him the meaning of the Letter and found him honoured with a new Dignity the King having made him Duke and Peer for which he was receiving the Complements of his Friends as Givry arrived The new Duke ran to him with open Arms and though Givry was not satisfied with his proceedings he forbore not to make his Caresses an obliging return They fell in discourse The Duke told his Friend that they expected at Gisors the Princess Katherine the Kings Sister who having been under his Majesties displeasure for having design'd a marriage with Count Soissons contrary to his Majesties Command had newly received pardon for her disobedience and came as was reported to give her consent to another marriage All the discourse at Court was of the reception prepared for her But after this general Conversation Givry finding himself alone with the new Duke I have News to tell you too sayes he to the Duke Madam and Mademoiselle de Guise coming within my Province the latter charged me with an Answer to a a Letter you had written to her The Duke de Bellegard redden'd and Givry having observed it I did not think says he I had so considerable a Person as you to my Secretary and should have done my utmost to avoid giving you that trouble had it been in my power to fancy you would have vouchsafed to have taken it upon you Do you find my Letter did you any harm answered the Duke or think you it was not the Office of a Friend to put you in condition of speakiag to Mademoiselle de Guise as a declared Lover I am not yet satisfied reply'd Givry coldly whether that Declaration was to my advantage or prejudice But my Lord Duke I know it the part of a true Friend not to have done any thing of this nature without my consent and I have cause to believe you were willing to make me try a dangerous Foord rather than save me another kind of peril This in tuth is ingeniously turn'd says the Duke de Bellegard ironically how many Lovers have you seen carry on their amours with the Ladies they Court by acquainting them with the passion of their Rivals What then did you design by it replys Givry confirm'd in his suspicion by the trouble he saw the Duke in being of a temper too frank and open for disguise What right had you to discover my secret or what excuse can you make to the dearest of your Friends for having drawn upon him the indignation of a Person he had confest to you he was in Love with When I considered says the Duke de Bellegard the Circumstances of your Love I was of opinion you might long languish without knowing your destiny and esteeming uncertainty the most miserable condition of a Lover I was willing to bring you out of it and perswade you to desist or pursue your Amour according to occasion if Mademoiselle de Guise hath favourably received the Declaration of your flames you are ungrateful to entertain my service with so much coldness if she be really angry with you I have left you at liberty to disavow the Letter and you may either make use of your reason for your Cure or continue to love her without telling her of it as if I had not written Givry was very good-natur'd and a great lover of the Duke de Bellegard he was ready to beg his pardon for having suspected him and had done it but that they were interrupted by a multitude of Courtiers who came pouring in upon them and that very Evening he became sensible that his friendship blinded him and that the Duke de Bellegard was really his Rival Madam de Maugiron faithfully executed the threats she had exprest of loving Givry all her Life whether he would or not The slights of her Lover and the homage she received every day from several others could not alter her affection She made so diligent inquiry among those that went to Moulins whither Queen Louise was retired upon the death of the late King and had placed so many spyes about Givry that she made discovery of his Love for Mademoiselle de Guise there was some discourse of it upon the setting at liberty the Chevalier d'Oyse and the story of the Letter which Givry averred he had not written could not be kept so close but this jealous Lover knew something of it And in the journey the Duchesse Dowager of Nemours made to Bourbon Madam de Maugiron who saw her there gain'd her Love so far that when Queen Louise changed the Gloryes of the world for the Solitudes of a Cloyster Madam de Nemours took Madam Maugiron into her family She was there when Madam and Mademoiselle de Guise came to Nemours The young Princess and Madam de Maugiron look'd upon one another with a great deal of Earnestness and attention and this latter being possest with jealousie was so diligent to spy out an occasion to discover the sentiments of her Rival that she learnt them from her own mouth The sickness of Madam de Nemours was rather tedious than dangerous and Mademoiselle de Guise being not obliged to any great appearances of sorrow took the liberty frequently to leave the Duchesse her Mother to take care of the sick Lady Being retir'd timely one evening to her Chamber and going thence to take a walk in the Garden without other company but a Maid who was her confident Madam de Maugiron follow'd them and having slipp'd in behind the Pales heard Mademoiselle de Guise say No la Mothe I do not think the Master of the Horse handsomer than Givry and I have confest to you more than once that I had retained such an Idea of this latter as might have inclined me to much tenderness for him had he been of Quality suitable to mine But whether this humor of mine were over when I saw him again or that his friend being a newer Object to me had the happiness to discern better the weakness of our Sex and make his attack with greater success I was more attentive to him than to Givry in the Tuilleries What he did during the Truce pleas'd me more than what Givry did though I gave Givry marks of kindenesses and familiarity I durst not have given Bellegard without trouble and scruple When I received the Letter you know of I thought I had seen him that brought it in Bellegard's Train I believed it had come from him and was so vext to find another Name subscribed it angred me more against Givry than the Crime he appear'd guilty of Not that I could have been willing Bellegard should have spoken to me of Love without resentment on my part but that the Rules of Respect and Decency observ'd it would have pleas'd me better to discover Bellegard than Givry in Love with me And I must confess I found in my self a more than ordinary joy when I thought at Melun I was Mistress of his affection But Mademoiselle says la Mothe what assurance have you
loves us My Affection being a great deal more perfect can produce greater effects and I will love you scornful and ingrate as I lov'd you when I thought you faithful and kind Givry had the honesty to reproach himself for the ingratitude he was forced to and would have given all he was worth to see Madam Maugirons affection cool to an indifference But when he reflected on the rigors of Mademoiselle de Guise it heightned his sense of them and the right he conceived he had to complain of the strangeness of his Fortune In the mean time the season was come for taking the Field and the hopes of Peace appearing every day more remore the King design'd to besiege Roan as a place whose situation and importance appeared of moment towards the reduction of Paris This Siege is mentioned in History as one of the hottest during these Wars Queen Elizabeth of England had sent the King a powerful Fleet which blocked up the City toward the Sea His Majesties Troops which he commanded in Person begirt it on the Land side And the Marquess Villars Son-in-Law to the Dutchess of Mayenne defended it He possest himself of the Fort St. Katherine where he had Batteries which fired continually The besieged made furious Sallies and scarce a day past without Skirmishes which deserved the name of bloody Fights In one of these Givry was dangerously wounded in the Shoulder and the sorrow he lay under on the account of Mademoiselle de Guise increasing the dangâ—◠〈…〉 his Wound the Chyrâ—rgâ—â—◠〈◊〉 thought him at the 〈…〉 death The King had a 〈◊〉 affection for this young Ma◠〈◊〉 doubted whether he had in his Army a Person capable to supply his place and declared this doubt so publickly that many were displeas'd at it but he slighted their murmurs and being informed of some expressions Givry had let fall that he hated his Life and was glad to see himself in danger to lose it his Majesty went to the Village they had carried him to and earnestly conjured him to tell him what cast him into this despair Givry was too much charmed with the goodness of his Master to hide from him a secret he had exprest so great a curiosity to know He told him what had hapned at Corbeil and the relation having so disturb'd him that he thought his life at an end I perceive says he I shall dye without knowing the cause of my misfortune I confess I might look on my rashness as cause sufficient but having never declared it but by my looks which Mademoiselle de Guise hath no reason to pretend she understood I cannot fancy it is she hath cast me into this calamity I beseech your Majesty by that goodness whereof I have received so many evidences and which makes you bear so tender a part in the extravagances of an unfortunate Lover that you will cause a request to be made to Mademoiselle de Guise when I am dead not to abhor my memory as she appears to do my Person but to believe this Petition had not come so late could I have justly roproach'd my self with the least desire might justly offend her The King was so affected with Givry's discourse that he could not forbear letting fall some tears He pray'd him to do all in his power to help the Chyrurgeons in the Cure and having communicated to him a design he thought proper to give him some comfort as soon as he left him he put it in execution The Chevalier d'Oise Brother to the Marquess Villars had been taken Prisoner at a Sally and being allyed to an Uncle of Mademoiselle de Guise was very well acquainted with her the King gave him his liberty on condition he should know of the Princess wherein Givry had displeased her and should give him an account of it The Prisoner acquitted himself faithfully of his Charge and hastning to Paris did as hastily inform his Majesty that Mademoiselle de Guise complained of a Letter which Givry had written and discoursed in it of Love to her that she was highly offended at the liberty he had taken and would have punished him with immortal scorn but that his Majesty's generosity to the Chevalier d'Oise merited her gratitude and thankful acknowledgments which moved her to promise his Majesty she would forget this fault of Givry's This promise gave him a little comfort but withall troubled him with new doubts and perplexities He had not written to Mademoiselle de Guise and could not imagine who had forged the Letter He knew not whether he was to grieve or rejoice that his secret was thus revealed but all things considered as it is of greater advantage for a Lover to be known such than to burn unperceived he took heart again and recovered his courage by degrees which added to his good temper quickly dissipated the fears conceived of his Life His Life became every day more necessary for the Progress of the King's Arms which his sickness had visibly retarded The Officers of the Cavalry who had an intire confidence in the Bravery of Givry who had gain'd their hearts by his civility and kindness did that under his Conduct they did not under any other Ever since his hurt they were always defeated the King durst not put them on any vigorous Enterprize under any other Chief And the Duke of Parma coming the second time in aid of the Leaguers forced his Majesty to raise his Siege from before Roan as he had forced him to raise that from before Paris The Second Part. THE King used his utmost endeavours to repair the disadvantages the Duke of Parma's first Expedition had put him to he advanced to encounter him by the way he long kept the Duke of Mayenne who had taken the Field from joining him And when at length they were joined he invested them at Yvetot and at Caudebec and had there finished the War had not some of his Generals preferr'd their particular interests before the publick tranquility The Duke of Parma was dangerously wounded at Caudebec and in few months after dyed of that wound The death of so formidable an Enemy made the King some amends for the miscarriage of his Enterprize against Roan He sent his Army into Winter Quarters and taking his own at Gisors sent for the fair Gabrielle for whom his Passion was now grown so violent he could no longer conceal it Givry had not been at any of these Expeditions having continued at his Government of Brie where he endeavoured to put himself in a condition to clear the Mysteries of his Adventure The more he thought upon it the more perplex'd it appeared In the midst of these reflections when he began to look abroad with design to take the Field as he was entring Melun they brought him a Gentleman belonging to Madam de Guise who conjur'd him by that Messenger to grant her a Pass to go visit the Dutchess her Mother-in-Law who was fallen sick at Nemours in her return from Bourhon where she had
of that the Letter was written in Givry's Name and the Master of the Horse being his particular Friend had perhaps no other intention but to discover his Love to you without exposing him to your displeasure Either thou hast no wit replys Mademoiselle de Guise or thou dost not believe as thou say'st Call to mind the Actions of Bellegard during the Treaty remember his looks and the Messages he sent me every day and those Verses of the Unknown Lover every day on my Toillette or among my Cloaths It was not Givry that wrote them therefore it was Bellegard There is not one of our Party pretends any engagements being all my Kindred or my inferiours and either cannot or dare not love me Bellegard and Givry are the sole Persons of the Kings Party have declar'd themselves engag'd the one confessing he is in Love with me the other having written me a mysterious Letter Whatever comes under the Character of Passion proceeds doubtless from one of them It is not Givry hath made the Declaration of Love to me therefore it must be Bellegard who had the dexterity to learn by anothers experience how I might be inclin'd to entertain his affection Mademoiselle de Guise as she was speaking these words came into a Walk where Madam Maugiron could not follow her without being perceived but she had heard enough and was impatient to let Givry know on the morrow the fruit of his unfaithfulness to her and fearing her Letters not of force to perswade him she pretended business at Court and arrived there as Givry was coming out of the Duke de Bellegard's Lodgings Madam de Maugiron's thoughts being all fixt on Givry she went in search of him only and easily found him He received a Billet from her to inform him of her arrival and desire the favour of seeing him presently This News troubled him he dreaded the sight of her and could have found in his heart to return strait to his Government but bethinking himself how uncivil it would appear to use a Person thus who had not given occasion for it he master'd his reluctance and went to the place where Madam de Maugiron had assign'd him Never did the appear so handsom and so fine as that Evening and Givry was astonisht that with so many Charms and so much Love it had not been in her power to retain him her Captive and thinking she was come only to reproach him Save your self the trouble of telling me the occasion of your Journey Madam says he I partly guess at it and know before-hand what your just resentment may dictate to you But Madam I am a Wretch that cannot enjoy favours of this kind nor cure my self of my Apostacy though I blame my self for it Slight me as I deserve Madam and extend not your goodness so far as to reproach me for my inconstancy but give me over as lost to my lukewarmness and indifference I could really give you over to them answered Madam de Maugiron were they my only Rivals 'T is possible my affection might carry me so far as to rejoice at your happiness though attended with my misfortunes and I might pardon you for being in Love with Mademoiselle de Guise did she vouchsafe to answer it on her part but I cannot give you up to her slights and the treachery of your Friend Bellegard These are the Enemies you are to provide your defence against rather than the reproaches which the kindness I retain for you will not permit me to trouble you with Givry was surpriz'd at this discourse and was within little of letting her see the trouble he was in But bethinking himself that Madam Maugiron had peradventure by some Spyes discover'd something of the Adventure but knew not the whole truth he recover'd himself and answered coldly I cannot wonder Madam that a Lady of your merit should seek the cause of my indifference elsewhere than in your self and am sensible that suspecting the best of my Friends hath not sufficiently opposed the injustice I am guilty of towards you you would revenge your self of him by engaging us in a quarrel But Madam I am not susceptible of such ill impressions and what I know of your mistakes as to Mademoiselle de Guise makes me think you no less mistaken as to the Duke de Bellegard No no says Madam de Maugiron you need not affect these disguises with me I know what I say and heard it from the Mouth of Mademoiselle de Guise And so telling him of what past at Bourbon and Nemours she put him into so furious a jealousie that he could not conceal it from her Pardon me Madam says he confessing it that I make you the Witness of a transport which cannot but be troublesome to you Had I power enough over my self to moderate it I should have had power enough to master the cause of it and I should love you again as ardently as formerly If swear to you by that which I hold most sacred that I wish at the cost of the best part of my blood I had continued constant to my first Passion But Madam Love goes not by choice the humours of affection tyranize over Reason And since 't is in vain to deny my inconstancy I must declare I love Mademoiselle de Guise even to madness and am capable of the worst effects of despair if I see her prefer before me a Rival of my Quality Perhaps I should not grudge to see her marry some great Prince but it will be certain death to me to see her pleas'd with the addresses of another Man of my Quality if it be true she is pleas'd with them you will not be long unreveng'd but shall see the effects of the unhappy News you have brought me so far As he said this he went out and having tormented himself all night went in the morning to the Duke de Bellegard before he was awake You have reason says he opening the Curtain to sleep quietly you may enjoy the pleasure of sound rest and repose I must bid it farewel But perfideous Friend why did you not deprive me of it the ordinary way or what have I done to make you so treacherous as to render me the Instrument of my own torment 'T was by the blindness of my confidence you had the opportunity to see the first effects of the Excellencies of Mademoiselle de Guise 'T was I first brought you to Paris during the Treaty 'T was by the permission I obtained of the King you had the convenience of treating her in the Camp 'T is my Name you made use of for declaring your Love 'T was by the mistake you ingag'd her in you obliged me to tell her first that Letter was yours Was she the only Person you could affect or if it was impossible to see her without falling in Love with her had you no other way to discover your love but by using my name The Duke de Bellegard might if he had pleas'd have baffled