Requests and since Provost of the Merchants he is at this present one of the Eldest Councellors of State and has ever been one of the most zealout Servants of his King The many different Charges undergone by Monsieur Poncet have got him a great fame and made his merits be acknowledged Monsieur Boucherat is well known by the great imployments he has had and the many important Commissions he has always discharged to his Majesties content particularly in Britany where he has been often Commissioner of the States for the King he is a man of great Learning Monsieur Pussort is estemable for many things and particularly for the invention of new Laws and Ordinances which may deliver the French from oppression Monsieur Voisin has Signalized himself in many occasions respecting his Ministry he has been Provost of the Merchants where he deserved the place of Ordinary of the Counsel with which he was honoured Monsieur Barretin is sometime since returned from the Super-intendence of Poictou he is Master of the Requests and President of the great Counsel I know Madam you are sensible of his worth and therefore shall say no more of it Monsieur le Boulange de Haqueville is a man whose uprightness is well known in the Council he has a great deal of wit and makes himself be distinguished by a particular way of reporting affairs Monsieur le Pelletier de la Houssaye is fearless a good Judge and who knows how to value a good Cause Monsieur de Lamoignon is Son to Monsieur the premier President The great worth of his Father and the care he had of his Childrens Education would sufficiently of themselves speak advantagiously of him if he had not of himself given particular Evidences of his merit He has Signalized himself in the Parliament and continues to do so every day in the Council thereupon his Majesty has chosen him an Assistant of the Seal Monsieur Pellisson is known by all the world his judgment and his uprightness are indisputable and though he had every where left Evidences of them the Favours he continually is receiving from the King would be an assured Testimony for him The Young Marchionesse whom you know very well who began to play so well on the Lute is fallen into despair some dayes since Monsieur Gaultier who taught her had assured her she should in a little time play as well as Madam Moiselle de Lenclos 'T was a bold word that but he was one might give decisions in those sort of Affairs Those were the last words that great Master spoke about playing on the Lute For at his going from this young Marchionesse he fell sick of a distemper which he is since dead of She no sooner heard the News but resolving her Lute should not survive so great a Master she broke it all in pieces and has determined never to play more I will not discant on this action but leave you to judge of it But if the death of Monsieur Gualtier hinders her from ever playing on the Lute so well as Madam de Lenclos she may yet endeavour to resemble her in her wit and judgment with which you know that excellent person is infinitely well stored Paris February 13 1672. Letter VIII I Cannot tell Madam whether you may have yet heard of any Adventure happened sometime since in this City and which has been occasion of much pleasant discourse this Carnaval in all the Balls at Paris A young married man being one afternoon with some of his Friends told them that that Evening he had a Meeting at his house and that he gave a Ball to a Sister of his Wives that sojourned with her One of the most pleasant fellows of the Company perswaded to go in Masquarade and told the young married man His pleasure would be much the greater if he came along with them in a disguise He consented and they presently sent for Habits of Masquerade The Hour of the Ball being come they all went thither and their Gentee carriage made many Conquests The young Husband made one which in the end pleased him not at all for his Wife fell in love with him without knowing him she staid not long before she gave him signs of it tenderly sweezing his hand and he answered his kindness in the most loving manner he could for the Adventure had a little Chilled his Blood and never was man so vexed to be taken for another yet he was resolved to see how far the business would go but he found all things so well disposed that it was no mighty task to make himself happy I mean happy in quality of Gallant for he was not so as Husband His wife who had doubtless heard some good Gossips say That a favourable occasion must never be lost For it is a hard matter to find again those we let scape thought best to make use of this opportunity which the Ball presented and since the confusion of so many people as were there gave her the means of stealing safely from them without being perceived she thought it a duty to love and nature to slip à side with her new Gallant and 't was no sooner thought then done She led him up a private pair of Stairs into a Chamber where they could not be surprized I will not tell you all that passed there but the Lady was very well contented yet it somewhat troubled her that he would not speak to her and that for fear to be known he had put out the light before he unmatched himself She asked him many times the reason of it He would not then answer her but as soon as he had proceeded far enough to convince her of disloyalty he broke silence and began to reproch her with her falseness She was so much the more bold to answer him because there was no light to discover any change of Countenance and having thereby time to recover from any surprize She told him she knew him as soon as he came into the house and that she only contrived this to laugh a little with him He was not at all satisfied with these but would and will pass for what other men are so afraid of being accounted and though it were done by himself yet he believed himself as substantial a Cuckold as any man in the world could make him He would never see his Wife from that time and designs to sue out a separation from her I leave you to judge whether he or I have reason and pass to other News The King willing to acknowledge the merits of Monsieur Pauchau and recompence his services gave him some days past a Commission to be one of the Masters of acccounts and joyned a considerable sum to that gift his Majesty likewise let him know that he should attend to the same services under Monsieur Pompone he had formerly done under Monsieur de Lyon The Messieurs de Vendosme are lately returned from Italy where they have gained repute in all places where they
yet been acted but without doubt they have reason for whâ—t they say and the success will be answerable to their judgment of it Paris Jan. 1. 1672. Letter II. SInce I have proposed to begin the weekly news I have tyed my self to write as often as I can with fome extraordinary adventure you have here Madam a true one which will doubtless please you A young Sovereign Gallant and amorous being one day walking without the ordinary confident of his Gallanteries after having studied upon something for a while hastily asks for him which obliged all that Princes Courtiers to look out every was for Cleodates so will I name that favourite or rather under that name speak of him in the Story since you have given me an Item that I should put feigned names to all the Gallant Adventures I shall get to send you Philemon a young Cavalier more solicitous then any of the rest to make his Complements to the favourite was mosthappy and thought himself the more so because as he imagined his master had particularly addressed himself to him to seek him he flyes to Cleodates house which had a back door directly opening toward the Princes Palace and which he found only put to he must have gone a great way about to the ordinary Gate of entrance and there to no purpose asked for Cleodates For that Cavalier no less Gallant then his Master whose Confident he was had gone out alone and taking a turn about came in again by that private door without being perceived by any of his people This way then Philemon went in without meeting any body he goes up a little pair of Stairs which stood in a by Corner but which he knew very well this not being the first time he had tryed that passage and came presently to the Chamber where he thought he might find Cleodates but seeing no one there he was forced to knock at a little Closet door stood by it After having knockt a good while it came into his head to look through the Key-hole for he thought he heard some body within he presently observed Cleodates kissing a Lady but could not discover who she was her face being hid from him only he took notice she had Green Silk Stockings on and very rich Garters He easily guessed by their not answering nor stirring up and down that they would not have it known they were in that Closet and that they would not open the dooâ— for any one whatever Philemon hereupoâ— returns with intention to tell the Prince hâ— could not find Cleodates he did so indeed but 't was in a way made him suspect there was a mystery in it for he could not forbear laughing at uttering his name Thâ— Prince would needs know the reason anâ— very earnestly required it he was soon saâ— satisfied for Sovereigns not being to be refused any thing Philemon told him all hâ— had seen This adventure which one would have thought should have diverted the Prince begot a dumps in him made Philemon a hundred times repent his weakness in discovering a thing he observed grieved his Master and might be prejudicial to Cleodates This Prince loved a young beauty in his Court and now grew suspicious his favourite might be his Rival he asked Philemon if he knew the Lady he had seen by her Legs Philemon was so ready to answer yes that he had not time to consider how he might by it both displease his Master and loose his Friend The Prince replyed If that Lady were one of the Court he would know her e're it were long and at that instant obliged the Princess his Wife to send for all the Ladies of the Court and as soon as they were come proposed to them to mount immediately on horse-back and see a chase some said they should have time given them to put shorter Coats others were of a contrary opinion The Prince could have wished it that he might the better have seen their Stockings but then he doubted they might in changing Cloaths change Stockings too but whatever he feared he was soon recovered of it as you will hear by the sequel This Prince who was naturally Gallant appeared so in this occasion somewhat more so then usual and talking pleasantly with all the Ladies told them that he would set them all on Horse-back you may easily guess what he meant by it and that by this contrivance he only designed to discover the Lady with the Green Stockings He had already seated a great many without finding what he feared to find when at last he discovered one of the delicatest Legs in the world and on it a Green Silk Stocking You will be as much surprized as he was Madam when you shall understand that it was upon his Mistress he found them but 't is no time to stand wondering now or if you will wonder what you have yet to hear will but amaze you will more The Prince in despair stretcht on the extreams of love and jealousy gave a shreck at the sight of those Stockings and stood like one astonished Philemon who was still near him perceiving the cause of his disquiet told him in his ear That the Stockings he had seen were of a deeper Green and the Garters of another Colour Thou would'st abuse me replyed the Prince only to asswage my grief but if I find no other Green Stockins I shall give no faith to any thing thou sayest At these words he endeavered to appear Blith and Gay as he did before and with a Countenance full of mirth and jollity though his heart were heavy proceeded to seat the rest of his Ladies on Horse-back He was come now to the very last without finding any other Green Stockings but his Mistresses and the fear he should fail of finding any other hindred him from casting up his eyes on her whose Leggs he only look'd on without knowing whose they were he was much surprized to find Stockins and Garters both to be like those Philemon had described Philemon who thought of nothing more then relieving the Prince from the trouble he had put him and making it appear he had no intention to deceive him kept still his Eyes cast downwards so that at the same time both he and the Prince cryed out they had found what they sought for if their joy were great their amazement was no less when lifting up their Eyes almost both at a time they perceived I believe you are very impatient now to know and that your curiosity would be very burdensome to you if I should long delay it It was Philemons wife which fight made him look as like a Coxcomb as indeed he was The Prince appeared as much amazed as he but yet could not forbear laughing from the bottom of his heart The Srory goes no farther and since I have promised to write you nothing but truth I will add nothing of my own though it were easie to invent a thousand fine things on so delicate an occasion Monsieur the Duke
Coat glittering all over with Embroydery that it out-vy'd the Sun whereever he went he fancied all Eyes followed him and he could not doubt but his manly presence supported and set off with this Equipage of a Marquiss and of a Marquiss that was come from the Army must captive the stubbornest hearts and make the Ladies fall flat before him These magnanimous thoughts stirred up afresh his Courage in the Closet and he summoned all his Courage together and redoubled his blows against a Squadron of Horse that was in the Tapistry But O dire mischance blinded with too furious a height of Courage he unfortunately mist the Hangings and his Sword lighting upon one of the Looking-glasses broke it all in pieces he presently throws down his Arms with a resolution never to handle them more He believed now he should be unfortunate in the Army that he should certainly be slain and the broken Looking-glass was an infallible presage of it Well then Arms laid aside he takes up the Gown and cloaths himself like a Counsellour putting on a little Minikin Ruff and a short white Perriwig He consults with remaining Looking-glasses and thinks this Habit became him mighty prettily and begins to feel his Spirits exalted that way So he sets himself to examine the Advantages of this Profession which he finds very considerable All People that have Courage said he within himself do not come to be Marshals of France the number would then be too great and one must have exposed ones life a thousand times before one can justly pretend to that Dignity This thought made him frown and grow pale at once he found a Counsellours condition much better and securer and in time thinks he I may come to be a Judge without running any hazard of my Life He proposes to himself a thousand Pleasures and Delights before it came to that Fancies to himself an Anti-chamber and all the Stairs leading up to it full of Clients ready to cast themselves on their Knees before him and calling him My Lord. He smirks and smiles imagining he sees among them a great many pretty Women and these thoughts egg on others which fill his whole Brainpan full of a thousand ravishing Conceptions Here therefore he resolves to fix his Standard and to become a Counsellour but yet he will first put on the Rochet to see how it becomes him And now he admires his incomparable Gravity and being mightily taken with himself it comes into his head that he might one day arrive to be a Cardinal O then how should he look in a Scarlet Robe A Counsellour now seems to him but a Coxcomb in comparison of a Cardinal No no said he within himself I am not of the humour to undergo the toyls and labour which a man of the Long Robe must submit to what a thousand troubles doe continually haunt him after having spent a whole evening in reading over Breviates and perhaps the best part of the Night he must be rouzed by four or five a Clock in the morning with bawling and crying Good Sir Remember my cause Pray Sir Remember my cause and this din continues all the while he is within doors nor scapes he when he gets out but at every corner some are watching to catch him and ring their cause in his ears If I think to go eat or drink with my Friends they themselves grow my Tormentors and are recommending one Cause or another or if I go to court my Mistress and take an hours divertisement with her she is worse than all the rest and being gained by the almighty power of Presents I must not be admitted to the touch of her finger without the extracting some promise from me and if I promise her I must keep my word and then ten to one fall into injustice No no I will not be a Counsellour 't is too weighty a Charge 't is better being an Abbot they live as they please They He was about to inlarge himself upon the Advantages of this Profession when a beautiful young person whom he loved and was designed to be married too as soon as he was settled entred the Closet together with her Mother He believed he had shut the door very securely but alas he had left the Key in it his Brain was so overwhelmed with Imaginations and Whimseys concerning the Choice he was to make He could not be more surprized to see them come in than the Ladies were to see him in that posture They asked him what was the meaning of his being habited in that manner He told them he had determined to become a Church-man and had put on the Rochet to see how the Habit agreed with him He was hardly to be known for he had put off his Perruque his Hair reach'd but to his Ears and the square Cap he had put on almost covered them so that he look'd mighty ridiculously to the Ladies in that disguise They asked him again and again whether he would be stedfast in his Resolution to become a Church-man He told them Yes and that they could not justly complain of him if he took that Course for if he deserted his Mistress 't was for God alone and that since he left her not for any other beauty they ought not to be angry with him nor could not accuse him of Inconstancy They told him they believed they should be guilty of a great crime if they should endeavour by any considerations to divert him from so pious a design and soon after left him without seeming either glad or sorrowful at the accident The Mother who knew very well and had seen many evidences of his natural Inconstancy of Mind was glad to be so rid of him She had another Match ready for her Daughter and that fair Maid had some inclination for him she designed her so that things were easily concluded The pretended Abbot heard of it and was ready to run mad he comes and throws himself at his Mistresses feet protests That to enjoy her he would renounce all the Abbeys in the world and would embrace whatever profession she liked best But it was now too late and things were too far gone which did so much afflict him that he is since turned Monk I know not how long his unquiet and irresolute Spirit will suffer him to stay in the Convent but I believe to any one of his humour confinement will be very tedious and irksome Few people know this Adventure and I am confident Madam you will find it very extraordinary and though you may have some commiseration for our friends misfortune yet you cannot at the same time forbear laughing at his follies Never did one year produce so many excellent pieces for the Theatre and the famous Moliere has not deceived us in the hopes he inspired almost four years ago that there should be one day represented at the Place Royal a Comical piece after his own Mode which should be absolutely accomplished We are excellently divertized sometimes by those