever made his Demands with such unreasonable haughtiness as deserved rather to be refused than granted and chiefly when he believed that Conscience was concerned and that also was the reason I would not put off my Patches to shew him it was neither of my Belief nor Intention to offend God with this kind of Dresse After Contesting a whole hour about this in vain he at last began to tell me his mind notwithstanding my patches and pressed me with as little success to go with him into Brittany I was then more inclinable to go to Law with him than to follow him I obtained leave of his Majesty to commence my Suit having been Conducted to Him by the Princess of Baden But Monsieur Colbert who was very unwilling to consent to it for Reasons that admitted of no Answer in any other Conjuncture It put along delay to it until at last Madam De Coursel being put into the same Monastery with me I obtained by the favour of some Friends that she had at Court leave to Commence my Suit As she was a very beautiful person and of a very pleasant humour I had Complaisance enough for her to joyn with her in playing some Tricks to the Nunns The King has been told a hundred ridiculous Stories about it That we used to put Ink into the Holy-Water-Pot to smut the good old Nunns That we used to run through their Dormitory at the time of their first Sleep with a great many little Doggs yelping and yellowing and twenty other such Fooleries either altogether invented or much exaggarated As for example having desired them to let us have some water to wash our Feet The Nuns concerted amongst themselves to refuse us what was necessary and to find fault as if we had been put in there to observe their Rule It is true that we filled two great Chests that where over the Dormitory with Water and not taking notice that the floor was ill soynted the water run through and wet all the poor Nunns beds If you were at that time at Court you will easily remember that this accident was represented there as a meer Horse-boyes pranke It is also true that under Colour of keeping us Company they would never suffer us to go out of their Sights The eldest amongst the Religious women were
addition of others I answered him that it were to be wished his liberality had been as regular as mine that I was satisfied with them I had already and that I would not go to bed until I had them again And seeing that to what ever I could say he only replied with unpleasant Ralleries expressed with a malicious Laugh or a scorning calmness of Voice but in reallity most tart and bitter I went out of the Room all in Despaire and passed to my Brothers Pallace extreamly perplexed not knowing what course to take Madam de Bouillon whom we Presently sent for having heard this my new occasion of complaint told me I was well enough served since I had suffered so much already without saying a Word I resolved to have gon away with her in that very instant if Madam de Belinzani whom we likewise sent for had not hindred me intreating me to stay until she had spoken to Monsieur Mazarine But he had given order that none should be admitted yet Madam de Belinzani through much obstinate pressing was suffered to come unto him but would not give her leave to speak nor could she get any other Answer but that her business could not be so urgent with him as to oblige her to come at so unreasonable an hour but that if she had any thing to say to him he was going next morning to St. Germain and he would give her a meeting at the Cross of Nantare Madam de Belinzani being returned as ill satisfied as we at so unreasonable a Rallary it was concluded I should go to lie at Madam de Bouillions the next day all my Relations being come thither about my concern Madam the Countess was desired to acquaint the King with it He received her very Graciously And Madam the Princess of Carignan was Commanded to come and carry me with her to the Hotel of Soisson after staying there about two months I was obliged to return with Monsieur Mazarine even without having my Jewels restored to me or with any other satisfaction but to be allowed to discharge some Women which he placed about me whom I did not like that was the only Favour I could obtain When I pressed to have my Jewels restored Madam the Countess was the first that told me I did very ill The Court was always against me ever since that time It is well known of what Consequence that is in all manner of business I told the King in these Termes That I should Comfort my self to see Monsieur Mazarin so much favour'd against me if he were so in all other things and if the litle help he found in his other affairs did not make it appeare that he had no other friends but my Enemies As this accord was rather a triumph for him than a real accomodation it made him too haughty to let it be of any long continuance An hour before my going to the Pallace Mazarine I sent thither a Groom of the Chamber whom Madam the Countess had prefered to me since my coming thither with some of my things Monsieur Mazarine that knew him as well as I did having asked him what he would have or who he belonged to bad him be gon about his busiess without letting him stay until I came This poor fellow met me about two hundred paces from my House and told me what happned and though Madam the Countess who came to conduct me perceived that this was a Just Cause of a new breach she perswaded me to pass forward and when she had brought me to the staire foot she took her leave of me being unwilling to see Monsieur Mazarine because he had used all his endeavours to have me removed to the Pallace of Conty as if the Hotel of Soisson where she lived had not been as convenient and as safe a place for me I begun immediately to beg that this Servant might be received again into my retinue but all in vaine although the necessity I saw my self reduced to by the Authority of the Powers made me show submissions beyond my natural inclinaon But I had a man to deal with that knew how to make use of the conjuncture Seeing then that he payd me with bald Excuses and as bad Jests I resolved to leave him the second time and to withdraw my self to my Brothers House But Monsieur Marine as you shall perceive by the sequel had taken a course that I should not go out when I pleased meaning to make me a Prisoner in my own house seeing me offer to go he threw himself in my way and pushed me very rudely to stop my passage But my Grief and Vexation supplying me with more than ordinary strength I thrust by him in spight of all he could do and though he called out to the Servants to shut all the Doors and the Court Gate especially they seeing me all in Tears none durst obey I was fain to go round by the Street wherein there was a great throng of People in this sad condition alone a foot and at noon-day to get to my accustomed Sanctuary This was the Effect of that Providence that made him wall up the door by which there was a Communication betwixt my Brother's Pallace and mine and through which I made my escape the time before But this pre-caution gave occasion to all men that knew of it to judge that he never intended me any better usage for the future if I return'd again to him than I had before received at his hands having taken such care to secure me for the time to-come As soon as I came to my Brothers I writ to the King to give him an account of my proceeding And Madam the Countesse carryed me with her to the Pallace of Soissons But after five or six dayes Monsieur De Louvoy came to me from the King to propose to me to retire into some Nunnery but Madam the Countesse would not consent to that but brought it about that Monsieur Mazarine should be obliged to come and agree and carry me home with him upon condition that she would be friends with him Presently after this my Brother went away for Italy partly to make it appear that he did not contribute any thing to a mis-understanding betwixt Monsieur Mazarin and me and that it should not be his fault if we did not live peaceably together But I enjoyed but an out-side appearance of that Quietness which I hoped to have For notwithstanding all my Resolutions of Patience there passed not one day for three Months that we continued together without some jarring and causes of disgust At the end of this time he took a fancy to go into Alsatia and instead of gratifying me and obliging me with his Kindness to go as I had resolved to do along with him He was so ill advised as to force me to entertain a Woman that I could no way approve of This his Quarrel about a trifle made me open my Eyes and to think better of what
Licensed February 22th 1676. Henry Oldenburg THE MEMOIRES OF THE DUTCHESS Mazarine Out of French LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by William Cademan at the Popes-Head in the New-Exchange and Middle-Exchange in the Strande 1676. THE MEMOIRES OF THE Dutchess Mazarin SInce the Obligations I owe you are of that Nature that I ought to conceal nothing from you wherein I can testifie my Acknowledgments of them I am willing to gratifie you with the true Relation of my Life being you desire it Not that I am ignorant how hard it is to speak discreetly of one's self And you know how averse I am in my Nature from explaining to the World matters wherein I am so neerly concerned yet it is very Natural to defend one's self from Calumny and to make appear to those of whom we have received considerable Services that we are not so unworthy of their Favours as the traducing World would make us appear to be Nor can I spend the time of my Solitary Retreat with more Innocence But if what I am going to acquaint you with seem to favour much of the Romance impute it rather to my Destiny than to my Inclination I know the chief Glory of a Woman ought to consist in not making her self to be publickly talked of And those that know me know like-wise that I never took much pleasure in things that make too much Noise But it is not alwayes in our choise to live our own way And there is a kind of Fatality even in those things that seem to depend upon the wisest Conduct I would not trouble you with the account of my Birth if those that envied my Uncles Glory had not endeavoured to tarnish the Lustre thereof But since their Fury spared nothing that was his It is lawful for me to let you know that I am descended from one of the most Illustrious Families of Rome and that my Ancestors these three hundred years have held a Rank so eminent and considerable that I might pass my dayes happily though I had never been Heiresse to a first Minister of France The Accademy of Good Witts which began in that Country at the Nuptials of one of our Family made it appear in what esteem that House was in at that time And as a farther addition of Happiness I had the advantage to be descended from a Father that was one of the most accomplished and best qualified of our Family I was but six years old when I was brought into France and a few years after Monsieur M. rejected the Marriage of my Sister afterwards marryed to the Constable of Collonna and conceived such a violent Passion for me that upon a time he told Madam D' Eguillon that if he could but have the happiness to be marryed to me it would not grieve him to dye three Months after The success surpassed his desire he has married me and yet God be thanked he is alive still Upon the first report of his refusing my Sister the Cardinal was much offended and would often say He had rather marry me to a Serving-man But he was not the only man I had the ill Fortune to please An Italian Eunuch Musician to the Cardinal was accused for having a Kindness for me But the truth is That it was as much for my Sister as for me He was also jeered for being in love with the beautiful Statues that were in the Pallace M. This man's Love certainly was unlucky since those poor Statues were so cruelly punished for it as well as I though they were as little in fault It was no fault of my Sisters that I was not in love with something as well as I was beloved As she had a sincere Inclination for the King she would have been glad to see me ingaged with some such Folly But being extream young and childish I could fix to nothing All that she could obtain from me to oblige her was to shew some Complasance to those of my Age that diverted me most in our little Play-games which then took up all my time and thoughts though they were often interrupted by the King's Presence who seldom stirred from our House though he conversed amongst us with wonderful goodness He had so much of Serious and solid not to say of Majesty in all his wayes that he could not keep himself from striking through us a most aweful Respect even beyond his intentions My Sister was no way disturbed at his Presence who ever else was And you may easily conceive that his Assiduity had Charms for those who were cause he had none for others As the things which Passion makes us do seem ridiculous to those that have never known what that passion is My Sisters exposed her very often to our Rallery One time amongst the rest we Jeered her because she seeing at a a distance a Gentleman of the House who was about the King's Stature with his back to her ran to him with open arms crying Ha my poor Sire An other thing that made us Sport about that time was a Pleasantry of the Cardinals with Madam de Bouillon which was about six years old The Court was then at Lafere One day as he made sport with her about some Gallant that he said she had at last he began to chide her for being with Child The Resentment which she shewed diverted all so that it was agreed she should be still told of it They streightened her Cloaths from time to time and they made her believe that she was growing very big This continued as long as it was thought necessary to perswade her to the likely-hood of her being with Child Yet she would never believe any thing of it and denyed it with a great deal of heat until the time of her Lying-in came she found betwixt her Sheets in the morning a Child new born You cannot imagine the Astonishment and Grief she was in at this sight Such a thing said she never happned to any but to the Virgin Mary and my self for I never felt any kind of Pain The Queen came to condole with her and offered to be God-mother many came to Gossip with her as newly brought to bed And that which at first was but a Past-time within doors came to be the publick Divertisment of all the Court They pressed her hard to tell who was the Father but all they could get from her was only That it could be none but the King or the Count of Guich because no other man but those two had ever kissed her For my part being three years elder than her I was infinitely proud that I knew the truth of the matter and I could never be weary of laughing to make people take notice that I knew it You will hardly believe that at those years when there is nothing less thought of than of reasoning upon things I should make as serious Reflexions as I ever did of any thing of this Life It is true notwithstanding that my greatest Delight was at
upon condition that his Majesty would never more interpose into our Business neither one way nor other His Majesty was Graciously pleased to pass His Word that he would not and has ever since kept His Promise This brought us again into Parliament and our Suit was followed with more Bitterness on both sides than ever Monsieur Mazarine and his Adherents forgot nothing since that time that might sully my Reputation to the World and a bove all make me hateful to His Majesty The Extravagancies of Monsieur Courcelles amongst other things furnished them with an Admirable Invention I had forgotten to tell you that when I left Chelles I prevailed so far that I got leave for his Wife to come aâ—â— live with me She was no sooner there but those that formerly had been instrumental to draw her away from her Husband being glad to put her again into his Possession found means I know not how to let him into the Pallace Mazarine whilst I was abroad and managed her so that her Husband and she went away together as good friends as ever One day as I came to giver her a Visit she was so foolish as to deny her self though Mr. Cavoy's Coach stood at the Door In the first transports of my Passion for this her Rudeness her Husband came unluckily in the way to whom I could not forbear saying something of iâ— This foolish Fellow of late hankered after an occasion to fight Cavoy and was loath it should be thought that he was Jealous of the best of his Friends but that it was upon some other account The most Plausible he could find was to pretend himself every where in in love with me giving out That his Wife had in her keeping some Letters of mine that were of Consequence and which I had written to some Gentleman of the Court That she put them into Cavoye's hands and that Cavoy 〈◊〉 a Rascal shewed them about but that he would force him with his Sword to rerestore them as he had promised meso to do Although this Story was Ridiculous enough and as ill contrived as might be yet it found Belief and some were so soolish as to report it for a Truth He did worse than all this he had the Impudence to tell me to my Face of it in the Court-Yard of the Pallace Mazarine I told him that knowing better than any other that all he had said was not true I could not imagine he could have any other Design in it but to make himself merry and that if I knew that he had the least intention of Fighting upon this Ridiculous Pretence I would immediately acquaint Monsieur the Count with it who was just by and heard some part of our Discourse Coursel perceiving by the manner and tone of my Voice that I would not understand Rallery made signe with a nod of his head that it was only in jest not daring to speak it out because of Monsieur the Count who joyned us at the same time It is easie to guess how great my amazement was when I understood the next day that they had not only fought but that likewise in the Accord they made amongst themselves in the Field He had the Impudence to maintain this Fiction to the end and to except a Woman from the Secret they had mutually promised to keep He was so well pleased with himself that he could not contain himself but Braggs of this Exception to all people without Exception which made the matter publick and was the occasion that they both were sent to the Conciergery to do Penance for one man's Folly They were not wanting at Court in their Censures of me upon this occasion treating me with the Attributes of Incendary make-bate and Brutal That I should be the occasion of cutting many other Throats if I could One of my Grooms of the Chamber being dangerously wounded about that time by some of his drunken Comrades they had the Charity to inform the King That this Fellow was privy to all my Secrets and that having found that he betrayed his Trust I took course to have him assassinated The insolent Liberty people took to charge me with these Calumnies obliged me to speak to the King about it Madam the Dutchess in whose Company I went to him told him as she entred the Room That she brought him that Criminal that wicked Woman of whom so many evil things had been told him The King was pleased to tell me That he never gave Credit to any of those Reports But his manner of delivering this was so succinct and so far from the accustomed Civility with which he used to hear me that all others but my self would have doubted of the Truth of what he said you know the Court is a land of much contradiction The Compassion which perhaps people took of me when they saw me shut up in a Convent was changed into Envy to see me appear in the Queens with-drawing Room and to make a much better appearance there than I had a mind to Yet I had no other pretention but to endeavour to make some tollerable Agreement with Monsieur Mazarine but those by whose Counsels I regulated my Actions and Affairs having other ends ruined my business by endeavouring to make their own succeed so abusing my simplicity and the blind Obedience I gave to all their Advices made me run up and down to this place and that man without understanding the reason or consequence of it Admidst all these Troubles and Vexations our Suit went forward and Mounsieur Mazarine found the same favour amongst the Old men which I had obtained of the Young After three months time I had Intelligence That he had gained the Hearts of the great Chamber that his Cabal carried all before them there that he was like to have such a Decree as he desired that although they did grant me the separation of Goods they would not leave me that of my Bed which I then enjoyed and therefore was no part of my Request to them and lastly that the Judges could not dispence with themselves from ordering me to go to Cohabit with my Husband though they had been as favourable as they were then avers to me If this account had been given me by people of less credit then they from whom I had it I might have had the liberty of publishing the Names of my Authors But as they run a hazard in telling it so they were cautious in exacting my Secrecy which I will eternally keep inviolable to them You may judge what usage I was like to have of Monsieur Mazarine if I should be forced by Act of Parliament to return to him after the causes of Resentments which he pretended to have against me and have both Court and Parliament contrary to me These were the Motives that produced that strange and so much blamed Resolution which I took of retiring into Italy to my Friends and Relations seeing now no longer Refuge or Security for me in France
so troblesom to me that if you could but see them you would more easily comprehend that nothing but the necessity I saw my self reduced to could hurry me to so pernicious an Enterprise I can with great Truth assure you that all my Divertisments were but feigned since I had formed this designe and that Madam the Countess was much in the wrong in reproaching me with my tranquility of mind I scarce took any rest nor eat nor drank much for above eight days before and I was so much troubled when I parted that I was fain to send back from the Gate of St. Anthony to fetch the Box in which was my money and my Jewels which I had forgotten It is a great Truth that I never dreamed that I should ever want money but experience hath taught me it is commonly the first thing that is wanting especially to those that having always lived in great plenty of it never know the necessity and importance of discreetly managing it Nevertheless I left the Keys of my Appartment with my Brother that he might seize upon my Plate Furniture and other things of Value But he was so Careless as to let Monsieur Mazarine prevent him upon the same token that somtime afterward he sould some of my things to Madam La Valter for a hundred thousand Francks My Train Consisted of a maid I had but six months called Nannon dressed immans Apparel as I was a man of my Brothers called Narcissus with whom I had no acquaintance and a Gentleman belonging to Monsieur Rohan called Courbevil whom I had never seen before My Brother prayed Monsieur Rohan not to leave me until he had seen me out of Town I parted with him without the Gate of St. Anthony and drove on in a Goach with six Horses to a house belonging to the Princess of Guimene his mother ten Leagues from Paris From thence I went six or seven Leagues in a Caleche but these kind of Carriages were too slow for my Fears therefore I took Horse and Arrived at Bar the Friday following about Noon from thence seeing my self out of France I went no further than Nancy that Night The Duke of Lorraine hearing of my Arrival and desireing to see me was so Civil as not to press it when he understood I was unwilling The Resident of France was very earnest to have me stopped there but in vain and the Duke to Compleat his Generosity gave me a Lieutenant and twenty of his Guards to Conduct me into Swiszerland VVe were almost every where known to be VVomen and Nanon still through forgetfulness called me Madam whether for this Reason or that my Face gave some Cause of suspition the People watched us through the Keyhole when we had shut our selves in and saw our long Tresses which as soon as we were at liberty we untied because they were very troublesome to us under our Perriwigs Nanon was extreme low of stature and so unfit to be Cloathed in mens Apparel that I could never look upon her without Laughing The Night that I lay at Nancy where we reassumed our Womens Apparel I was so overjoyed to see my self out of danger that I gave my self the liberty of diverting me a litle at my ordinary Sports and as I ran after her to Laugh at her I fell on my Knee so that I hurt it but I did not feel it then some dayes after I caused a Bed to be made in a pittiful Village of the French County to rest my self while Dinner was a preparing but of a suddain such a grievous paine took me in that Knee that I was not able to rise but on I must go therefore having been let blood by a woman for want of another Chirurgion I followed my Journey in a Litter till I came to Newcastle where the people perswaded themselves that I was Madam de Longeville you cannot Imagine the Joy the people expressed to see me being not used to see Women of Quality of France passe through their Country nor could they comprehend that any other then the Dutchess of Longeville could have business that way I know some would have layd hold of this occasion and made use of their kindness to tast of the sweetness of Soveraignity however the mistake was advantagious to me and what I wanted in Age I gained in quallity But this Authority seemed to me too great and too good for a Fugitive I was also so unskilfully handled that my paine grew worse in so much that I had once thoughts of returning to Paris and were it not that Millain was nearer and that I hoped to be sooner and safer there I had pursued my first Thoughts Some few days after as I passed through a litle Town of Swiszerland where we were all like to be knocked on the Head by our Ignorance of their Language and to compleat our happiness we understood when we came to Altauph that we must pass our Quarantaine there before we should be suffred to enter the Territories of Millan There it was my stock of Patience was quite spent For I faw my self in a Barbarous Country most desperately Sick full of grievous Pain and for Help you shall Judg by what hapned to Nacassus whether there was much to be hoped for in that place For he ayling somthing sent for a Chirurgion to let him Blood they brought him a Farrier who going to let him Blood with his Flemmes missed the Vain and Naâ—assus threatning to kill him the Fellow still answered Coldly that he had not hurt the Artery But what consummated and throughly carried my Condition even beyond Despair was the Division that I found in my Family and their continual Jarring Narcissus took it Ill that Courbevill who had been in my Family but seven or eight dayes should take upon him to meddle with any thing without his leave and the same reason made Nanon quarrel with them both but while Narcissus and she Jarred in this manner they were wholly useless to me and did nothing but out of spite to thwart one another On the other side Courbevill was very diligent to help me and I am still perswaded had it not been for him I had been forced to had my Legg cut off And as my distressed Condition made me very thankful and acknowledging for every little service and commending his particular Care of me put them two quite out of Humour and thereupon abandon'd me wholly to his Care of me It was at the time of this Quarantine that La Louvier over-took me but I remitted his Deliberation of what he proposed to me to our Arrival at Millan whither I came some few dayes after by the favour and means of the Duke of Sest Brother in Law to the Constable and Governour of that Country He understood how I was detained at Altauph and he remitted eighteen dayes of my Quarantine My Sister and the Constable came to meet me at a House of theirs four dayes Journey from Millan where we stayed some dayes and
who did negotiate betwixt my Brother and me was That he should not presse me with so much Imperiousness to this Deferrence and that I might be allowed to go and sojourne with my Aunt Martinozzi An Hour before Courbevil was to leave my House my Aunt being already come to carry me with her my Sister was in such a rage because I would no longer stay at her house that she begun to play upon him before me and to ask him If he would not once more move me and perswade me to let him stay yet this time The man being in despair for his going away answered her fiercely That if I did not command him to go he would not and that he cared for none there but me She bad him to get him gone and that he should understand what it was to speak to her in her own Pallace with so little Respect He went out in a great Fury and I had reason to believe that there was some mischief intended against him and therefore thinking my self bound to save his Life I had him along with me to my Uncles House the Cardinal Mancini from thence I went to my Aunt 's House where I staid some time shut close up as in a Prison As Melancholy as I was I could not hold Laughing at a request she made me to dance the Mattassin Dance to the Sound of my Guitar to divert me from Sadness I know not whether it was this my Refuse that did exasperate her against me but one day as I was at the Window she commanded me very roughly to get me from thence That it was not the custome at Rome to stand looking out at VVindows Another time as I stood at it she sent me her Ghostly Father to tell me That she would cause me to be haled from it be force This Monk was so insolent in the delivery of his message that the Tears gushed out of my Eyes Cardinal Chigeis Gentleman of the Horse who was managing of Horses before the House hearing me complain came up to offer me his Service but when I saw him I had no power of saying any more For all that he went and tould his Lord That I had neither eat nor drank in two days Cardinal Chigie was troubled at it and pittied my condition and Cardinal Mancini telling him that Monsieur Mazarine desired I would Retire for fifteen Days into a Monastery wherein there was a Sister of Cardinal Mazarins I took him at his VVord My Brother and Sister seeing the Deplorable State in which I was began to reflect upon their passed usage to me and could not be quiet until I had pardoned them But I would not consent that my Brother should see me yet at last they overcome me in this too and though I said that their Repentance could not redress the Injuries they had done my Reputation the easiness of my Nature carried me to yield even this time notwithstanding the just cause of Indignation which I had against them I confess my Heart hardens at the Relation I know nothing so Cruel in ones Life as to see those People come boldly to us that have done us unpardonable Injuries It is enough to be mortally affronted by them without being persecuted with their Repentance too This Reflection with many others which I had occasion to make in my recess made me resolve to return into France and to throw my self at Monsieur Mazarines Feet and rather trust to his Mercy without Capitulating than to remain still exposed to as many more irksome and heart breaking adventures as I had already run through I made my Aunt Martinozzi to write to the Princesse of Conty her Daughter about it and I was preparing to be gon as soon as the Answer was come some few Days after Courbevil found means to let me understand That after he had been some Dayes kept close at Cardinal Mancinies he was conveyed to Civita Vetchia where he had been a Prisoner for six Weeks and where he was like to remain as he sent me word long enough unless I would please to have the goodness to solicite for him Though I had reason never more to concern my self with him yet because I would not leave my Work imperfect I begged his Liberty of Francisco Vincenzo Rospigliosi the Popes Nephew who thereupon commanded his Inlargment In the intrim the time which I was to stay in the Convent being elapsed Cardinal Mancini made answer to the instances my Sister unknown to me had used to get me out of the Monastery That he advised me to stay there a little longer because it would be advantagious for me that the Answer which was expected out of France should find me there And this Answer was That after I had remained two years in that Monastery Mons Mazarine would consider what he should do with me Cardinal Mancini by all means would have me submit to this Condition and truly in the great affliction of mind into which Mons Mazarine's Harshness had cast me I might have been perswaded to any thing But my Sister would not let me stay there by no means she caused the Queen of Sweden to be solicited to that end who gave me her promise to receive me into her house all the difficulty was how I should make my Escape My Sister came to see me that Afternoon I intended it and as we were packing up to be gone and that Nanon was grown as broad as she was long with the Fardles that she had put round about her every where under her cloaths we had Intelligence that the Queen of Sweden by the Advice of her Counsel had retracted the Promise she had given me How unwelcome soever this News was it was resolved I should make my Escape My Sister begun to take her leave to be gone and I making as if I would wait upon her down Stairs my Aunt Mazarine used all the Arguments she had to oblige me to stay in my Chamber because I had been Ill along time but I was not to commit such an Errour My Sisters Children not having the Liberty of coming within the Cloyster as she had and were brought that day on purpose to amuse my Aunt in the Parlour that we might not be pestred with her stayed for her at the Door which as soon as the Abbess came to open Nanon threw her self out of it as it were with Joy to make much of them and I after her As they had no suspicion of our Designe the Lady Abbess durst not stay me by force nor had she much time to consider of it for I was immediately got into my Sisters Coach and so drive away My Sister had the priviledge of carring a certain number of Women with her into the Cloyster as often as she came thither my Aunt through vexation and anger stopped two of them that came in with her that day though they were no way privy to our Plot my poor old Aunt took the matter so much to heart that she
my self was concerned I thought my self bound in Civility to put her upon the Discourse of her Friends and Relations in Rome and Paris since she of her self would not start the Question I found that Subject was not unpleasing by the Attention she gave to what I said upon it she spoke civilly of all People and with a great deal of Respect of her Husband but this Discourse held no longer than I continued it She rarely asked any Questions and those only which civility seemed to oblige her to Neither could I mark in her either Curiosity or Inquisitiveness Wondering at her cold Indifference I had a mind to put her upon the Discourse of the things I thought most sensible to her but with the Respect that was convenient touching her Fame and her Fortune But I could never hear from her the least Complaint Me thought I read something of Sadness in her Countenance when her Reputation was in Debate But for all other Matters she seemed to think that blind Goddesse Fortune a fitter Object of her Contempt than Anger Several Person of Quality of both Sexes came in while I was there and among others two or three Gentlemen that were of good Wit and Parts The Ladies began to talk of the News of the Town though the Dutches took neither sides part she discoursed with the same Heat as others did the Subject of their Conversation was a Dispute that was betwixt two eminent men whose Interest was equally Great and who shared most part of that Country betwixt them She entred upon the Particularities which were told her of the Causes of their Division weighed every little Circumstance with such nicety and insight as if she had not had two Millions for her Portion The Gentlemen whom I before mentioned altered the Discourse and turned her whether she would or no to talk of State-Affairs as most worthy of her Attention and Contemplation After every Body had passed their Verdict she was obliged in Complaisance to speak hers those that differed in Opinion from her Vigorously urged their Reasons the Dispute grew hot She never defended her Opinion but with Reasons of which she made those that had not declared themselves against her her Judges And I assure you I never heard any speak so well and with so much Submission This is what I remarked in this my first Visit and what I have observed since is as followeth It is not to be discerned of what Humour she is and to speak properly she has none at all for every individual Person that converses with her has cause to believe she is of his She is not Obstinately bent upon any thing and it is astonishing to see her quit even those Divertisements she seems the most pleased with as freely as if she were weary of them Whence it clearly appears that she is eagerly carryed to no one thing and shews that this easiness of her Temper and Manners does not proceed from Levity or Fickleness but rather from a profound Indifference for all those various Fancies which troubles and disquiets the minds of most People Her sweetness and Humanity which above all adorne and grace her Sex appear even in her most Robust Pass-times she is as much Mistress of her Temper upon the Road or a Hunting as in her Closet The Calmness and Equality of her Soul is proof against all those Occasions which do unsettle and transports all others She laughs at all those Fidle-faddle fooling Amusements to which others abandon themselves Some other Women have don the same things that she she does But she does them another way All People converse in her House with a Familiarity full of Zeal and Respect the which nevertheless would be to her very incommode and troublesome if she were less good or less obliging Though she be naturally very reserved and loves to be retired yet generally all the Hours of the Day are publick hours with her The most private Recesses of her House are as open to those that come into it as the most common and therefore it often happens that people come even to her very Closet Dore when she least expects any Her Domesticks that see none come that are not as much devoted to her as themselves have insensibly used themselves to let all come in and go out with this kind of frankness and Liberty It is Credible she would have it so since they permit it for she is the Life and the Soul of her Family and her Vnderstanding her Civility and her obliging wayes are infused unto those that compose it proportionably as each ones Capacity is fitted to imitate them There is no Convent where they lead a more regular Life then in her Womens Apartment whither a Page dares not approach upon pain of my Ladies Displeasures which is somthing more Terrible than the Rod. And for the Men they live together with that Peace and Vnion so much the more Commendable as it is most rare and seldome to be found in great Mens Houses She alone of all Women can play with her Servants without lessening her self Her Presence doth banish their presumption without taking away their freedome and it is not to be Comprehended how she can give them so much Awe using them with so much Familiarity unless it be because she has so much of Grandure in her Carriage and all her wayes There are they that think it strange that she should delight in these kind of pastimes but who ever will take the paines to look a little nearer he will soon find that they are not the delight of Heart and that those she uses are but so many several wayes of dispelling those afflicting Thoughts which the present state of Her Fortune Croud's upon her There is no private Gentlemans house more orderly and regular than hers and as her pensions is very inconsiderable to make her subsist with that honour she does she must needs be admirably skill'd in oeconomy and her Acts of liberality and Magnificence shew that her good management proceed from an extraordinary strength of Reason She neither much admires nor despises any thing She never shewed the least disgust against the Country nor any thing that is in it she loves the Recreations Customes and Ceremonies that are there in use as much as if she had been born and bred there others would assist at them with marks of Complaisance Constraint and Destraction which would casily distinguish them from the rest of the Company but she comes to them with that Familiarity with that Presence and freedom of mind so unconstrained so constant and so agreeable that a stranger that should chance to see her there without knowing who she was would esteem Savoy most happy in the product of so charming a Creature She avoids speaking of her own Greatness and Riches with the same care and industry as others seek out occasions to make people sensible of theirs It depends not of her way of living amongst them but that the Women of