Thietberge again and renew'd his illegall engagements with Vildrade and carry'd his violence so high that he made an attempt upon the Life of the disgusted Princess Thietberge finding her self no longer safe in her Husbands Dominions retir'd to Charles the Bald Anno 865. who took her into his protection and offer'd the King his Nephew a Champion to maintain the rights of the wrong'd Princess according to the custom of those times But the Pope would not suffer that no affair which had been already adjudg'd should be referr'd to the hazard of a combat and gave Charles to understand that he could proceed no farther without entrenching upon his Authority So that the King being unwilling to displease his Holiness contented himself with only exhorting Lothaire to take his Wife agen but could not obtain any thing from him The Princess therefore perceiving there was nothing more to be expected on that side Anno 866. return'd to her Brother Hubert who having no other way to maintain his Sisters interests but by Force and Arms rais'd an Army and fell into Lothaire's Dominions with Fire and Sword In revenge of which Lothaire muster'd a more numerous power together led 'em himself and crossing the Mountain Iura repayd Hubert in his own coyn but fortune did not favour him For he lost three Armies without being able to take so much as one Town Lothaire discourag'd by so many losses senâ— Conrard the Father of Bacul against the rebellious Prince who was more fortunate then the King his master For he perceiving the Passes ill guarded and surprizing Hubert utterly defeated his Men and slew him himself with his own hand Thietberge understanding the Death of her Brother retir'd to Rome where she took upon her the habit of a Nun and shut her self up in a Cloister leaving the King her Husband to enjoy his Amours in peace and quiet But Death soon after put an end to his Life and his disorders Richild Mistress to Charles the Bald Emperor and King of France Anno 869. CHARLES the Bald had Marry'd Ermentrude Grand-Daughter to Adelart who had been Treasurer of the Royal Exchequer in the Reign of Lewis the Debonaire his Father and who had greatly enrich'd himself at his Masters cost This Prince liv'd very lovingly with his Queen and shew'd himself as complaisant towards her as if there had been no inequality in their conditions But after Thietberge had quitted the World Richild her Neice betook her self to Queen Ermentrude who endeavour'd to comfort her in her misfortune And she recommended her so often to the King her Husband and spoke so highly of her that he was desirous to know whither the praises which his Queen bestow'd on her were true or no. He several times discours'd her and as oft he found in her Wit a Tour so free and yet so delicate that he could not chuse but Love her 'T was a long time however before he durst adventure to discover his passion because he perceiv'd her enrich'd with sentiments so vertuous that he was afraid of incurring her displeasure Nevertheless he could not long contain himself within the bounds of this reservedness His dignity and the reputation he had acquir'd by a Thousand glorious exploits put him in hopes that he should be heard with some kind of indulgence He spoke but met with resistance from Richild's Wit For she made use of all her address to cure him of his Love and told him with an extraordinary constancy that having been a witness of the disorders which Lothairs passion for Valdrade had occasion'd in his Family she would not give the same occasion of grief and vexation to Queen Ermentrude her benefactress and draw down the curse of Heaven upon a Prince whom she esteem'd Richild persever'd a long time in this resolution but at last for what Woman is able to resist a lovely Prince and very amorous she suffer'd her self to be overcome by one had been Victor over many Nevertheless she so well observ'd her measures and carry'd her self with that decorum in this intreague that the Queen had never any knowledge of it Which in Charles created so high an esteem of her virtue that after the Death of Ermentrude he marry'd her Ansegard Mistress to Lewis the Stammerer Emperor and King of France Anno 876. DURING the long Wars that Charles the Bald wag'd with Lewis the German and his Children Lewis the Stammerer liv'd with Richild his Mother in Law who was Regent of the Kingdom in the absence of the Emperor her Husband And in regard it was his interest to live in friendship with her as being Mistress of all the Kings favours he had a kindness for all persons for whom that Princess had a value He had observ'd that Ansegard of all her Maids of Honour had the greatest share in her affection which was the reason that he study'd to please her with an extraordinary assiduity But long converse and society had begot a more tender passion between 'em insomuch that Lewis the Stammerer had two Children by her Lewis and Carloman and she was brought to bed of both without any bodys perceiving that she was big with Child After the Emperor return'd from his Journey into Italy whither he went to receive the Crown Imperial from the Popes hands he bethought himself of marrying his Son and told him he had design'd him for a Wife Ricarda the Daughter of Alfred King of England You may easily conjecture the grief of those two lovers when they heard the news Lewis therefore had recourse to Richild and besought her to make use of all her credit to perswade his Father to consent that he might marry Ansegard But reason of State prevail'd above the Emperors complacency for his Wife and Lewis was constrain'd to conform to his Fathers will After the Death of Charles the Bald Richild who was in great credit and had a powerfull party at Court endeavour'd to set the Crown upon the Head of his Brother Boson upon whom she had already perswaded the Emperor her Husband to settle the Counties of Provence Milan and Paris under the title of the Kingdom of Arles But the French would not permit that prejudice to be done to the right and lawful Heir and therefore acknowledg'd Lewis for their King So that Richild finding her self frustrated in her expectations employ'd all her credit with Ansegard to make her peace with the King whose passion for that Lady was not at all abated for he had still a high respect for her tho' he liv'd very contentedly with Ricarda Richild also promis'd Ansegard to employ all her Friends in order to secure the succession of the Kingdom to her Children and to assure her that she would never part from her interests she propos'd to her a match between her Son Câ—â—leman and Ingoberge the Daughter of Boson Ansegard relishing the proposal the two Princesses resolv'd to make it to the Emperor at a banquet that Boson was to give him
And they carry'd it with so much neatness and so much artifice that they obtain'd of Lewis to consent to the Match And for fear the Emperor should alter his mind they caus'd the nuptials to be solemniz'd in a short time after But the Emperor dying the same Year there happen'd great disputes about the succession in regard that Ricarda who was left big with Child was soon after brought to bed of Charles the Simple The States assembl'd at Meaux to regulate this difference and Boson left nothing omitted to procure the exclusion of the Posthumus but he could not compass his design and therefore contented himself with obtaining the regency for Lewis and Carleman during the minority of Charles 'T is true that when they were in possession of the Government they understood so well how to fix their Authority by Boson's counsel and intreagues that they caus'd themselves to be acknowledg'd Kings and divided the Kingdom between 'em at Amiens The Amours of Blanche the Wife of Lewis Clotaire III K. of France Anno 985. LOTHAIRE after he had successfully concluded the War of Lorraine and taken Jeoffrey Count of Verduu Pris'ner associated his Son Lewis to the Crown and marry'd him to Blanche the Daughter of Rothbaud Count of Arles She was a Princess of an exalted Courage a lively Wit and a Humour inclin'd to Gallantry On the other side Lewis was a weak Prince and whose Genius was extreamly limited Blanche therefore well understanding his defects despis'd him and suffer'd her self to be taken with the Assiduities which Jeoffrey paid her Nevertheless she carefully conceal'd his Intreague and carry'd her self so cunningly that she obtain'd his Liberty of King Lothaire At the same time Ancelin Dalbron Bishop of Laon was fallen in love with the Princess and tho' he were already above Fifty years of age nevertheless she forbore not to listen to his Courtship because the City of Laon of which he was absolute Master was lookt upon as one of the best Fortresses in the Kingdom and she was willing to be assur'd of a Sanctuary Jeoffrey became jealous of her complacencies for that Prelate and therefore Blanche to stifle the Count's Jealousie engag'd Lewis to go along with her and spend some time in Provence by which means she got rid of the importunate Bishop In a short time after she departed secretly without giving Lewis any notice and hasten'd to meet Jeoffrey according to an Assignation by her self appointed King Lothaire was desirous to apply some remedy to a disorder of this nature but it cost him his life being poison'd by Blanche Ancelin on the other side finding himself deluded by the subtle Princess quitted her to pursue another Amour with Emma the Mother of Lewis who tho' advanc'd in years yet still preserv'd a fair stock of Beauty This Princess pretended to Govern the Kingdom thô her Son was come to the Crown But Lewis by the counsel which Blanche gave him caus'd her to be seiz'd together with her beloved Bishop by Charles of Lorraine nor could they obtain their liberty thô earnestly su'd for by the Empresses Adelaida and Theophanis and all the Bishops of the Kingdom For Lewis was so afraid of Blanche that he durst not release 'em because she would not have it so However he was but very ill repaid for his complacency for Blanche poison'd hiâ— as she had done his Father and oblig'd him upon his Death bed to declare Hugh Capet his Successor upon condition he would marry her as unchast as she was Almafrede Mistress to Robert King of France CAPET had been too busily employ'd in Reforming the abuses of his kingdom which had taken root in the Reigns of the Kings of the Second Race and fecuring the possession of it to mind Affairs of Love But his Son Robert who had not the same multiplicity of Business delightfully spent all the time he had to spare among such Ladies as he thought worthy of his Addresses He had in his Fathers life time made choice of Hugh de Beauvais for his Favourite This young Lord one day entrusted him with his Passion for Almafrede the Daughter of the Count of Nogent But he found her so agreeable that instead of promising to assist his Favourite in his design he pray'd him to surrender his Mistress to himself Hugh was somewhat difficult at first to resolve but at length his Ambition prevail'd above his love Moreover he himself discover'd to Almafrede the Passion that Robert had for her and serv'd his Master so well that he had no reason to complain of Almafrede's Reluctancy She admitted him by Night into her Chamber and not being able to defend her self against his importunities was brought to Bed of a Son who was nam'd Amaury from whom are descended the Counts of Montfort In the mean time in regard the Matches of Princes are usually grounded upon Policy notwithstanding all the engagements and tyes of Affection that had fasten'd Robert to Almafrede he was constrain'd in obedience to his Father's Commands to espouse Constance the Daughter of William Count of Arles and Sister of Foulke Nera Count of Anjou However he conceal'd from that Princess his first Engagements and abstain'd from any familiarity with Almafrede so long as his Father liv'd But so soon as he came to the Crown he surceas'd to put that constraint upon himself and to repay his Favourite for the Sacrifice he had made him of his Mistriâ—s he made him Grand Master of his Houshold and wholly rely'd upon him for the Government of his Kingdom Yet did not Hugo's Business so entirely take him up as to hinder him from sharing sometimes in his Master's Pleasures They often went together to Nogent to divertise themselves at Almafrede's Palace whither it were that the King had still the same tenderness for her or that it was their Rendezvous where they met other Ladies However it were the Queen being inform'd of these Assignations turn'd all her Hatred against the Favourite upon whom she look'd as the Author of this Disorder Thereupon she sent a Trusty Officer to her Brother to give him an account of the injuries done her and to desire him that they might not go unreveng'd Presently the Count of Anjou laid the Resentments of his Sister so deeply to Heart that he promis'd the Messenger to fulfil her desires With that he gave his Commission to a dozen Gentlemen whom he knew to be Men of resolution and devoted to his â—nterests He gave 'em Money and Horses and sent 'em to King Robert's Court where they saw the Queen privately and agreed with her upon the means of being serviceable to her jealousie One day then that the King had appointed a Hunting match with Hugo to the end that afterwards they might go and visit Almafrede they follow'd the King at a distance and when they saw him and his Favourite separate from their company and take the Road to Nogem they got before 'em through by ways and poudring full Gallop
of his Death for he was mortally wounded by a wild Bull that had broke from the Toils wherein he had been entangl'd as if he had design'd to revenge the Death of Gosswind whose Ruin he had been the cause of by his incestuous Love Clotaire's Incestuous Amour Anno 560 CLOTAIRE reunited the Kingdom of France which had been divided after the Death of Cloâ—is He had Marry'd Isgend of whose Family or place of Nativity the Historians speak not a word However she had a Sister that far exceeded her in Beauty for whom she besought the King to provide a Husband and to that purpose sent for her to the Court but Clotaire found her so amirable that he could not endure to part with her He took so great a delight in her Conversation that at length he perceiv'd in himself an affection for her much more tender then it became him to have for the Sister of his Wife For some time therefore he contended with his Incestuous passion and strove to vanquish it But finding at length that the more he withstood it the more is encreas'd he resolv'd to speak to her Heregoud trembled at the King 's first imparting his mind to her and for some time avoided coming into his presence but afterwards she grew less scrupulous and accustom'd her self to listen to his Allurements and in matters of Love when a Virgin begins once to hearken she is not far from droping into the share so that when she once forceas'd to be deterr'd with the horor of the Crime that accompany'd the King's Love she soon surrendred her Fortress and became the Mother of Chilperick who Reign'd after his Father in Normandy and Paris But when Clotaire had satiated his Lust that same disgust that usually follows Enjoyment open'd his eyes and made him sensible of the wrong he had done Ingoud by violating the conjugal Vow that he had made her in devoting himself to her Sister Thereupon he submitted to the Remonstrances and Reprimands of Pope John III. who constrain'd Heregoud to betake her self to a Nunnery Some time after the King having buri'd the Queen his Wife espous'd Chinsiu or Chimsen for the Historians are not agreed about her Name The Amours of Cherebert King of Paris AFTER the Death of Clotaire the Kingdom of France was divided and Paris fell to Chereberts share who was the eldest He had marry'd Ingeberge 〈◊〉 Princess extraordinary Virtue and who Lov'd him tenderly she saw to her grief how the King spent all his time in Hunting and never came near her till late in the Night of which she made most grievous complaints to Meroflede and Marcoâ—efe her Maids of Honour in which the most consided They were Sisters and tho' they were of no higher extraction then the Daughters of a Câ—mber of Wooll yet the Queen disdain'd not their attendance about her Person because they were endow'd with particular Talents Marcouefe had spent her Youthful Years in a Convent and had also enter'd into Vows but in regard she pretended a constraint upon her she had â—â—â—â—â—â—ded her self under the Queen's protection She 〈◊〉 learnt all sorts of Needle-work in the Cloister and she had a lively Wit polish'd with much Learning She was serious yet she had so many charms in her conversation that it was a difficult matter to be tyr'd with her Company On the other side Meroflede was of a lively frolick disposition danc'd with a goodly grace sung most charmingly and plaid upon several Instruments Now these two Young Lady 's propos'd to the Queen as the neatest course she could take to divertise the King with courtly â—easts and Banquets thereby to retain him longer in his Palace They also study'd a sort of Pastoral wherein Meroflede prov'd so successful that the â—ing gave her a thousand praises he took so much delight in her conversation and found the Air of it so quaint and delicate that he could by no means forsake her company Insomuch that he very seldom went a Hunting unless it were upon a set match Meroflede who was Ambitiois forgot the Duty which she ow'd her Mistress and ply'd all her Artifices with so much diligence to keep possession of the King's Heart that a length be obtain'd the utmost of his desires But being a wanton as she was she could not be content with one single tho' so noble a Conquest She would be continually ensnaring with her purloining glances all that were so daring as to seek their Thraldom in her looks Marconefe who was no less Beautiful nor no less witty then her Sister tho' more reserv'd Stomack'd a preferment that seem'd so injurious to her However for some time she stifled her Vexation in her Breast not breaking her mind to any person whatever But when she saw the Meroflede let her self loose to others besides the King she discover'd her Infidelity to him after so discreet and so ingenious a manner as if her intention had been only for her sisters sake to reform the Errors of her ill conduct On the otherside Cherebert lodg'd in Marconefe's Breast all his vexations and sorrows for Merofledes wanton and no less wandring humour and found so much Judgment in her arguments and her councils that he thought he might be far more happy with her then with her Sister and therefore he attempted to gain her affection wherein the speed of his success was answerable to the eagerness of his pursuit Marconefe spar'd for nothing for indeed her emulation was so great to deprive her sister of Cherebert's Heart that she prevented his desires to the end she might compass her ends Meroflede on the other side was soon sensible of this alteration and did all she could to regain his affections Cherebert gave ear to her reproaches bore 'em patiently and endeavour'd to justify himself and finding charms in both unwilling to loose either he made it his business to perswade one Sister that he was intirely devoted to her and the other that she was the only Mistress of his affection All this while he was so enthral'd to his passion for these two Ladies that he neglected the Government of his Dominions and altogether slighted Ingoberge And she unfortunate Queen acknowledg'd soon the fault she had committed in drawing off the King from the pleasure of Hunting to make him sensible of amorous delights and found her self more unhappy then she was when the King forsook her company only to wage War against the wild Beasts of the Forest So that after she had in vain attempted to reclaim him by her caresses and her complaisance she had recourse to St. Germain at that time Bishop of Paris who had gain'd a high reputation for his piety and begg'd of him to lay before the King the wrong he did her in making her such ill returns of her kindness But the remonstrances of that Prelate were so far from moving him that they rather serv'd to render the Person of Ingoberge more hateful to him For from that time forward he
found himself near a Lady who was ready to be stifl'd in the croud he took care of her and put her into the hands of one of his Gentlemen who threw Water in her Face and after he had fetch'd her again from the swoon into which she was fallen carry'd her home to his own house Some few days after the Duke calling the Lady to mind ask'd his Gentleman what was become of her and understood that she was the Wife of Raoulet d'Auteville who had been Treasurer of France upon the recommendation of Philip Duke of Burgundy With that he remember'd that he had been the occasion of displacing him from his employment for several misdeameanors and believ'd that the little service he had done his Wife would not countervail to extinguish that aversion which without question she had for him Nevertheless in these contrarieties it is that Love takes delight to shew his capricious humours as the Duke soon after found by experience For one day that he was at Mass in St. Pauls Church he there observ'd the fame Lady who as she pass'd by saluted him with an obliging smile The Duke was too much a Courtier to be ignorant what that meant and he was too great a Lover of adventures to fall of the opportunity of making the best of ' em Thereupon he sent a Page to delite Madam d'Auteville to meet him in the Evening in the Garden of the Palais des Touruelles where he should be glad to speak with her and the Lady accepting the Assignation fail'd not to meet him at the time appointed And then it was that in her melting Breast the Duke soon met with sentiments far opposite to those of that same hatred with which he thought her prepossess'd against him and engag'd her without much trouble to come to him to his Palace the next Morning Nor did she fail of being punctual to her hour and being introduc'd into the Princes Chamber by a back pair of stairs she gave him no cause to complain of her cruelty This visit was attended by several others by means of which the Duke of Orleans understood that she was very intimate with the Duchess of Burgundy and that she had understood by her discourses that 't was none of her fault if he were not belov'd by her The Duke open'd his Ears to this Proposal For besides that the Princess had charms sufficient to inflame his amorous desires she might prove advantageous to him in the rearing of his Fortune by drawing from her Lips the secrets of the Duke her Husband who was declar'd Regent of the Kingdom during the King's distemper and with whom he thought he had a right to dispute the Government of the Realm He therefore left Madam de Auteville to manage the intreague who carry'd it on with so much address that in a short time she accomplish'd his desires year 1406 This Intreague lasted several Years and was carry'd with that privacy that no body had the least inkling of it but at length it was discover'd through the imprudence of the Duke himself For he had hung up in his Cabinet the Portraitures of all his Mistresses and he was wont to say that all those whose pictures were there to be seen had never been cruel to him The Duke of Burgundy likewise had often heard him say the same thing tho' he never minded it at first But one day coming into that fatal Cabinet he there beheld his Wife's picture and then calling to mind the Dukes unlucky rallery it gave him no small disturbance Thereupon he resov'd to be satisfy'd in his suspitions and at last discover'd that the Duke had frequent meetings with his Wife by the means of Madam d' Autevil1e whom she had made her confident but then the jealousie of Love joyning Forces with the jealousie of hatred he thought it behov'd him to be reveng'd upon a Prince who was doubly his Rival To this purpose he discover'd his design to d' Auteville who having a share in the affront was easily induc'd to have a part in the revenge and promis'd to serve the Duke according to his intentions Next Morning therefore the prâ—fligate undertaker corrupted several Ruffians needing only the temptation of Money and among others William and Thomas Courtois and John de la Mothe who promis'd him upon their words to second his pernicious design to the utmost of their power He also gain'd one of the King 's Valet's de Chambre who was sent to tell the Duke of Orleans at that time gone to the Palais de Tournelles to visit the Queen it being St. Cecilia's day in the Evening that the King desir'd to speake with him at the Hostel de St. Paul Immediately the Duke got a Horseback attended only by some of his Lacqueys without any weapons and one that carry'd a Flambeau before him But when he came to the gate Barbette before the house of Marshal d' Eurex out comes d' Auteville from a Tavern where he waited the Dukes coming with about fifteen or twenty of his accomplices and flew upon him with his drawn sword and having cut off his Bridle hand threw him off his Horse and deliver'd him to the rest of his Confederates who stab'd him in several places When they had done they set fire to a house adjoyning on purpose to amuse the People and made their escapes through by Lanes and Alleys The Duke was carry'd into the Marshal de Fires house where he expir'd and thence to the Benedictin's Convent The Parliament took cognisance of this Murder and order'd a Councellor to take the Informations He presently issu'd forth a Warrant against the squire of the Duke of Burgundy's Kitchin who was charg'd by the witnesses and in regard he never stir'd out of the Hostel d' Artois where the Duke lodg'd and whence they could not fetch him out by force without his Masters permission the Councellor who had took the Information went to demand him of the Duke at the Hostel de Nesle where the Duke of Berry lay and where the Council was kept Louis de Anjon King of Sierly being then present when the Councellor made his compliment to the Duke of Burgundy took notice that he turn'd pale and that a sudden disturbance seiz'd upon his mind Upon which he drew him aside and having made him confess that the Duke of Orleans had been assasinated by his order he advis'd him to retire The Duke took his advice and departing the Hostel de Nesle without any noise went home took horse and never stop'd till he came to Dâ—jon However he could not escape the punishment that Heaven had prepar'd for him The Dauphin resolv'd to revenge the Death of the Duke of Orleans year 1419 and contended for the regency during his Fathers sickness On the otherside the Duke of Burgundy enter'd into a League with the King of England and France was in a strange combustion Persons of high quality interpos'd to accommodate the difference and the Duke was
sollicited to do homage for the Dukedom of Burgundy He felt strange combats in his breaâ—t and struggl'd with more then one single passion upon this accompt and before he would positively determin he would needs take advice of Madam de Gyac with whom he had a long time had an Intreague That Lady who was still young and handsome did not suit with the Kings age who was already going down the hill of his years and would willingly have been reconcil'd to the Court in hopes of smiting the Dauphin in the Eye for whom she felt some kind of amorous inclination and with that design she advis'd the Duke to do what was demanded from him The place appointed for the Ceremony was Monterault where a large room of hoards was erected upon the Bridge with three bars that were let down as the Duke pass'd forward But when he was upon his knees in order to do his homage a pretence was taken from hence that he laid his hand upon the hilt of his Sword upon which Tonnequi du Chastel who stood next the Dauphin fell'd the Duke with a blow upon his Chin with his battle ax and the rest of the Courtiers compleated the Murder However his death was reveng'd by his Children who introduc'd the English into France nor had the Dauphin who in a short time after came to the Crown by the name of Charles VII sav'd the Kingdome but by a particular assistance that Heaven miraculously sent him The Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Charles VII year 1424 JAQVELINE of Haynault Countess of Holland had espous'd for her first Husband John Dauphin of France the Son of Charles VI. and after his death was marry'd to John of Burgundy the Son of Anthony Duke of Brabant his cousin He was a Prince both old and gouty who avoided the World and sought retirement only Jaqueline was quite of another humour and could not find in her heart to shut her self up in the Country with her Husband However she was bound to obedience and was constrain'd to consine her self with him in a Castle whither he had withdrawn himself from the hurry of business Nor had she any other consolation then to bemoan in private with her Women the fantastick humour of her Husband Her Maid of honour had formerly made a voyage into England attending at that time upon Katherine of France who had marry'd Henry V. and she was return'd with all the Officers of the Houshold of that Princess whom the King her Husband had sent back some Months after Now tho' that Lady had made but a short stay in London nevertheless she had seen all the magnificence of that Court of which she made so pleasing a description to her Mistress that she infus'd into her a desire to cross the Sea's and taste her share of the pleasures which that Court afforded The Lady also spoke to her so advantagiously of Humphrey Duke of Glocester the King's Brother that she caus'd her to conceive an esteem for that Prince which did not a little disquiet her repose She desir'd also to see his Picture and open'd her mind to her Maid of Honour who found a way to satisfy her curiosity And the Portraicture and the Persuasions of her Woman increas'd her Chimerical Passion to that degree that she resolv'd to cross over into England She imparted her design to none but such Officers whom she could not avoid entrusting with her Secret and having made choice of a day for her departure she got a Horse-back with a small Train carrying all her Jewels along with her She got to Dunkirke whence she embark'd for Dover and so for London She was well receiv'd by the King of England and better by the Duke of Gloucester who had been inform'd how much he was concern'd in the voyage which she had undertaken And he knew so well how to make the best of her preventing him that he oblig'd her to yield her fell up to him upon the faith of a Marriage which she could not contract in regard she had a Husband living But the King of England's complacency in indulging her idle Passion had like to have broken the good correspondence between him and the Duke of Burgundy Cousin to the Duke of Brabant his kinsman but reason af State prevail'd above that frivilous Disgust Sometime after John of Bavaria Duke of Luxembourg Governor of the Counties of Holland and Zealand ordain'd his Heir Philip Duke of Burgundy his Sisters Son without making any mention in his Will of Jaqueline his Neece by the Father's side which oblig'd her to return into Haynault where the Duke of Gloucester would needs accompany her She was receiv'd by her Subjects with extraordinary Magnificence notwithstanding the opposition of the Counts of Conversano and Anguien who sided with the Duke of Brabant The Duke of Gloucester also endeavour'd to make himself Master of such places as he pretended were fall'n to Jaqueline by the death of the Duke of Luxembourg But he was constrain'd to quit his enterprize and her whole Rights he maintain'd because Pope Martin V. threaten'd him with Ecclesiastical Censures if he did not restore the Duke of Brabant his disloyal Wife The Duke obey'd without any reluctance and was glad of that pretence to abandon Jaqueline that she might not perceive he was become unfaithful and paid his Vows to another Shrine For Jaqueline had taken along with her into Haynault an English Lady who was call'd Madam Shelton and the Duke was soon aware of the advantage which that Lady had over her Mistress as well for the Graces of her Body as for the fineness of her Wit and delicacy of her Sentiments Nor could he withstand so many charms and finding they concurr'd with his Sedulities he was glad to find himself at liberty that he might follow his own inclinations He therefore left the Dutchess at Mons and return'd into England where he marry'd Madam Shelton But the Duke of Gloucester's infidelity was not the only thing which troubl'd the Dutchess she fear'd the effects of her Husband 's just resentment and she imagin'd every moment that she saw him invading her Territories with an armed Force But the death of the Duke deliver'd her from these Fears news being brought her in the midst of her disturbanbances that a Feaver which seaz'd him at Brussels had put an end both to his Life and his Jealousies Réne de Anjou Duke of Barr having had a contest with the Count of Vandemoâ— who should succeed to Charles Duke of Lorrain they disputed their Right by dint of Arms. The Count had recourse to the Duke of Burgundy a sworn Enemy to the House of Anjou who assisted him with Men and Money and after he had obtain'd that reinforcement he march'd to find out his Enemy meeting him in the Plain of Bullenville near Neuchatel in Lorrain he gave him Battle defeated his Army and took him prisoner Nor could the Duke obtain his liberty till the death
however it would have been no less a vexation to him to separate from his new Mistress who would have been unwilling to cross the Seas and follow him in his Armies In the mean time he was engag'd to repass into France upon the return of the Spring not doubting but that if he fail'd in his promise both his Enemies and his own Souldiers would accuse him of Cowardice There was nothing but a Peace that could handsomly disingage him from that excessive expence which he would be oblig'd to be at if he intended to keep the Emperors Army in pay the next Spring In short he grew weary of contributing to the ambitious designs of the King of Spain his Brother in Law yet getting nothing by it and contented himself with having been twice deceiv'd by as many Treaties sign'd by his Ambassador Quintana as suttle a Fox of a Castilian as ever was born Nevertheless the King of England being haughty told the Duke of Longueville that it would be time enough to think of his Sister when she should be demanded in due form As much as to say that it was not from the mouth of a Prisoner that the King was to take notice of any proposal of that nature The Duke of Longueville gave a shrewd guess at the King's thoughts and sent into France under pretence of sending for his ransome a Gentleman who assur'd Lewis XII that it would be his own fault if he did not make a Peace with England upon reasonable conditions and marry the King's Sister who was the most lovely Woman in Europe Lewis who had always an amourous inclination willingly entertain'd the proposal and the portraiture of the Princess that was sent him was too powerful a charm to let his affection for the Female Sex lie dormant He flatter'd himself also with the hopes of having a Son and casting off all his former fears of the inconveniencies that might befall him if Bretagne were separated from the Crown he dispatcht into England the General of Normandy who concluded both the Peace and the Match in fifteen days and carry'd the Princess to Boulogne where the Count of Angoulême had Orders to go and receive her The Count most gladly undertook and discharg'd his trust thô the marriage which he solemniz'd by procuration from the King was the way in all probability to deprive him of the Crown However Francines the King 's chief Physician assur'd him that the King was very unlikely to have any more Children So that he appear'd at Boulogne like a Prince who only minded his divertisement at what time he could not forbear falling in Love with her whom he marry'd for his Father in Law as she could not chuse but wish that Heaven had ordain'd the Count for her Husband And the convenience which they had to entertain each other with private Conversation might perhaps have prompted 'em to have taken a far greater liberty if the Prothonotary du Pont who was plac'd near the Prince to moderate in some measure the transports of his youth had not put it into his head that 't was not the new Queen's interest to keep her self very cbast because that in regard she was going to a Husband by whom as all People said she would never have any Children 't was to be fear'd she would submit to a temptation that might help her to a Child for the preservation of her race in France when she came to he a Widow and dispence with her return into England under subjection to her Brother but that as for himself it concern'd him above all Men to take care of the Queen's living chastily as being a thing far remote from his Interest to sollicite her to incontinence for that if she had a Son by him that Son would hinder him from coming to the Crown and reduce him to be contented with Bretagne which his Wife had brought him while he contrary to the order of nature must be forc'd to do Homage to a Bastard This reason cool'd the Count of Angoulême's courage and caus'd him to look upon the Queen with no other then jealous Eyes and he watch'd her so narrowly that at length he discover'd the kindness she had for Suffolk He follow'd her with the character of her Champion of Honour but carry'd himself with that discretion that they could have never penetrated into his affairs had they not been already discover'd in England The Count understood every thing so well that the slightest circumstances were not conceal'd from him and because it was no less then either the loss or gaining of a Crown that was now in agitation he sought an opportunity to speak with Suffolk in private He told him that he was well acquainted with his good correspondence with the Queen and that he was so far from breaking it off that he would countenance him in it provided he might be no looser by it that the King was not in â—ondition to have Children nor to live long that Suffolk could never think of making any progresses in the Queen's favour without exposing himself to the danger of being discover'd by a multitude of spies that would never loose sight of him so that if he took never so little liberty he was a lost Man past all redemption On the otherside if he would give him assurance to contain himself within the bounds of respect he would engage never to cross his good fortune after the King's death nay he would connive at his marrying the Queen in private and allow him an establishment in France as good as he could desire till he could make his peace with the King of England Thô the Duke of Angoulême never consider'd at the time of his making those proposals whither he could be as good as his word when he came to the Crown Suffolke found 'em so advantageous that he was charm'd with 'em and accepted of 'em as real performances He promis'd more then the Duke demanded and offer'd to be himself a Spy upon the Queen But in regard it would have been a piece of imprudence to have wholly confided in his Word Precautions were taken to hinder him from breach of Faith should he have gone about to have violated his promise The Baroness of Aumont was made of Honour to the Queen and became her most intimate Confident And it was by the advice of the Queen that she enlarg'd the functions of her Office beyond the usual bounds and that knowing the Queen to be fearful and unwilling to lie alone she pretended that the Honour of lying with the Queen in the King's absence belong'd to her and carry'd it to the exclusion of all the Ladies which the Queen brought with her out of England Now because the Count of Angoulême's Friends thought it absolutely necessary that he should have secret and faithful Spies about the Queen Madame and the Baroness d'Aumont undertook that Province and divided their time so exactly between 'em that either the one or the other was always by her nor
Protestant Religion and having obtain'd from the Pope a nullity of the Engagements he had made her He marry'd the Widow of the Duke of Guise who was Murder'd by Poltrot before Orleance some Months before After Queen Katherine de Medicis had caus'd the majority of her Son to be declar'd by the Parliament of Rouen all the Court Ladies strove which should most powerfully enthral his Heart but he delighted more in Hunting and other violent exercises then in Courtship and making Love Nevertheless one Day Madam de Montpensier taxing him for his insensibility he swore to her that if once he went about to turn Coquet he should so harass all the Ladies that they would repent of having wak'd a sleeping Lyon In a word for some time he lay'd about him to the right and left without ever engaging himself in any Intreagues But sometime after going to Orleance he spy'd a young Virgin that came out of curiosity to see him at Dinner and having enquir'd who she was he learnt that her name was Marie Touchet an Apothecary's Daughter i' the Town Thereupon he commanded la Tour Master of the Wardrobe to talk to her and to perswade her to come to his Chamber La Tour with very little trouble succeeded in his Negotiation and the next night brought Madam Touchet to the King who obtain'd of her whatever he desir'd thô she had already engag'd her Affection to Monlue the Bishop of Valence's Brother whom she could not forget neither whatever marks she receiv'd of Charles the Ninths Love The King requested Madam Margaret his Sister to entertain her as her waiting Woman that she might have some pretence to follow the Court. However he was forc'd to take her away from that Lady when he return'd to Paris because she prov'd with Child and he provided so well for her lying Inn that she was brought to Bed of a Prince who was call'd Charles by his Father's name and honour'd with the title of Count of Auvergne But Madam Touchet for all this kept a dayly correspondence with Monlue and frequently receiv'd Billet Douxes from him The King being inform'd that she had put one of 'em up in her purse invited a great many Ladies to Supper of which number was his faithless Mistress Withal he commanded the Captain of a Company of Gypsies to bring along with him about a dozen of the most exquisite Cut-purses he could pick out of the whole gang to cut all the Ladies purses while they were Eating and faithfully to bring 'em all to him at his going to Bed When the Meat was upon the Table he plac'd Madam Touchet next to himself for fear she should make away the Billet which be had a mind to have The Cutpurses did their business exactly and la Chambre fail'd not to carry to the King all the booty according to order The King had no great trouble to distinguish his Mistress's purse from the rest and therefore opening it in very great hast found there the Billet already mention'd The next Day he shew'd it his disloyal Minioness who disown'd it was directed to her because there was no Superscription bur she could not disavow several other things that were in the Purse together with the Billet so that having no other course to take she confest her fault and beg'd pardon The King also promis'd to think no more of it provided she had no more to do with Monlue and to separate her the more certainly from him His Majesty Marry'd her to Balzac d'Entragues Bayliff of Orleance Some time after the discourse was very hot about marrying the King to Elizabeth of Austria the Emperor Ferdinand's Daughter Madam d'Entragues having seen her Picture consulted her Looking-glass and then told one of her Maids that stood by her that 't was the least of her fears that ever that Princess would rob her of the King's Affection and indeed he lov'd her to his Dying Day tho' he had a great respect for the Queen his Wife The King was extreamly haughty and could not brook the ambition of the Duke of Guise He took it hainously when he understood that the Duke had been so bold as to aspire to Madam Margaret his Sister as also to make her a formal Declaration of his Love So that in the first transports of his wrath he order'd the Grand Prior the Son of Hen. II. and Madam Hamilton to stab the insolent Pretender Of which the Duke being inform'd by Madam d'Entragues avoided the Hunting match which was appointed on purpose for the execution of the design that was laid against his life And to let the King know that he was not guilty of the crime that was laid to his charge by the advice of his Mother he marry'd Katherine of Cleves the Widow of Prince Portiano and by that means asswag'd his Masters anger In the mean time he endeavour'd to secure to himself the protection of the Duke of Anjou and the better to gain his good Will he offer'd to be serviceable to him in his passion for the Princess of Condè his Sister-in-law So violent was the Duke of Anjou's love for that Princess that he was very near refusing the Crown of Poland as not enduring a removal from her However he endeavour'd to cure himself by seeking other divertisements and made his applications to Madam Chasteau-neuf one of the Queen Mother's Maids of Honour who did not long withstand his importunities and in regard she perceiv'd her self to be not the sole Mistress of his Heart she made no scruple to engage her self in an Intreague with Lignerolet the Duke's Favourite But Ligneroles s who devoted himself to her onely out of vanity was so indiscreet as to boast to his Master of his good Fortune and receiv'd the punishment which his insolence deserv'd being stabb'd be Villequier by the Duke's Order They who were ignorant of this circumstance ascrib'd his death to his indiscretion in talking of the Massacre that was to be made of the Huguenots upon St. Bartholomews day which his Master had reveal'd to him but certain it is that the Duke had no other aim then to punish the Vain-glory of his Favourite The Duke finding that the Princess of Condè's Virtue was not to be stirr'd set forward at length for Poland where they would fain have marry'd him to Ann Jaqueline the Daughter of the last King But the news that he receiv'd in a short time after of the death of Chales IX oblig'd him to quit his new Subjects and return into France The King at the very last minutes of his life could not forget Madam d'Entragues but order'd La Tour to tell her that nothing griev'd him so much as that death had snatch'd him from her before he had done any thing for her to advance her Fortune The End of the First Part. INTEAGUES OF THE Court of FRANCE Under the Reign of HENRY III. PART II. Anno 1574. NEither Fame nor Absence could extinguish that Love which Henry III. had conceiv'd in
the Appartment which Bouteville had hird and furnish'd for her Their first enterview was very tender and passionate and at night they parted very well satisfi'd the one with the other But when she was a bed she was astonish'd to hear the door open and an unknown person come into her Chamber She ask'd him what he would have but he went out again without answering so much as one word presently she call'd her Maids but they could give her no account of this adventure But the next morning she was inform'd that the Chamber where she lodg'd had been hird by an Italian Fencing Master who had a pretty woman to his Wife of whom he was jeaous that being to ride a little way out of Town he had carri'd the Key along with him thinking to surprize his Wife at his return and discover whither she had not some peculiar favourite besides himself Thereupon not knowing that his Wife was remov'd he open'd the Door softly with his Key but was in so great amaze to see the Chamber so richly furnish'd and to hear a strange voice speak to him that he made all the hast he could out again Madam de Pons told Bouteville the Story who came in a short time after and the Fencing Masters jealousie prov'd the subject of their merriment for several days together At the beginning of Autumn Madam de Pons went to the Spa where she saw the Rhine-Grave and gain'd a new Conquest He carri'd her home to his Palace after she had been drinking the Waters and there she contracted a most intimate friendship with her admirers Wife who was no less innocent then beautiful and reported up and down that she was highly oblig'd to Mademoiselle de Pons who had infus'd good humours into her Husband but there were some that were careful to disabuse her so that Madam de Pons dreading the effects of that Ladies jealousie return'd to the Hague where she heard that Malecorne lay dangerously sick which oblig'd her to return into France 1656. She came to Charleviâ—le where the King s Lieutennant who commanded in the absence of the Duke of Noitmoutier who was Governour receiv'd her after a most obliging manner and fell so passionately in Love with her that he offer d to deliver up Charleville and Mount Olympus into the hands of the Spaniards if by that means she could procure to her self a considerable Establishment at Brussels but she refus d his Offers Malicorne who had by this time recover'd his Health came to see her Charleville and after he had stay'd with her some few days return'd to Paris to prepare a Lodging for her where she might remain Incognito till she could reconcile herself to the Court. At his departure she gave him a Letter directed to Mademoiselle Le Fevre which he made use of by adding some lines in a counterfieited hand to get out of her hands the little Box wherein were all the Letters from all the Lovers of his unfaithful Mistress by which he understood her complacency for the Marshalls d' Aumont and d' Albret during their Intreagues and deeming her unworthy of a real Passion he resolv'd to forsake her utterly broke off with her and never saw her more As for the Duke of Guise he Intreagu'd himself with Mademoiselle de Gorce who was not of so illustrous a Family but who lov'd him more cordially and faithfully so that after his death she retir'd into the Convent of Carmelites where at length she took the Habit upon her 1656. The same Year the Queen of Sweden arriv'd in France the King sending the Duke of Guise to meet and receive her upon the Frontiers Love had oblig'd that Princess to quit her Crown for she was in Love with Count Magnus de la Gardia and because he refus d to Raign with her nor could find in his heart to love her because he had devoted all his Inclinations to the Sister of Charles Prince Palatine the Father of the present King after she had made use of all her address to procure the consent of the States of the Kingdom she resign'd her Scepter and the Throne of Sweden to the Prince Palatine upon condition that he should marry his Sister to the Count du la Gardia This Queen was perfectly learned in all the Sciences spoke the greatest part of the Languages of Europe and with as much ease as she did the Swedish Tongue Now in regard she had a great Reputation among all the European Nations she strove to conceal the real Motive of her Abdication and would have People believe that Religion was the pretence She had been bred up in the Lutheran and was desirous to embrace the Roman-Catholick-Faith To which purpose she came into France and took into her Service none but Foreign Officers and Roman-Catholicks Among the rest she made the Marquiss de Monaldeschi descended from a very mean Family in Italy her Squire and did him the Honour wholly to confide in him After she had spent the remainder of the Year at Paris she remov'd to Fontain Bleau at the beginning of the next where she discover'd that Monaldeschi from whom she had had complacencies a little too familiar for a Princess to have with one of her Officers had boasted of 'em to the disadvantage of her Reputation She had also intercepted Letters which he wrote to his Friends in Italy for which she first upbraided him with his Ingratitude but seeing that he obstinately persever'd in denying his Crime she convicted him by the Testimony of witnesses that were not to be contradicted and then deliver'd him to three of her Officers who killd him in the Stagâ—-Gallery after she was withdrawn Nor did the Marquiss dye like a Roman but like a Modern Italian that is to say like a Coward not making so much as one struggle to defend his Life nor striving otherwise to save it but by imploring the Queen's Pardon which he beg'd the Priests that confess'd him and the Queen's Almoner who came into the Gallery at the time they were just preparing for the fatal stroak to sue for The King was highly offended at this act of Violence and sent to the Queen of Sweden to let her understand that she would have done more prudently to have addrest herself to him and to have demanded Justice against the Marquiss since she had no Priviledg to exercise any Soveraign Authority within his Dominions The Queen thus reprimanded made but little stay in France but went to Rome where she was kindly receiv d by Innocent X. and took into her Service a French-man whose name was Alibert the Son of one of the deceased Duke of Orleance's Super-intendents She continud at Rome till her death and kept a very modish Court the Roman Ladys that came to visit her relaxing in respect to her Grandeur much of that severity which is usually practis'd in Italy Before I finish these Memoirs I think my self oblig'd to give some account in this place of an Intreague
if I knew where to fiâ—d a person of greater Vitue than tâ—y self I would not spare foâ— any paints to enjoy him Childerick charm'd with her Language and enclin'd as well by his own passion forgot the Duties of Friendship and the Protection which King Basia had so generously afforded him in his Misfortunes The pleasures which he hop'd for in the possession of Queen Basina would not permit him to hesitate one moment nor to ponder upon the injury the greatest he could do the Prince his Benefactor 'T is said that having desir'd Childerick not to lye with her the first Night of their Nuptials she went three several times to desire him not to be afraid but to observe the Apparitions that should present themselves before his Eyes and that by virtue of her occult Magick she shew'd him the first time Unicorns Lions and Leopards The second time Bears and Wolves and the third time Dogs and Cats to signifie the various manners and conditions of the Princes that should descend from that Marriage But iâ— we observe the ardent Affection which that Queen had for Childerick 't is enough to convince us that this same Story was no more then a Fable invented at random For t is not probable that her vehement desires would permit her to employ her time so ill as to lye alone while her Lover was taken up with gazing and musing upon pretended Apparitions The Amours of Clovis the First Christian King Anno 485. CLOVIS who succeeded Childerick his Father desirous to devolve and establish his Authority upon his Legitimate Offspring for he had had already by one of his Mistresses a natural Son whose name was Thierry cast his Eyes upon Cletilda the Daughter of another Childeriâ— and Neice to Gondebaut King of Burgundy who was a very beautifull Princess and by the Marriage of whom he might reap so much the greater Advantage because it afforded him an opportunity to aggrandize his Dominions on Burgundy side For Gondebaut after he had defeated his Brother and cut the Throat of their Wives and male Issue let the Daughter live and retain'd Clotilda at Court where she was so strictly lookt after that they watcht even her very smiles and all the meanest her Actions not permitting any Man to come near her But Clovis's Love and Ambition found out a way to deceive her Guards Aurelian a Confident of Clovis his Master took his time to go into Burgundy when Gondebaut was in Italy with Thierry and found a way to speak to the Princess by disguising himself in the habit of a â—eggar for in that disguise he waited for her at the Church-door and begg'd an Alms of her which when she stretch'd forth her hand to give him he squeez'd and kiss'd it after so passionate a manner that she presently conjectur'd there mâ—st be some secret Mystery in the Beggers carriage Having therefore found out a way to discourse him she listen'd to his Propositions and receiv'd the Nuptial Ring that Clovis sent her with this condition that he should turn Christian The Prince being thus assur'd of the Affection of his Mistriss sent a magnificent Embassy to Gondebaut on purpose to congratulate his good success and demand his Niece in Wedlock who â—â—ous'd himself under pretence of his Religion But Aurelian who was Clovis's Ambassador promis'd to remove that obstacle out of the way so that Gendebaut having no other exception to make and not knowing which way decently to avoid it was forc'd to comply with his demand Deuterie Theodebert the King of Austratia's Mistress CLovis's Children having divided the Kingdom of Fâ—â—â—ce bet weulâ—om Austrasia sell to Theoderie est â—â—â—el Prince this Dominions were of a large 〈…〉 bâ— oâ—pâ— cheâ—do not only Lorrain but the â—oâ—i Countries and part of Germany which was the ancient â—â—tismony of our Kings and â—eath was far as Bauaria Theod. had but one only Son whose name was Theadebâ—rt a Prince both stood and ambitious and medicated nothing but great designed His Father bâ—t bought himself of Marrying him betimes and to match him vnto such an alliance as might be able to assist him in the preservation of the Dominions which he should heare him alter his Death To that purpose he â—â—st his Eyes upon Wisgard the Daughter of Wocâ—in King of the Lombards Waâ—â—oâ— as a Parent Prince of his possess'd a good part of Italy and who was able to assist him to wage Wâ—â— with the other â—â—nus of Clovit if any of 'em not contented with his share should attempt to fall upon Austria Theoderic having taken his Resolution sent Ambassadors to Wachon to demand his Daughter and having obtain'd his desire he affianc'd her to his Son but the Marriage was not consummated whither it were that Theodebert had any reluctancy to the Match or that Theoderic growing jealous of his Son's Ambition would not entrust him with an oppurtunity to make himself 〈…〉 by that Alliance All the People of Austrasâ—â—â— were charm'd with Theodâ—bert's Vertues and they spoke so highly in his praise that the King was somwhat disturb'd at it and resolv'd to remove him from the Court. To which purpose an opportunity offer'd it self which he was unwilling to 〈◊〉 escape him The Sâ—â—viant who possessed Spain finding themselves over powr'd by the 〈◊〉 who made it their business to 〈…〉 of the Kingdom sollicited the King of â—â—â—trasia to fall upon Narbâ—nâ—oisâ— Gaul to the end the Enemy might be compell'd to â—epass the 〈◊〉 in order to defend that Province which at that time belong'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoriâ— discover'd to his Son the Preposals that had â—een made to him and ask'd him whither he would command the Army which 〈…〉 to send into 〈◊〉 the Young Beâ—â—â—e was 〈…〉 that his Other offer'd 〈…〉 opportunity to exercise his Valour and declar'd that 〈…〉 ready too set forward as 〈…〉 few Days after 〈…〉 with a powerful Army and 〈…〉 Burgundy and the 〈…〉 to his entering into 〈…〉 in all the Towns that he did 〈…〉 Army and after 〈…〉 strong 〈…〉 Nimes and Montpelier to come and 〈…〉 his Camp upon the Banks of the â—iâ—er Orâ— near â—o 〈◊〉 Deuterie Wise to the Governor of that City laythen at his Castle of Cupâ—â—â—ic which some call Cabrieret but others more justly Capostâ—â— in regard that Village stands more near to Beziers whereas Cabrieres adjoyns to Nimes She would fain have goe away to her Husband with her Daughter about ten Years of Age but She had not time for they were both taken by the avenâ— Couriers of Theodebert's Army and presented to the Prince He was charm'd with their Beauty and after he had made a thousand excuses for the ill usage they had met with he surrender'd up to them his own Tent and besought 'em to make use of it In the Evening he went and paid a visit to Douterie and told her she was at her own Liberty and that she should have a Convey to guard her to Nimes when she pleas'd But Deuâ—erie who was
understand that there was nothing to be got but by fair and lawful means so that the Prince whose Passion resistance augmented gave his consent at length and marry'd her Upon that St. German who was acquainted with his former engagements earnestly remonstrated to him the heinousness of such a scandalous Wedlock and told him withal that the Church would never approve his incestuous familiarity therefore be exhorted him to break it and divorce himself from Fame-Rafle and not being able to gain any thing by fair means he had recourse to Anathema's and banish'd those two Lovers from the communion of the Faithful Veneranda thô sensibly nettl'd at Gentran's Infidelity had a long time patiently undergone her misfortune yet not daring to exert her Revenge upon her unconstant Lover because he was her Sovereign nor upon her Rivalless whom she could not ruine without violating the Law of Nature Nevertheless she alter'd her opinion when she saw her Excommunicated for then no longer looking upon her as a Sister but as an Abominable Person whose life lay at the mercy of any one that would take it away she gave her a dose of Poison and sent her out of the World However she was never the more happy for so doing for she could never regain the King's Affection the heat of whose Passion was quite extinguish'd Nor was she less perplex'd to see him so prodigal of his amorous Sedulities to Theodegild who after the death of the King her Husband was fled for Sanctuary to Gentran's Court. That Princesse made him proposals of Marriage to which he gave ear immediately more out Ambition then Love in hopes by that means to joyn the Kingdom of Paris to that of Orleans Nevertheless reflecting upon the Troubles which the Marriage of Fame-Rafle had brought upon his Shoulders he was unwilling to engage himself in a second Incestuous Wedlock for fear of emboldning his Subjects to revolt and furnishing his Brothers with a pretence to invade his Dominions He therefore contented himself with making the best of his Sister in-law's confidence in trusting him to lay violent hands upon her Treasure which done he banish'd her into Provence and thrust her into a Nunnery Upon Theodegild's retirement he espous'd Marcatrude the Daughter of Duke Magnacaire and this new Queen had a Maid of Honour whose name was Austrigild a Lady of surpassing Beauty with whom Gontran fell in love and having gain'd her Affections had two Children by her who dy'd both before him Fredegond Mistress to Chilperic King of Neustria and Paris CHILPERIC the Brother of Cherebert and Gontran to whoss lot fell the Kingdom of Paris and Neustria had for his first Wife one Audouaire whose Original is not known only 't is said that she was the Daughter of one of his Subjects and that by her he had three Sons Theodibert Meroveus and Clovis together with a Daughter whose name was Basina who took upon her the habit of a Nun in the Convent of St. Crosse's in Poiters of which St. Radegond was then the Abbess But while Queen Audonaire liv'd she had a Maid of Honour of mean extraction that resided with her who was born in the Village of Auancourt in Picardy but whose Beauty Wit and other endowments render'd her worthy of high esteem and her name was Frâ—degond She had ingenuity enough to gain at the same time the affection both of her Master and Mistress and withal she knew so well which way to conceal her fain'd commerce Chilperic that no body at the Court perceiv'd it but the King's passion for her was near a whit the less violent for being secret and Fredegoud on the other side who had a piercing Wit conjectur'd shrewdly that it would be no impossible thing for to see her self seated in the Throne if she could preserve that ascendant which she had over the Queen who being a good honest downright simple Woman and consequently never mistrusting Fredegond's tricks and artifices easily fell into the snares which she laid for her About that time it was that Chilperic left Paris to make War upon his Brother Sigebert King of Austrasia leaving Audouaire big with Child nor was it not long after his departure that she was brought to Bed of a Daughter to which by Fredegond's advice she stood for one of the Godmothers her self who perswaded her that would it be a means to render her more acceptable to her Husband Chilperick being return'd she inflam'd his Love by affected Refusals and seeing him one day at her feet protesting that he lov'd no body but her self and that nothing in the world could equal the delicacy of his passion she answer'd him with a cold indifferency that if his protestations were sincere he would not every day as he did share his caresses between her and a Princess whom the laws forbad to look upon as a Wife since she was become so near a kin to him by being God-mother to the Young Basina Chilperick was at first surpriz'd at this discourse but at length suffering himself to be prepossess d by the artifices of Fredegond he was made believe that he committed Incest in performing the duty of a Husband to Audouaire and therefore to avoyd all occasions of committing so foul a crime he shut up his Wife in a Nunnery Fredegond having thus remov'd the main obstable believ'd that nothing else could prevent her being Queen only one politick reason crossed her designs For Sigebert had Marry'd Brunebant the Daughter of Athanagild King of Spain Now Childerick fearing least that allyance should render him too Potent sent to demand for himself Galsuind the sister of that Princess and to oblige Athanagild the more easily to give his confent he offer'd to affiance Basina to the Prince his Son But that was more then he could perform in regard the King could not procure the consent of the States of his Kingdom that his Daughter should Marry with the Prince of Spain because he was an Arrian Which denyal tho' it was enough to have incens'd Athanagild nevertheless it infus'd into him no occasion of resentment against Chilperic as being well acquainted with his sincerity and for that he knew 't was none of Chilperic's fault that he could not be as good as his word so that he consented to his demand of Galsuiud and gave her to him without any scruple But in that Marriage Chilperic met not with those sweets of Wedlock which he expected Galsuiud was proud and haughty as all the Spanish women are and not of a humour to brook that her Husband should share-with another Heart and that affection which she believ'd to be only due to her self she soon perceiv'd the Love which her unfaithful Husband had for Fredegond and display'd her resentment with a vengeance Chilperic accustom'd only to the patience of Audonaire could not submit himself to Galsuinds outragious transports and Fredegond left nothing omitted to exasperate the King against her For in regard she beheld her certain ruin before
to take at that time which was to repudiate their Wives contrary to the Prohibitions of the Church and the Holy Canons He put away Plectrude and continu'd his Intreague so publickly with Alpayde that Lambert Bishop of Liege after frequent and severe Admonitions both in private and publick threaten'd to Excommunicate him Alpayde was alarum'd at this and made her Complaints to her Brother Dodon who being a Man Violent and Revengful murther'd the Holy Bishop For which it was not long e're he receiv'd condigne punishment from Heaven for he fell into the Lowzie Sickness which drove him to such a terrible despair that he threw himself into the Meuse Some time after Pepin dy'd and Plectrude made her self Mistriss both of the Government and of the Person of Charles whom she shut up in the Castle of Cologne which was the usual place of her Residence Charles however found a way to make his escape out of Prison and having found a considerable Party in the Kingdom got himself chosen Mayor of the Palace and constrain'd Plectrude to renounce all her Pretensions The Amours of Charlemaigne THO' Charlemaigne had several Mistresses Anno 771. while his four Wives liv'd we know the Names of none but of Reginia and Adelond nor do we know who was the Mother of Pepin the eldest of his Natural Sons This Emperor passing through Mayence as he was going to make War against the Saxons Count Ganelon considerable for his Rank and Quality in that part of Germany besought him to receive Reginia his near Kinswoman into the number of Luigard the Empresse's Maids of Honour who had accompanied him in that Journey Charles consented to it willingly and found the Virgin so amiable that he many times took delight to divertize himself in her company after he had tyr'd himself with the toil of business And at first the Emperor thought of making no more then a Pastime of his Discourses with the young Lady but in a short time he soon perceiv'd that he had another sort of Kindness for Reginia and begg'd her to correspond with his Passion How was it possible to resist the importunities of a Prince who was already the Admiration of all Europe Reginia suffer'd her self to be overcome and grew big with Child Charles afraid lest the Empress should discover the Intreague left her at Aix la Chapelle where she dy'd soon after In the mean time Reginia was brought to Bed of Frogon he was afterwards Bishop of Mets and the next year of another Prince whose Name was Hugh Nor was Reginia ungrateful to her Kinsman Gamelon to whom she was beholding for her Fortune for she procur'd him Preferments and Employments which oblig'd him to follow the Court. And in regard he was frequently in his Kinswoman's Chamber during these marches and journeys he beheld among the rest of her Companions a Lady whose Name was Adelond with whom he fell so deeply in love that he resolv'd to Marry her To which purpose he besought the Emperor's permission so soon as he return'd to Aix la Chapelle who at first readily gave his consent But having better relish'd Adelond's Wit he could not resolve to behold her in the possession of another and having therefore found some pretence to recall his Word he engag'd himself altogether with Adelond and forsook Reginia Nor was this Second Mistriss less fruitful then the First for she made him the Father of Prince Thierry However the Emperor did not give himself up so absolutely to his amorous Pleasures as to forget the Affairs of his Dominions Understanding therefore that Alphonsus King of Leon had made a League against him with Fortune Garsil King of Navarr and with Marsillus the Moorish King of Cordona he cross'd the Pyrenans in order to fight ' em Ganelon thought this an opportunity to be reveng'd of the Emperor for bereaving him of his Mistress and for having dishonour'd his Kinswoman Thereupon he went over secretly and by giving 'em seasonable notice of the march of the Imperial Army was the occasion of the loss of the Battle of Roncèvaux wherein the choice of the French Nobility were slain However the Treason of the Count was discover'd and he receiv'd a punishment proportionable to the enormity of his Crime the marks of which are to be seen by what befell the Tours of Monthlery and de la Queve in Brie that both belong'd to him for they were half demolish'd and so have ever finde remain'd Reginia who had no share in the Conspiracy was no less exempted from any Consequences of his punishment as being all along in high esteem with Charlemaigne who put her Children into his Will year 814 Charles's Galantries had been so publick that they gave an occasion to the Princesses his Daughters for whom he had not been very careful to provide Husbands to seek out for Lovers themselves and tho' the Emperor had notice of their irregular Conduct he did but laugh at it and let 'em live according to their own Fancies But after his death Lewis his eldest Son who was of a different character from his Father and desirous to remedy these disorders gave Commission to the Princes Walon Warner Lambert and Tagobar diligently to enquire into 'em and to punish those that should be found guilty To this purpose he sent 'em before to Aix la Chapelle and follow'd 'em himself with a puissant Army to support the execution of his Orders and oppose the Pretensions of his Sisters who had made a powerful Party against him and with their Arms in their hands demanded their share in the Succession and Inheritance left by their Father The Prisons of Aix la Chapelle were soon fill'd with those who had abus'd the easie Nature of the Princesses or who had favour'd and encourag'd their unchast Amours and they were punish'd according as their Crimes deserv'd Harwin who had been summon'd to answer to the Informations exhibited against him made his appearance but arm'd and well attended and when Warner and Lambert order'd him to be examin'd upon the Interrogatories he drew his Sword and slew the first and dangerously wounded the other in the Thigh However he could not escape death for he was massaker'd with all his followers by the Prince's Officers and Guards When Lewis also arriv'd at Aix la Chapelle he sent for his Sisters and after he had caus'd his Father's Will to be read in their Hearing he unbraided 'em with their loose Conduct and then sent 'em away to the Lands of which Charlemagne had given 'em the Rents and Profits and which he assign'd 'em for their Dowries for term of life only Valdrade Mistress to Lothaire King of Lorraine year 862 AFter the death of Lewis the Debonaire his Dominions were divided among his Children Lothaire was Emperor and King of Italy Lewis obtain'd Germany Charles had Burgundy with Neustria and Pepin enjoy'd Aquitain Lothaire turning Monk left three Male Children Lewis Lothaire and Charles Lewis shar'd Italy together with the Empire
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
Thibaut Count of Blois But some time after she was brought to Bed the King being inform'd of all Eleonor's Galantries resolv'd to vacate his Marriage To which purpose he assembl'd the Clergy of France at Boisgency where Alegrin his Chancellor set forth the reasons that mov'd the King to desire a separation and easily obtain'd what his Master desir'd because the Queen made no opposition However Lewis that he might come off with Honour surrendred back to her the Dutchy of Aquitaine and the Earldom of Peitou which she brought him in Dowry and only kept the two Daughters which He had by her Eleonor after this Divorce retir'd to Poitiers where she was visited by Henry Duke of Normandy the King of England's Son Who thô he were a Prince whose Person was no way inviting and had the worst colour'd Hair in the world yet she fail'd not to admit of his sedulities and to hearken to the proposals of Marriage which he made her because he was Heir presumptive to the Crown of England Henry was well inform'd of all the disorders of her past life but his eager desire to joyn Guyenne and Peitou to the rest of those Dominions which he was to inherit prevail'd over all other Considerations He espous'd Eleonor which so enrag'd Lewis that he suffer'd no opportunity of Revenge to escape him So that a War was kindl'd between the two Princes so soon as Henry came to the Crown which lasted till an end was put to it by the Marriage of Henry the King of England's eldest Son with Margaret the Daughter of Lewis and Elisabeth of Castille his second Wife And thô the affianc'd Princess were but five years of Age she was put into the hands of the King of England for a farther confirmation of the Alliance When she came to be of age proper for the consummation of the Nuptials the King of England refus'd to deliver her to his Son for fear he should become too potent and go about to dethrone him with the assistance of France Thereupon Henry impatient to enjoy his youthful Spouse that was to secure him his Succession to the Crown of England the Princess being design'd to the Heir of the Kingdom he stole her away and fled into France to the King his Father-in law From thence he wrote to his own Father demanding England or the Dutchy of Normandy as an Earnest of his Succession and upon the King's refusal resolv'd to obtain his Pretensions by force of Arms. Queen Eleonor also engag'd Richard Duke of Aquitain and Jeoffrey Duke of Bretagne her Brothers to take part with Henry and Lewis oblig'd William King of Scotland to invade England on that side while he sent Robert Earl of Leicester with a powerful Army to make a descent into the Island out of France So that a Man would have thought that the King of England assail'd on every side must have been overwhelmed by so many Enemies But Heaven protected him His Son Henry dy'd in a short time after and Peace was concluded between England and France and the Marriage of Richard who was become Heir to the Crown by the death of Henry with Alice the Daughter of Lewis was the Seal of that Union But in regard the Princess was very young she was put into the hands of the King of England as her Sister had been till she came to years of maturity and Queen Eleonor was shut up in close imprisonment to prevent her contriving new troubles at Court. In the mean time King Henry shew'd himself so extreamly complaisant to the Princess Alice that it was look'd upon to be an effect of love and the Princess answer'd him with a frankness pardonable as her years however Richard grew jealous to that degree that he could not find in his heart to marry her when he came to the Crown Queen Eleonor also whom he set at liberty so soon as he saw himself seated upon the Throne confirm'd him in his aversion and negotiated a Match between him and Beranguelle the Daughter of Don Garcias King of Navarre whom she carry'd to Richard then in Palestine where he espous'd her This anger'd Philip surnam'd the August King of France who at the same time had made a voyage to the Holy Land but he would not shew his resentment there for the injury done his Sister because he would not give the Infidels an opportunity to take advantage of the division of the Christians But so soon as he return'd into France he enter'd the Territories of the King of England in revenge At length Eleonor after she had been the cause of many mischiefs in both Kingdoms where she had worn the Crown ended her days at Poitiers in the Fourscore and fourth year of her age Mary of Moravia Mistress to Philip surnamed the August Anno 1192. PHILIP the August after the death of Isabella of Hainault his first Wife marry'd Isembourg or Eudelberge the Daughter of Waldemar the Great King of Denmark but found so little pleasure in the enjoyment of her that after the first Night he never would Bed her again However he endeavour'd a long time to combat this aversion but not being able to surmount it he imparted the secret of his disgust to William Bishop of Beauvais who told him that in regard there was a near affinity between him and the Queen it would be no difficult thing for him to disannul the Marriage if he would summon an Assembly of the Prelats of his Kingdom The King relish'd this Proposal and having sent for all the Bishops of France and amongst the rest for the Archbishop of Rheims who presided in the Assembly the sentence of Separation was pronounc'd Some time before the King had seen the Portraicture of Mary Agnes the Daughter of Bertol Duke of Moravis which appear'd so charming to him that he had always the Idea of her in his sight Therefore when he saw himself at liberty he sent to demand her in Marriage and having obtain'd his desires he espous'd her with a more then ordinary Magnificence Anno. 1198. Isemburg would not be present at the Nuptial Ceremony but secretly left the Court with a design to retire into Denmark But when she came to the Frontiers of France she bethought her self of the fault she was about to commit in abandoning the Justice of her Cause she return'd back again and shutting her self up in a Convent sent an account of her misfortune to King Conuie her Brother He being astonish'd at Philip's inconstancy sent to his Ambassador then residing in Rome to make his complaints to Pope Celestin and to demand Justice of him Celestin immediately dispatch'd away two Cardinals the one a Priest and the other a Deacon to make inquiry into what had past in the dissolution of the Marriage and to make use of all the Authority of the Holy See to oblige the King to take Isemburg again in case he had no lawful cause of separation So soon as the two Legates arriv'd at Paris
they call'd together an Assembly of the Clergy wherein the Motives to the annulling the King's Marriage with the Princess of Denmark were strictly examin'd But tho' the Prelates assembl'd saw well that the sentence of Separation that had been pronounc'd was slight enough yet they durst not attempt to revoke it for fear of the King's Indignation However Pope Celestin being dead Innocent III. his successor at the solicitation of the Danish Ambassador sent into France the Cardinal Sta Sabina with order to make use of all the most effectual means to oblige the King to a reconciliation with Isemburg When the Legate arriv'd he assembl'd a Council at Lyon and cited the King together with all those that had pronounc'd the sentence of Separation to make their appearance but Philip instead of appearing sent a Herald to Protest the Nullitie of whatever should be done to his prejudice and to appeal as from an improper Judge to the Pope or the next General Council But for all that the Legate went on and by advice of the Prelats assembl'd Excommunicated the King and Interdicted the whole Kingdom Philip enrag'd at these violent Proceedings caus'd the sentence of the Assembly to be declar'd void by a Decree of his Parliament of Paris upon the motion of the Advocate-General and to punish the Bishops who had been so daring as to deal so unworthily by him he seiz'd upon their Temporalties In the mean time well understanding that Isemburg had been the occasion of all these troubles he sent her to the Castle of Estampes with a prohibition not to stir from thence upon pain of being declar'd Guilty of High Treason Mary of Moravia who was a Woman of great virtue and very nice in her sentiments was afraid that all Europe would look upon her as the cause of the Divorce in regard the King had so often given her in publick such transcendent marks of his affection She was desirous therefore to be gratefull and willingly would have resign'd her own Life to have appeas'd these troubles provided that the King her Husband's honour might not be wounded by the accommodation She besought him therefore several times that he would permit her to retire into a Convent But his passion for her was too violent to consent to such a separation and he was too haughty to give his Enemies an occasion to think that he submitted out of any sentiments of fear But as it impossible for Princes long to conceal the most secret emotions of their Souls the favourers of Isemburg had found out that the violent proceeding of the Legat had not a little contributed to exasperate Philip against any reconciliation with that unfortunate Princess Presently therefore they acquainted the Pope with the King's inclinations who yielding to their reasons sent into France two new Legats Octavian Bishop of Ostia and John Bishop of Velitri with Orders to make use of gentler means Those two Legats after they had assembl'd another Council at Soissons immediately took off the excommunication that had been thunder'd out against Philip. Mary likewise laid hold upon this opportunity to beseech His Majesty to take Isembergh again and she assail'd him with arguments so pathetically moving and so judicious that at length he consented Thereupon he sent for Isemburgh to his Palace but the more generous Mary had appear'd to him the more it griev'd him to have separated from her So that after he had remain'd about forty days with Isemburg he sent her to a Monastery The two Legats having notice of this so sudden and unexpected change summon'd a new assembly to meet at Soissons Mary therefore afraid of the fresh troubles into which the King was about to precipitate himself would return to him no more and press'd him so earnestly that she might have leave to retire that at last with his consent she betook her self to the Abby of Boissy But it was not without an extream violence upon her self that she took this resolution She lov'd Philip sincerely and it was meerly to procure him that repose of which he was going to deprive himself for her sake that she could prevail upon her self to loose him for ever And the combat she had in her mind before she could obtain this victory over her self reduc'd her to such a low condition of Health that at length she sunk under the weight of her affliction and dy'd within a Month after her retirement from Court Just before her death she wrote to Philip beseeching him to take Isemburg again and to live lovingly with her The King not able to refuse her this complacency at a time when she gave him such transcending marks of her Love took Horse and rode alone to the Convent where Isemburg lay He sent for her out of the Abby and taking her up behind him carry'd her back to his Palace where he liv'd with her after that in perfect Conjugal society nor did she die till many years after in the Reign of St. Lewis The Pope was also so glad of this reconciliation that to comfort Philip for the loss of Mary he legitimated the two Children he had by her The Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Philip the Fair. PHILIP the Fair had Three Sons who reign'd successively after him Lewis whom he made King of Navarre in his life time and who marry'd Margaret the Daughter of Robert Duke of Burgundy Philip Count of Poitou who marry'd Joan the Daughter of Otheliu Count of Burgundy and Charles de la marche who marry'd Blanche the Daughter of the same Count. These three Princesses were endow'd with all the Graces both of Body and Mind and being of a gay Humor their Courts were always full They drew to 'em all the young Persons of Noble Rank and Quality and their usual divertisement was Hunting whither they went sometimes with the Princes their Husbands but generally alone with the Officers of their Houshold and such Ladies as were wont to be the companions of their Pastimes more especially Philip and Walter de Launoy of whom the one was Squire to the King of Navarre the other to the Count de la March never left 'em upon these occasions They might well be lookt upon for two of the most compleat and handsomest Lords in the Court and they were persons of that brisk and lively Wit that 't was impossible to be tir'd with their Conversation The two Princesses Margaret and Blanche so well lik'd their jolly Humours that without stopping at Esteem they proceeded even to Love The two Lords who had great experience in that Passion and had met with very few hard-hearted Ladies easily perceiv'd the progress they had made in the Hearts of those two Ladies and the Conquest was so illustrious that without reflecting upon the fatal consequences of Intreagues of that Nature they thought of nothing so much as to pursue and preserve it They dextrously wrought upon the Princes to declare their Minds and having drawn from their own Lips
forbore meeting his Mistress that Night for fear of being surpriz'd and rightly judging that it would be impossible to continue his amorous commerce unless he could get rid of the spy that was set to watch him order'd St. Coâ—â—â—â—e to have him assassinated Thereupon St. Columbe riggl'd himself into the acquaintance of the Scotch Soldier and having carry'd him to a Tavern after they had done drinking led him through a blind street where he had posted half a dozen desperate Raskels that fell upon him and laid him dead upon the pavement One of the Duke of Tremovilles Lacqueys who was a kin to the Scotch Soldier seeing him attack'd went to call some of his comrades and came to his rescue but too late for the business was done and the Murderers were dispers'd However in regard that several persons in the Duke of Tremouilles Livery were seen about the body the Duke himself was accus'd to have been the author of the Assasination The Dauphin was the only person that would not be surpriz'd by these appearances as guessing right that the Murther was committed by the order of Chabane Nevertheless he would not take any notice of it to any body least the fear of danger should dishearten those that he design'd to employ in the farther espial of these secret rendezvouses to serve him according to his desires Therefore he said no more but set other spies to work and caus'd the Countess to be so narrowly watch'd that word was brought him that Châ—bane was enter'd her Chamber in the disguise of a Stationer with a great bundle of Books under his Arm. Immediately he went to inform the King What said he merrily I hope 't is not la Trimoâ—â—le but tho' the Dauphin knew well enougâ— 't was Chabane he answer'd his Father that he could not tell who it was but that his Majesty would be soon satisfi'd The Dauphin also had order'd all the Avenues to be so well guarded that it was impossible for the Count of Dammartin to escape But the Countess having timely notice by Mortaigne who kept diligent watch and ward lockt him up in a Closet by the side of the Bed which the King had never observ'd as being cover'd with the Hangings So that the King found his Mistress a Bed and while he was examing the Books that lay by her the Dauphin askt her between jest and earnest what was become of the Bookseller that sold her the Books To whom the Countess with a countenance no way concern'd made answer that he was gone but that he could not be out of call if his Highness had any thing to say to him The Dauphin took a Flambeau himself and finding nothing after he had sought all about retir'd without saying a word full of vexation and shame for the ill success of his enterprize The King on the otherside made a thousand excuses to the Countess and the better to make his peace would needs lye with her that night Nor durst the Countess give him the least denyal tho' she was sure to spend the night in a strange intermixture of pleasure and disquiet Nor was Chabane in a better condition he was so near the Bed that he durst not breath and which was worse he was forc'd to lye patient while his own Ears told him that another was enjoying those pleasures which were appointed for himself But at length the King rose and left him at liberty to make himself amends for his past sufferings The Countess who lookt upon the Dauphin as the Author of all her vexations no longer had the patience to carry fair with him as she had done before They had frequent quarrels together and one day such was the heat of passion on both sides that the Dauphin gave her a whirret o' the Ear. Of which she made her complaints to the King but not receiving that satisfaction which she expected despite and vexation threw her into a languishing disease of which she died in six weeks after and was buri'd in the Collegiate Church She had two Daughters by the King Charlote marry'd Lewis de Brezè Seneschal of Normandy who surprizing her in the act of Adultery stabd ' her to death and Mary who espous'd Oliver de Coitiny Lord of Rochefort Anno 1455. After the Death of the Countess of Ponthieure the King engag'd with Madam de Villequiers her Neice a Lady no less charming then she and who inherited her hatred of the Dauphin and perswaded Charles that the Dauphin had caus'd her Ant to be poyson'd On the otherside the Dauphin employ'd all the inventions of a crafty wit to set the King at variance with Madam de Villequiers but not being able to accomplish his design he withdrew into the Dauphinate whither all the male-contents resorted to him by his own incouragement The King after he had made use of all gentle means to reduce him to his duty commanded Chabane to march against him and to apprehend his person of which the Dauphin having intelligence left Grenoble privately and retir'd to the Duke of Burgundy The King seeing his Son in the hands of his mortal Enemy began to mistrust every body that came near him and imagining every moment that there was a design to poyson him continu'd without eating eight days together and weakn'd his natural heat by that long abstinence in such a manner that afterwards when he came to eat again 't was impossible for him to digest his nourishment which brought him to his Grave Such was the tragical end of the Amours of this Prince The Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Lewis XI Anno 1469. LEWIS XI who had always great designs sent the Cardinal d'Albret into Spain to negotiate a marriage between the Duke of Guienne his Brother with Isabell of Castile the Sister of Henry IV. and presumptive heir of that Kingdom But that Princess rather chose to unite Castille to Aragon by the marriage of Ferdinand eldest Son of Don Juan II. This negotiation therefore proving unsuccessful Lewis XI cast his Eyes upon the Princess Joane which Joane of Castille had had by one of her favourites and which King Henry had acknowledg'd for his Daughter notwithstanding he was impotent in hopes to set up the rights of that Princess against Isabell But the Duke of Guienne to whom the King made the proposal would not so much as hear of a match that must have engag'd him in a bloody War with the King of Aragon and privately sent to demand Mary the only Daughter and heiress of Charles Duke of Burgundy But the Duke who saw that the greatest Princes in Europe sought his Daughter would not determin so suddenly upon the choice of a Son in Law but without engaging his promise to any one kept 'em all in suspence The Duke of Guyenne vex'd at this hesitation of the Duke took his leave of the King at Orleans to go and drive away his melancholy in his own Government At Amboise he had a
sight of Magdalen who had been the Widow of Lewis d' Amboise about six months who had marry'd her for her beauty but had no Children by her The Duke was so pleas'd with her conversation that he forgot for some time that he had left the Court to retire to his Government of Bourdeaux and made a proposal to Madam d' Amboise to go along with him but she excus'd her self alledging the injury it would be to her reputation The Duke therefore to vanquish her scruples confer'd upon her the County of St. Severe and oblig'd her by that same generous present to answer his passion The pretence then for her going was to take possession of certain Lands which as she gave out she had purchas'd of the Duke and this serv'd to conceal the Intreague that was between him and her They arriv'd together at Bourdeaux very well satisfi'd with each other and Madam d' Amboise who was not ungratefull for the favours she and receiv'd from the Duke made use of all talents that Heaven had bestow'd upon her to preserve his affection She sung with art and had a charming voice she plaid upon several instruments and had a delicate vain in Poetry so that the hours they spent together ne'r seem'd tedious But in regard that Love is not always satisfi'd with these innocent pastimes Madam d' Amboise was deliver'd of a Daughter that after the death of the Duke her Father was Abbess of St. Paroux in Perigort The Dukes affection for his Mistress also daily increas'd and their happiness would have been a subject worthy of envy had not ambition interrupted their felicities For the Duke of Guyenne held correspondences all a long at Court which made the King jealous He was afraid least his Brother should grow too potent and therefore suborn'd Jourdain Fanre Abbot of St. John de Angeli to poyson him That traytor upon whom the Duke of Guyenne had heap'd his favours readily undertook to sacrifice his life for the hopes of a pitiful reward To which purpose he presented a lovely Peach to Madam d' Amboise which he had envenom'd the Lady gave it her Lover who sliceing it into a cup of wine they eat it both together Madam d' Amboise di'd the same day but the Duke lay languishing for some Months Nevertheless the violence of the poyson was so strong that it fetch'd off his hair the nails of his hands and depriv'd him of the use of his limbs Jourdain was apprehended and the Bishop of Angiers was ioyn'd in Commission with Lewis d' Amboise afterwards Bishop of Albi to prosecute him But the King put a stop to the prosecution and order'd that the impeachment as well as the informations should be sent to him which discover'd to the World the share which he had in the fact But Heaven would not permit so enormous a crime to go unpunish'd for the villain was consum'd by a flash of Lightning that burnt him to ashes at the bottom of the dungeon where he lay in Fetters year 1474 THE Duke of Burgundy took the Field to revenge the death of the Duke of Guyenne and entring Picardy committed great havock in the Country The King on the other side muster'd what Forces he could together to defend the Province and arriving at a Village near Amiens call'd Gigon was accoasted by a Woman all beblubber'd with tears who falling at his feet demanded justice against his Soldiers who making their way by violence to quarter in the Village of which her Husband was the Lord had slain him The King cast his Eyes upon the Widow and perceiv'd so many charms in her countenance that he was dazl'd with the sight of ' em He rais'd her from the ground and assur'd her he would punish the guilty so soon as he came to a place where he made any stay Soon after the King made a Truce with the Duke of Burgundy and returning to Paris carri'd Madam de Gigon along with him he discover'd to her the Passion he had for her and heap'd so many Favours upon her that he soon made her forget her loss Nor was she ungrateful but signaliz'd her acknowledgment at the expence of her Honour She had one Daughter that was afterwards marry'd to the Bastard of Bourbon The custom of that time was for Ladies to adorn themselves with Jewels and they wore Chains of Precious Stones that came three or four times about their Necks The King gave Order to a famous Jeweller whose name was Passefilon to make one of those Chains for Madam Gigon and the Jeweller's Wife carry'd it home to the King's Mistress so soon as it was finish'd The King was then by accident in her Chamber and found the Jewellers Wife so lovely that his Love for Madam Gigon could not protect his Heart against her Charms However he could not discover his Passion in his Mistresses Presence but commanded Landais his Treasurer to send her to him when she came to be paid for the Chain telling him that he would drive the bargain himself which was a usual thing for him to do in regard that being very covetous he would be taking notice of the meanest trifles to hinder his Officers from making any advantage of their Places Mrs. Passefilon then was admitted into his Cabinet and observing her but in an ordinary Dress he told her in plain terms without fetching any great compass about that if she would comply with his Passion she should gain more by him in a year then she could get as long as she liv'd in her Shop The Jewellers Wife who lov'd Money and had been a witness of the raising of Madam de Gigon easily surrender'd to this Royal Temptation and the bargain was presenly concluded In a short time she grew big with Child and brought the King another Daughter that was afterwards marry'd to Anthony de Bueil Count of Sancerre But when Passefilon saw that she had wherewithal to live like a Lady she was as willing as others to tast some high sauce with her amorous Pleasures and was resolv'd to perswade her Royal Paramour to go more neatly drest then he was wont to do One day therefore that the King came to pay her a visit in a homely Suit and a foul Shirt Sir said she When I surrender'd my Heart to a King of France I thought to have sound in the Courtly commerce wherein I had embark'd my self all the Gayeties of Ornament and Gallantry that the Magnificence of the most noble Court in Europe could have afforded nevertheless 't is my grief that when I have an eager desire to abandon my self to to the transports of a tender Passion I smell nothing but slovenly Grease where nothing but Muske and Amber should perfume my Nose In truth should one of my Apprentices accoast me in that same Garb that you are in I would kick him out of my sight What must Forreign Ministers say that see you so ill support the Majesty of your Royal Dignity What Lampoons
to pay him at Milan To which Lautrec reply'd that he had not receiv'd a doite either of the one or the t'other Sum which put the King into a passion no less just then it was violent Semblançay was sent for while the King in the mean while seeking to pick a quarrel with Lautrec told him after an insulting manner that Colonna and Pescara were no better assisted with Men and Money then he yet they had found a way to drive him before 'em and therefore why could not he find a way to defend himself without Money which was the easier thing of the two Lautrec answer'd very modestly that to make the comparison true t was requisite that the Milaneses should have no more kindness for one party then another Which might so fall out under the Reign of Lewis XII when the French being exactly paid liv'd civily and peaceably among ' em But the Army being grown licentious for want of pay the Italians had conceiv'd such a hatred of 'em that was only to be satisfi'd by opening their Bellies and tearing out their Hearts as had happen'd in Navarr and other places Immediately upon these words Semblançay came into the Council Room but the King instead of calling him Father as he was wont to do look'd askew upon him and ask'd him why he had not paid Lautrec the 300000 Crowns which he had so solemnly promis'd Semblançay who knew not the danger he was in answer'd with that Ingenuity which was natural to him that the same Day the Assignations for Milanois were drawn up His Majesties Mother came to the Treasury and demanded to be paid for all that was due to her till that very time as well for Pensions and Gratifications as for the Dutchy of Valois Tourcine and Anjou of which she was the Donee that he represented to her that by the paying away so great a Sum all at a time the Royal Treasury would be exhausted and the Funds appointed for the Dutchy of Milan be deliver'd another way contrary to what the King had order'd that Morning in her hearing and to which she had consented yet the Princess continu'd obstinate in her pretensions and threatned to ruin him if he did not let her have what she demanded and whereas he declar'd to her that it was as much as his head was worth if Lautrec did not find the Money ready upon his arrival at Milan she reply'd that she had credit enough with the King to secure him from any prosecution and that if he should be call'd to an accompt for the payment of the Money another way that was design'd for Italy he should say that 't was done by her Order Thereupon the King to clear the dispute sent for his Mother and Semblançay repeated in her hearing what he had said which put her into such a rage that the respect which she ow'd to her Son could not restrain her from giving the Treasurer the lye and demanding justice of the King against a hair brain'd Fellow that went about to make her guilty of High Treason But in regard they had the Acquittances which she left in the Treasury to justify her receite of the Money design'd for Lautrec she confess'd that she demanded the payment of her Pensions but she stood it out that Semblançay when he gave her the Money never told her that it was order'd for Milan She deni'd all the rest that Semblançay had said and demanded his Imprisonment with so much heat that the King was forc'd to cause him to be arrested in the Antichamber The business being thus clear'd up it appear'd that Lautrec was Innocent and all the blame fell upon Semblançay upon which the Chancellor du Prat a Creature of the Countesses the President Gentil and certain Counsellor who were the Chancellors Friends being appointed to try the Treasurer condemn'd him to Death and he was publickly Executed But the King never recover'd the places which he lost in Italy the Marshal de Foix also who was left in Crâ—mona to defend that City surrenderd it up to Colonna upon very easy term These were the fatal effects which the jealousy of the King's mother lest she should be supplanted by the King's Mistress produc'd But she did a far more considerable prejudice to France by her transports against the Constable of Bourbon for she constrain'd him to depart the Kingdom and treat with the Enemies of the State she compleated the ruin of the King's affairs in Italy and was the principal cause of the King 's being taken Prisoner The story was thus Charles of Bourbon Constable of France was the second of Three Sons of Gilbert Montpensier and Clarice Gonzaga that is to say he descended from the only branch of Bourbon that was unfortunate His Father had lost his Life and reputation in the Kingdom of Naples where Charles the VIII had left him Viceroy His eldest Brother expir'd for grief upon his Fathers Tomb and the youngest was slain at the Battle of Marignon As for himself he appear'd at Court toward the end of the Reign of Lewis XII when Claudia of France was marry'd The turnament matches and the divertisements at that time gave him an opportunity to signalize his Strengh and Activity but it was his misfortune in despite of himself to be the object of the Countess of Angoulêmeâ— affection who could not be insensible of the rare endowments that render'd him so worthy to be belov'd He was extreamly Beautiful Discreet Liberal and Valiant nor did his frank humour which came near that of the ancient Gauls hinder him from being successful in all manner of Intreagues For thô he seem'd to be very open yet he govern'd himself so well in all Negotiations and manag'd what he had to say with so much art that he tyr'd the patience of the most refin'd Politicians The sweetness of his manners had acquir'd him the Friendship of the French and the exact discipline which he kept among his Souldiers produc'd him the esteem of his own Enemies It seem'd as if fortune had been unavoidably bound to follow him because that eversince he bore Arms the French had been always victorious wherever he was and were vanquisht whereever he was not He was beholding only to his own deserts for the dignity of Constable and it may be said that he wanted nothing to accomplish him for the Hero of his Age but a little more complacency for the person that lov'd him or a little less resentment of the injury she did him when she saw her self slighted That haughty Princess made no opposition either to the growth or progress of her passion whither she were weary of living a Widow or that she was unwilling in changing her condition to be forc'd to leave France where she was assur'd of being in great credit when her Son the presumptive Heir to the Crown should come to Reigne But this Love was not reciprocal whither it were that the Count of Montpensier for so was the Constable call'd at first
Mothers desires as unjust as they were he did it in such a manner that nothing could be imputed to him since it look't as if the obstacle proceeded wholly from the Princess René who as she said could not find in her Heart to marry a Man from whom they were going to take away his Estate The Constable however dissembl'd his resentment and for some time was in such a quandary as made the Countess believe it would not be amiss to give him another Attack To that purpose she sent Bonnivet to build upon the Land that went by his name a stately Castle in a place so near to Chastelraut which belong'd to the Constable that it commanded it Bonnivet most joyfully obey'd and the Constable afterwards acknowledg'd that he never was so much concern'd at any thing as at the boldness of that Favourite who to brave him had rais'd a kind of Cittadel upon a sief that held of himself So that the Constable not being able to brook so many affronts bent an Ear to the proposals which the Emperor made him by Adrian de Croy Count of Rieux first Gentleman of his Chamber to embrace his party That same Envoy cross'd all France in the disguise of a Country-man and arriv'd by Night at Chantilli where he was lodg'd in an apartment adjoyning to the Constable's and where he concluded the Treaty which afterwards prov'd so pernicious to France But in regard that Rieux's power was only express'd in general terms and for that the Constable had reason to fear lest the Emperor should disown his Minister he sent privately into Spain La Mothe des Noyers to procure a ratification of the Treaty from the Emperor While the Constable staid for the return of his Agent the Dewager of Bourbon instigated by her hatred of the Countess os Angouléme and her grief to see her Son in law despoyl'd of his Fortune came to him at Chantilli and told him that she was come to do him the Office of a real Mother by discovering to him an infallible way to recover the lost condition of his affairs Which Consisted in this that Lewis XI when he marry'd his Daughter to the youngest Son of the Duke of Bourbon had contracted by an instrument drawn up in due form thô it lay conceal'd that in case the Princess surviv'd her Brother in law and her Husband and had no Children she should inherit all their Lands Whence it follow'd that if the Countess of Angoulême agreed to that Act she must deprive her self of the succession to which she pretended or if she disputed it she would be no less disappointed since she had no way to withstand it but by the entail of the House of Bourbon which would restore the Constable to all his rights The Dowager added and made it appear by authentick papers which she deliver'd into the Constables hands that she had disingag'd with her own Money the greatest part of the Lands belonging to the House of Bourbon and that the rest were so mortgag'd for her Dowry and for performance of Covenants that thô the succession were adjudg'd to the Countess of Angoulême she would be constrain'd to quit it as being more burthensome then profitable by reason of the vast Sums which she must pay before she could enjoy it The same Dowager after that made a deed of gift to her Son in law of all her Estate without any distinction or reservation investing him in all her rights The Constable was so much the more surpriz'd at the generosity of his Mother in law because it was a thing that he so little expected However he still persisted in his design of performing his Treaty with the Emperor whither it were that he foresaw that his Adversaries should they be depriv'd of the succession by a contrary sentence would make use of the King's Authority to preserve themselves in it or that he thought himself so guilty that he could not avoid Death if what he had concluded with the Count of Rieux should come to be known After La Mothe had brought him back the ratification from Charles V. he hid it under ground in a little Box at the Root of a Tree and sent away the greatest part of his Friends under pretence of accompanying the King beyond the Alps but his project did not succeed For Matignon and d'Argouges going to confession at Easter discover'd to the Curat of their Country that they had been tampring in a Conspiracy against the King the Curate enjoyn'd 'em to reveal it to the King and to lead 'em the way immediately took Horse himself to inform Brez◠the grand Seneschal of Normandy what the Gentlemen had confess'd Who giving themselves over for lost took post and overtaking the King at St. Pierre le Moutier threw themselves at his Feet and obtain'd their pardon by giving an exact Accompt upon Oath of the Constables Negotiation with the Emperor The King was advis'd to arrest the Constable and confine him to a place of security till his return but he chose rather to reclaim him by gentle means To that purpose he gave him a visit at Moulins where he feign'd himself Sick not so much out of a design to deceive His Majesty as to discover his real sentiments the horror of his crime having already shaken him to that degree that he resolv'd to perform nothing of the Treaty concluded with the Emperor provided the process against him might be suspended 'T is presum'd the King would have given him that satisfaction had he known his thoughts but he was of opinion he had gone farr enough in telling him after he had commanded all the company to withdraw that he was fully inform'd of his Negotiation with the Count of Rieux and the reason of La Mothe des Noyers's going into Spain that they were two great crimes however that he made no doubt but that the Constable was instigated to do what he did out of a despite of which he would repent so soon as he knew what he would do for him The King added by way of explanation that he could not hinder his Mother from prosecuting her suit but withall he offer'd him to give him all requisite security for the restitution of whatever should be taken from him by the decree But this proposal as generous as it was did not please the Constable for two reasons First because it gave the Countess of Angoulême all the advantage she could pretend to over him and next because there was no judicial means by which he could be restor'd during the Life of that Princess without offending her and it was a base thing to be still wishing for her Death till when he must remain depriv'd of all his Estate Nevertheless he confess'd to the King what he was no longer in a condition to deny and applauded the rare impartiality of his Majesty who rather chose to preserve a second Prince of the Blood then to take the advantage of an inheritance wherein himself was concern'd With that
the Count not having any longer before his Eyes the only beloved object that Dayly begg'd the t'others Pardon thought of nothing more but his Revenge To which purpose he enter'd his Wives Chamber with Six Men in disguise and two Chirurgeons who open'd the Veins in her Feet and Legs and so left her to Bleed to Death The King upon his return was all for making examples of the guilty but a new Amour soon blotted out the remembrance of the first Nor was the Count forgetful of his own safety in the excesses to which his jealousy had transported him for he prevented the prosecutions of justice by a voluntary exile and liv'd in Forreign Countries so long as the House of Foix was in a condition to prosecute him At length he address'd himself to the Constable Montmorency who was become a greater Favourite then before by the Death of Bonnivet and Monchenu who shar'd with him in the King 's good will The Count offer'd him a deed of gift of his Royalty provided he could get him out of his Troubles and Montmorency chose rather to purchase Chasteau-Brian by that means then by a Confiscation which would have engag'd him in perpetual quarrels which the House of Laval from whence the Count was decended Some Critiques have pretended that M. de Varillas from whom I drew these Memoirs was ill inform'd and that the Countess of Chasteau-Brian was reconcil'd to her Husband and that she did not Die till ten Years after the King's return But these objections are so well answer'd that I am convinc'd of the Countess's tragical end so that I made no scruple to follow that famous Historian word for word No sooner was Francis I. deliver'd out of the hands of the Spaniards bat he re-enter'd into a new imprisonment which thô more easie and pleasant yet was do less dangerous The Countess of Angoulême going to meet him as far as Mont de Marsan carry'd along with her the young Ann de Pisseleu who was call'd Mademoiselle de Hellé who was entertain'd as a Maid of Honour into the Houshold of that Princess The King found her so amiable that he was not able to defend his liberty against her Charms He marry'd her in a short time to the Duke d' Estampes who conniv'd at her conduct neither willing to approve it for fear of injuring his Reputation nor to condemn her lest he should bring himself into trouble The Dutchess finding her self at liberty to make the best of her good fortune to please the King ne'er minded any longer the avoiding any occasion that might advance her prosperity She had got so much experience at Court as to know that the most dangerous Rock that the King's Mistresses could hazard their Fortune against was to quarrel with the Favourites or Ministers who having often the Prince's Ear may take the advantage of certain moments of disgust and petty fallings out between Lovers to exasperate 'em and perswade 'em to an absolute Rupture This consideration made her resolve to unite Interests with the Constable Montmorency the Admiral Chabot and the Chancellor du Prat who by the Authority of their Imployments and by the King's Indulgence had got possession of the prime Ministry Those three Officers very obligingly corresponded with the first movements which the Duchess made toward the Quadruple League well knowing that notwithstanding the Greatness of their Credit yet it might be shaken if the King's Mistress understood how to make the best of those Favourable Minutes when a Lover can deny nothing to the person upon whom he doats This correspondence between these four Persons prov'd successful during the remainder of time that the Chancellor liv'd because that cunning Minister by his experience and diligence provided so well for all the exigencies of the State that the Favourites had no other care upon 'em but to divertise their Master But after his death the Council wanting a Director the Constable and the Admiral who took no heed to instruct themselves appear'd such Novices in the Government that the King was constrain'd to call up the President Poyet He was one of the most able Magistrates in the Kingdom and his Capacity was equally the same to manage as well great as small Affairs only his Genius led him rather to put things into confusion then bring 'em to a final end So soon as he had taken his place in the Council he propos'd the removal of the two Favourites that only serv'd to fill up the number because the haughtiness of the first was become insupportable to him and he fear'd the resentment of the second by reason of a Suit of great consequence wherein he had caus'd him to be overthrown Fortune seem'd to favour his Designs for the King disgusted at the ill success of his Enterprizes had it put into his Head that he might justify his ill Conduct to posterity if he laid the blame of it upon his Favourites and that their downfal would render 'em guilty of all the false steps which he had trode in the publick management of Affairs The Admiral was the first that was to feel the effects of his ill humour thô he were in friendship vvith the Dutchess of Estampes They who did not dive into the King's more secret Thoughts ascrib'd the Fall of Chabot to his imprudence which had hinder'd his Majesty from utterly despoiling the Duke of Savoy of his Territories The King intrusted Poyet whom he had invested in the Office of Chancellor with his Indignation against the Admiral and consulted with him the best way to proceed against him in due form of Law The Chancellor was overjoy'd to find the King so well dispos'd to favour his designs and made him those Proposals that gave him great satisfaction Nevertheless because he stood in awe of the Dutchess d' Estampes's Anger whose Power he well knew he sought the Protection of Diana of Poictiers Wife to the Seneschal of Normandy and the Dauphin's Mistress That Lady was the Daughter of John of Poictiers Lord of St. Valliere who had preferr'd her very young to the Countess of Angouléme after which she was advanc'd to the service of Queen Claudia as one of her Maids of Honour Neither was St. Valliere deceiv'd in his design of getting some Protection at Court through the power of his Daughter's Charms for it may be said that she sav'd his Life by the secret Engines that she set at work St. Vallier had had a hand in the revolt of the Constable of Bourbon and the misfortune to be apprehended For which he had been Arraign'd and was condemn'd to lose his Head Diana was so astonish'd when she heard the news that she thought her self oblig'd to do her utmost to save her Father from such a threatning danger Thereupon she went and threw her self at the King's Feet all in Tears and begg'd pardon for him to whom she was beholding for her Life And she appear'd to the King in that deplorable condition so amiable and so
charming that she obtain'd whatever she desir'd and infus'd Love into his Heart under the mask of Pity She preserv'd her Conquest till the King 's fatal march into Italy and he endeavour'd to conceal his Infidelity from the Countess of Chateau-Brian for whom he had always a great respect We have already said that at his return he was so enamour'd of Mademoiselle d' Helle that she wholly possess'd his Heart and render'd him insensible to all the other Ladies of the Court Diana who had been marry'd a long time before to Lewis de Brezé Seneschal of Normandy endeavour'd to comfort her self for that same change of the King's Affection with the marks of kindness which the Dauphin shew'd her whose Inclinations she understood so well how to manage that he continu'd faithful to her till death But thô she had reason enough to be satisfy'd with this victory yet she could never pardon Madam d' Estampes for stealing the King's Heart from her and conceiv'd such a mortal hatred against her that she never fail'd of giving the proofs of it upon all occasions that presented themselves Poyet who was acquainted with all these things believ'd that he could not make choice of a better support and in regard she was no less glad to have the Head of the Law on her side the League was soon made The Chancellor after he had taken these Precautions gave the King such positive assurances of ruining the Admiral in due form of Law that he caus'd him to be arrested and sent him to Bois de Vincenues and Poyet immiediately drew up the Interrogatories upon which he was to be examin'd Nor was there any need of any great subtilty in the matter for that the Admiral answer'd after such a manner as did himself the greatest injury And in regard he made his defence more like a brave Soldier then a cunning Lawyer he confess'd the very things that condemn'd him believing 'em to be service able to his justification Nor did he speak exactly the language of the Seamen which was only understood by the Mariners at that time nor was he sufficiently inform'd of the difference between the Priviledges belonging to the Admiral and those which the Laws reserv'd to the King The Chancellor therefore that he might make the best of these three defects perswaded the King to chuse Commissioners out of all the Parlaments of the Kingdom to decide the Process and to take the particular cognizance of it from the Parlament of Paris the natural judge of Affairs of the Crown as the Admiral 's business was They who were made choice of were so devoted to the Chancellor that there was no question to be made but they would regulate their Suffrages according to the Chancellor's Instructions and had he been contented with that precaution the Admiral would have been condemn'd and no body should have known who had been the most active Agent in his ruin But nothing would serve the Chancellor but to put himself at the head of the Commissioners of which the Admiral had no sooner knowledge but excepted against him It is hardly to be believ'd that Poyet should be ignorant that his Dignity exempted him as well from the Exception as from the Reproaches that attended it Nevertheless if we consider his Conduct at that time it lookt as if he understood not the Priviledge that belong'd to his Office To ward off this blow which broke all his measures he had recourse to an Artifice the malignity of which had never been practis'd in a Court where there was some decorum still observ'd in matter of Probitie He was assur'd that the imprisonment of the Admiral had allarm'd the Dutchess and the Constable who could not chuse but be apprehensive of the same usage in a little time and that the consideration of their own rather then of the danger of their Friend would incite 'em to leave nothing omitted which they deem'd requisite to save his Life Therefore he order'd his Agents neatly to insinuate it into their Heads that it was no less his interest then theirs to preserve the Admiral and that the change which had happen'd in the Council threaten'd with the same disgrace all those who had the Honour to be admitted into it Nevertheless that the mischief was not so great as it might be imagin'd to be since the Chancellour was not excluded from the number of the Commissioners that be had taken all the precautions which the Law had taught him to prevent the Judgment from extending it self either to natural or civil Death but that he had understood with equal sentiments of Vexation and pity that the Admiral had not a worse Enemy then his own self that of necessity it must be concluded that either the fear of Death had depriv'd him of his judgment or that the Councel assign'd him of were false to him since he talk'd of refusing the Head of the Law and the only Friend that he had remaining among the Judges that his pretence for excepting against him grounded upon the loss of his Suit was ridiculous in regard that besides that the business in controversy was but a trifle 't was so long while ago and there had been such a change in the face of affairs since that that the Admiral had no more reason to bear it in remembrance then two grave Old Gentlemen might have to mistrust one of another because that in their Infancy they had quarrel'd about a Pin. This comparison as mean as it was made 'em so clearly apprehensive of the difference between Poyet a Counsellor in Parliament only and the same Poyet a Chancellor and Minister of State that the Dutchess and the Constable suffer'd themselves to be surpriz'd They were dazled with the false hopes which the Chancellor gave 'em and communicated their mistake to the Admiral while they thought to un-hood wink his Eyes So that they oblig'd him to desist from his exception and the Chancellor by that means being become Master of the process by the consent of the parties promis'd to himself that he should be able to manage it as the King pleas'd A Man would have thought there was nothing now that could have prevented the ruin of Chabot after his Friends had so stupidly fallen into the snare that was laid for 'em when the King unwilling to take away the life of a favourite for a crime which he did not believe him guilty of signifi'd to the Chancellor that he would be content with a decree that might only punish the Admiral with the loss of all that he had acquir'd The sentence then was pronounc'd with all the formality that could be and the King after he had made use of Poyets Ministry to shew a great example of severity was no less desirous immediately after of his own free will and without communicating his thoughts to any body to make manifest as great an example of his clemency doubtless that he might improve the value of his Mercy and cause the Dutchess
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
Brothers Letter and shew'd it to Queen Eleonor The Queen held a correspondence with the Dutchess d' Estampes because not having any Issue by the King she expected to be sent back so soon as she should be a Widow and consequently she took no other care but to deserve a favourable reception from the Emperor her Brother when she should return to reside with him by doing him good Service in an Enemies Court whither she had been banish'd under the specious pretence of Matrimony Gusman and the two Ladies labour'd so successfully with Francis I. that that they caus'd him to patch up a Peace very advantageous to the Emperor and to sacrifice to the expectation of an imaginary Alliance several considerable places which enlarg'd the Emperors Frontiers and secur'd 'em in such a manner that for a long time there was no danger on that side 'T is true that the course which the Dauphin took in causing the Constable to be recall'd and putting him at the head of the Army contributed not a little to make the King resolve upon a Peace out of his aversion to the chief Officer of the Crown But the Death of the Duke of Orleans which happen'd some time after disingag'd the Emperor from his promise at a time when he saw himself oblig'd in pursuance of the Treaty of Crepi to resolve upon the giving him his Daughter with the Low-Countries or his Niece with the Dutchy of Milan In the mean time Francis I after he had spun out his Distemper in several places felt his Feaver gather such strength upon him at Rambouilleâ— that he could not reach St. Germains where he thought to repose himself so that after he had lain in a languishing condition for some Days in that House he gave up the Ghost leaving the Seneschal of Normandy's Wife in full power to execute her premeditated revenge upon the Dutchess d' Estampes by means of her Ascendant over the new King The Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Henry II. THE Face of the Court was wholly chang'd after the Death of Francis I. The Cardinal of Tournon and Marshal d' Annebaut who had the supream management of affairs under the preceeding Reign were turn'd out of the Council and â—he Constable who was recal'd from his Exile was admitted in their Room Francis Count of Aumale who was Duke of Guise after the Death of his Father and James d' Albon St. Andrè were the King's Favourites But the chief Authority remain'd in the hands of Diana of Poictiers the Widow of Lewis de Brezé Seneschal of Normandy who was made Dutchess of Valentiuois The Dutchess d' Estampes fearing the effects of her Enemies revenge retir'd to Ville Martin a House of pleasure within a League of the City which bore the Name of her Dutchy There she liv'd for some Years in the exercise of the new Religion which she had embrac'd and to which her example and her Liberality drew a great number of People of both Sexes But thô the Dutchess of Valentinois had reason to be contented with the excess of confidence and affection which the King shew'd her yet could not she not continue faithful to him She was charm'd with the goodly presence of Charles de Cosse Brissac she struggl'd for some time with her sentiments of tenderness for him and at length not being able to extinguish 'em after she had consulted her mirror which perswaded her that she had still beauty enough notwithstanding the alteration that Age had made to her Face to engage that Lord to comply with her passion she resolv'd to that purpose to let him understand what past in her Hearâ— She took an opportunity to do it when he came to congratulate her upon the removal of Madam d' Estampes Are your protestations sincere said she and may I be assur'd that you have a real devotion for my person After he had sworn that she might put him upon the Tryal and that he was ready to sacrifice his Life for her Interests I know pursu'd she that the credit I have at Court engages all those who have any Ambition to offer me their service but I require from you more disinterested sentiments I would have it that you should only Love in me what I hold from nature without considering what I owe to the King's favours I shall not be ungrateful for I will take care of your fortune provided you let me follow my own inclinations and wholly confide in me She accompany'd those words with looks so passionate that Brissac who was no novice in Love readily understood that it would be his fault if he did not enter into a particular Intreague with the Dutchess He was in great danger of incurring the King's displeasure if a familiarity of that nature should come to be discover'd but more of falling under Diana's indignation if she found her self contemn'd after she had met him so far above half the way Thereupon he never scrupl'd which course to take and judging it became him not to neglect so fair an opportunity he made no other answer then by a most passionate kiss which he imprinted upon one of the Dutchesses hands 'T is not known whither Brissac had any real passion for her or whether he feign'd a true affection that he might make the best of her credit but certain it is that they had several meetings Some time after the Court remov'd to Chasteau de Chambert which Francis the I. had built The Dutchess was lodg'd in an Apartment by it self at the end of the Park whither the King went the next Evening when all People had left his Chamber through a Gallery made under Ground and staid all the Night with her One Evening that Brissac had tarry'd somwhat later then ordinary word was brought by some of the Attendants that they had spi'd a light at the entrance into the Vault and that most certainly the King was at hand At which the Dutchess being alarm'd presently sent away Brissac who not far from the separate Apartment met Claude Tais Grand Master of the Ordinance whether it were upon any Assignation hard by or whether his musing thoughts had led him so far that way However it were he knew Brissac and mistrusting the occasion of his Nocturnal visit he accosted him and jested too close upon him Brissac no way pleas'd with his discourse acquainted the Dutchess with it next Day who presently caus'd the indiscreet Frumper to be discarded and obtain'd his employment for her Favourite Tais knew well from whence his misfortune came but durst not speak a word of it to any Living Soul for fear of a worse trouble From Chambort the Court remov'd to Joinville where the Queen was seiz'd with a purple Feaver which swell'd her Tongue to that decree that she lost her speech Immediatly the poor Queen was forsaken by all her Officers who thought her Disease had been Mortal nor did any body remain with her but the Cardinal of Chatillon The
means fell into her snare The Queen at first had govern'd the King of Navarr by the Artifices of the Dutchess of Montpensier who had such an ascendant over him that at Court she was call'd nothing but the Syren The Queen was also beholding to this Dutchess for causing the King to desist from his pretensions to the Regency and content himself with the shadow of Authority in accepting the Lieutenancy General of the State that she might enjoy the substance In vain his Friends remonstrated to him that he should want neither Counsel nor power to force obedience to himself but the Dutchess of Montpensier's perswasions prevail'd with him beyond all the remonstrances of Mon moranci Chatillon the Calvinists and the more clear sighted Catholicks But thó the Queen had been so well serv'd by this Princess she was afraid lest her Ambition should infuse into her a desire of sharing her Authority And rather chose to make use of M. de Rouet with whom the King of Navarr took delight to converse after she declar'd her self to be so much Charm'd with his Vertues The King therefore quite tyr'd with the long resistance which the Dutchess's Virtue had made to his desires thought he might quit her without being accus'd of inconstancy that he might devote himself to a person with whom in all probability he should better employ his assiduities and where he should meet with as much Wit and Beauty year 1561 Some time after Ambition had like to have broken off the intercourses of those two Ladies For the Catholick King by Manriquez whom he sent to him on purpose made a proposal to the King of Navarr which upon a slight examination only seem'd very advantageous to him The substance of it was that he should put himself at the head of the zealous Catholicks who were about to banish Calvinism out of France that he should dissolve his Marriage with Joan d'Albret under pretence of Heresie and marry Mary Stuart the wife of Francis II. who would bring him in Dowrie the Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland M. de Roouet Who was fall'n in love with the King while she only sought to intangle him in her snares being inform'd of this Negotiation by d' Escars one of her Favourites was extreamly allarum'd at it Thereupon she sought an opportunity to speak in private with the King of Navarr and having met with one she never left him till she had made him promise her to send back Manriquez without concluding upon any thing But thô the King of Navarr were prone enough of himself to do what she desir'd and that he abhorr'd the proposal of a Divorce he forbore not however to make M. de Rouet sensible of a valuable Sacrifice which he had made her of the fairest Queen in Europe and drew a promise from her that she would not refuse the requests of his Love So that now there wanted nothing but to find out opportunities which it was no difficult thing to meet with For the Court being then at Fontain-bleau the same Evening he bestow'd a Consort of Violins upon the Ladies near the Caual and while they were busie in hearkning to the Musick or else a Dancing he went aside with M. de Rouet and manag'd so well the favourable inclination to which he had prepar'd her that she became big of a Prince who was call'd Charles of Bourbon and afterwards was made Archbishop of Rouen But the Prince of Coudè had not that great success with M. de Limeuil For as she had declar'd at first a dislike of that Prince's humour she was oblig'd to observe certain outward formalities of disdain and to make shew of an indifferency which however was far from real the more to fire her Lover which was the reason that it was less trouble to her Virtue to hold out so much the longer These two Ladies that liv'd together in perfect Union were not a little troubl'd to see the two Brothers engag'd in different Parties while the eldest Brother commanded the Catholick the youngest the Calvinist Army The King of Navarr being wounded at the Siege of Rouen was carry'd into the City after it was taken and was there frequently visited by M. du Rouet and in regard their conversation was a little too vigorous the King's wound fester'd to that degree that it became mortal The Queen Regent seeing how little hopes there was of saving his life admonish'd him to prepare himself for death he took the advice of that Princess and renouncing all of a suddain his inclinations both to Honour and Pleasure he admitted no more visits from the Ladies and declar'd to Chantonay the Spanish Ambassador and Brother of Cardinal Grandvelle that he thought no farther of Sardigna which the King of Spain offer'd him in exchange for Navarr After he had confess'd himself to the Official of Rouen and receiv'd both the Sacraments he so earnestly desir'd to he carry'd down the River to his House at St. Maur where the Air was incomparably much better then at Rouen that they were forc'd to transport him thither and at first he seem'd to be much better upon the water but a cold Sweat that seiz'd him at Andilli enforcing him to make a stop there he dy'd the 7th of Octob. 1562. in the Two and fortieth year of his age and deliver'd the Regent from her continual fears lest he should change his Party 'T would be a difficult thing to express the extream sorrow that overwhelm'd Mademoiselle de Rouet for the loss of a Prince whom she dearly lov'd and by whom she was no less tenderly belov'd more especially being conscious to her self that she had contributed to his death year 1563 The next year the Queen Regent found a way to conclude a Peace with the Calvinists and to draw the Prince of Condè to Court where he was so well treated that he forgot for some time his warlike humour The Honours paid to the deceased King of Navarr his Brother to retain him in the Catholick party were nothing in comparison of those that were conferr'd upon him to bring him off from Calvinism He was every Day with the Queen who heap'd civilities upon him Nothing of importance was debated in Council nor in any other place but in his presence he generally obtain'd whatever he desir'd and all occasions of giving him offence were carefully avoided 'T was not believ'd however that he suffer'd himself to be amus'd with promises which he saw frustrated of their principal effect since they delay'd to give him the Lieutenancy General of which the Queen had put him in hopes for fear as was given out lest the Catholicks who were dissatisfi'd with the Peace should take from thence the pretence they sought for to break it but Love sided with the party and seconded the Artifices of the Queen For the Prince of Conde's passion for M. de Limueil was not quite extinguish'd thô it had lain dormant for some time as being benumm'd by the fatigues of
his Heart for the Princess of Conde and in regard he was assur'd that he should not obtain any favour from her but by lawful means he endeavour'd to perswade her to consent that he should dissolve his Marriage under pretence that his Wife was a Heretick not doubting but he should easily obtain his desires at Rome The Queen Mother having notice of the King her Son s design was extreamly alarum'd at it afraid least if the Princess of Conde who was an Ambitious Woman and one that had a Genius above the common sort should come to be Queen she would altogether govern the King and be mistress of all that authority which she had acquir'd in his Councils Therefore to send off this blow she set all the most charming Ladies of the Court at work to inveigle her Sons affections Mademoiselle de Chateauncuf amus'd him for some time but was oblig'd to give way to Mademoiselle de Eâ—â—oâ—â—f who neither had the happiness to retain him long fetter'd in her Chains Madam de Sauve the Secretary of States Widow was she that triumph'd at last over all the Rivalesses The King gave himself solely up to Her but the engagement was not reciprocal because she lov d the King of Navarr Their Intreague first began while Navarr and the Duke of Alenson were Prisoners together and Madam de Sauve was wont to go and bear 'em company meerly to divert 'em and alleviate the vexations of their imprisonment These two Princess fell equally in love with her but she had not the same kind sentiments for both She hated the Duke of Alenson but she made favouraable returns to the tender addresses of the King of Navarr When that Prince was set at liberty the interests of the Party that acknowledg'd him for their Head obliged to absent himself from his Mistress but his absence nothing abated the Passion which she had kindl'd in his heart nor did she omit any opportunity to let him understand that she was still the same when Henry III. began to cast an eye of Favour upon her But she made no other use of his complacency then to second the Queen Mothers design which was to revive in his heart that tenderness which he had formerly had for Mademoiselle de Vaudemont and to perswade him to seat her by him upon the Throne But this was not all for 〈◊〉 more powerful reason over-rul'd Madam de Sauve to infuse into him the same sentiments The Duke of Guise was become an inamor'd Servant of hers and had insensibly banish'd from his heart the tenderness which he had for the Queen of Navarr and she thought to do him a great piece of service by advancing his Kinswoman to that high degree of honour which would oblige him to love her the more And the death of the Princess of Conde which happen'd about the same time gave Madam de Sauve a fair opportunity to engage him with Mademoiselle de Vaudemont The King saw her as he was going to be Crown'd at Rheims and finding in her face the same Allurements that had formerly charm'd him he resolv'd at length to marry her Francis of Luxemburgh of the House of Brienne had made his addresses to her before the Lorrain Princes had any hopes of making her Queen Henry III. who knew it had a desire to marry him to Mademoiselle de Chasteauneuf and whether he thought it became him to take care of the Fortune of a Person whom he had once lov'd or that he took some kind of Pleasure to change Mistresses with Luxemburgh he propos'd it to him upon his Coronation Day To which the Lord made answer that he had so great a value for whatever concern'd the Queen that he could but be highly overjoy'd at the advantage which fortune had procur'd her and that he applauded her for having made so happy a change of her Lover But in regard there was not so much to be got by him in marrying Mademoiselle de Chasteauneuf he besought his Majesty to allow him time to consider The King repli'd that it was not for him to hesitate upon what he had propropos'd to him and therefore he expect'd to be forthwith obey'd Luxemburgh finding himself so vigorously press'd upon desired eight days to prepare himself and obtain'd three which serv'd him to find a way to quit the Court and retire in a place where he might shelter himself from the King's displeasure Nor did the King whose first transports were only to be fear'd think any more of him after he was once got out of his sight The pleasures which he tasted in his conversation with the Queen put Luxemburghs disobedience quite out of his mind For he had so much complacency for that Princess that he acted the person of a Lover rather then of a Husbahd in her company Now in regard that Age was an Age of Licetiousness several Lampoons were made upon all these passages that would not have been endurâ—d at another time and as they had also a great veneration for the Queen Mother an Edict was made in railliery against Faithless Lovers which began in these words Henry by the Grace of God unprofitable King of France and imaginary King of Poland Turnâ—â—y of the Lovre Church-warden of St. Germans de Lauxerrois Son in Law to Colas First Valet of his Wives Chamber Pedler of the Palace Gaurdian of Four-Beggars Protector of Penitents and Capuchins By this Satyr it may be seen that the King affected to appear devout in publick but in private abandond himself to all manner of voluptuous sensuality without any moderation and the Queen-mother was so far from restraining him that she indulg'd him in his humours that she might have the greater share in the Government One day he gave a great Entertainment at Cheâ—â—nceaux where the Ladies appear'd like Nymphs half naked to their Wasts and with their hair dishevell'd about their Shoulders Not long after the King went in Masquerade to Hostel de Guise where the Duke presented the Company with a Ball to honour the Nuptials of Mademoiselle Marcel with the Baron de Vâ—erâ—eâ— and where the confusion and disorder was so great that the Candles were blown out and the Chastity of the Ladies suffer'd no small detriment in the Dark The King also to make himself popular frequently went to divertise himself among the men of the Long Robe especially to the President Boncharts House whither he was drawn by Mademoiselle de Bussy his Daughter-in-Law All the Courtiers in imitation of their Master thought of nothing but making love and knowing well that wild passion never seeks after equality but makes all equal they address'd their vows to persons as well superior as inferior to 'em in Rank and Dignity never considering the consequences of such ill concerted Intreagues St. Megrin a Gascoine Gentleman had the confidence to make choice of the Dutches of Guise for the Object of his Tenderness and was well receiv'd But notwithstanding all the caution he had taken to conceal
his Amorous Commerce he was discover'd and it cost him his Life One evening returning from the Loâ—â—â—re at eleven a Clock at Night thirty men in Vizards fell upon him in the Street St. Honore stab'd him in a thousand places and laid him dead upon the Stones where he expir'd soon after The King caus'd his Body to be carry'd to 〈◊〉 House ne'r the Bastille from whence he was born in great Pomp to St. Pâ—â—d's Church and there buri'd But there was no pursuite after the Murderers because the Duke of Maâ—â— was known to be at the Head of 'em and for that the King was not ignorant that St. Megrin had drawn that misfortune upon himself by his own imprudence tho his Majesty was wont to make him a familiar Companion of his Pleasures Nor was Bussy dâ—Amâ—oise the Duke of Alenson's Favorite more happy then St. Megrin He lov'd Mademoiselle de Manteran for tho he had engag'd himself in a strict Intreague and private enough too with that Lady by the means of the Lieutenant Criminal of Saumur his Confident who took care to manage their Randevoâ—zes whither she thought by such an act to conceal the dishonour of her miscarriage of whither she began to disgust her Lover However she sent for Bussy to meet her in her Castle where she would be alone but as soon as he was arriv'd there the Marquis of Monteraâ— who kept himself private in the next Room fell upon him with ten more of his Friends Bussy who was stout and brave defended himself like a Lyon while his Sword was whole but when they had broken it he threw a way the Hilâ— and with Barrs and Stools such as he could lay hands on wounded three or four of his Enemies When he had nothing to defend himself he bethought himself of taking his Heels and as he was preparing of leap out of the Window he receiv'd a mortal wound which laid him weltering upon the Floor The Duke of Aâ—â—nson was no way concern'd for his death because his excessive Pride and Vanity had disgusted him Some months after there was great rejoying at Court upon the Marriage of the Queens Sister Mademoiselle de Vaudemont with d'Argues whom the King had made Duke of Joyeuse All the Ladies made their appearances in the place most magnificently adorn'd there were Masquerades Balls Runnings at the Ring and Tournaments Ransard and Baif had each of 'em a thousand Crowns a piece for Epithalamiums and Verses upon the Subject of that Festival All the Princes to collogue with the King treated the new marri'd Couple every one in their turn The Cardinal of Bourbon who lodgd in the Abby of St. Germans prepar'd a great entertainment in that place the 10th of October 1581. He had order'd a most stately Gallery to be erected for their Majesties to pass to the Pre aux Clercâ—â— It was to have been drawn by four and twenty small Boates that were to have been cover'd with painted Skins which were to have made 'em appear at a distance like so many Sea Mousters and they were to have carry'd Trumpets Hautboys and Violins which were to have founded and strook up successively several Consorts of Warlike and Rural Musick But this Machine did not take effect So that the King was forc'd to go in his Coach to the Abby But this defect was repair'd by several other Gallantries among which there was an Artificial Garden adorn'd with all the beautiful products of the Spring tho it were in the depth of Winter When the King treated the same Company at the Louvre he caus'd a Ball to be daunc'd which represented the divertisements of Ceres and her Nymphs This Ball was attented by a Carrousel wherein the Horses trampl'd to the sound of several Instruments and an Artificial Firework which darted forth Rockets that as they fell form'd the Cifers of the Duke and Dutches. The next year upon Shrove Tuesday the King ran in Masquerade till six a Clock the next morning committing a thousand Follies For which the Preachers tax'd him in their Sermons with too much freedom Henry the Third being offended at it seal for Rose a Doctor of the Sorâ—onne who had declar'd against that Cavalcade with more heat then any of the rest nevertheless got off at the expence of a sight reprimand For said the King to him Doctor Rose I have suffer'd you for these ten years together to râ—n roaring about the Streets and never said any thing to ye yet here for one fegary at the end of the Carnaval you have mangled my Reputation in your Sacred Pulpit pray be more discreet another time and do so no more The King was also so good natur'd that sending for him again within a few days after he gave him four hunder'd Crowns and ask'd him whither that â—â—m would suffice to buy him Sugar enough to sweeten the bitterness of his Sermons When Hen. III. took his Progress into Guyenne the King of Navarr who went to meet him at Bourdeaux entred into an acquaintance there with the Countess of Gâ—iche the Widow of Philibert Count of Gramont who was Slain at the Siege of la Fere. He found her very Amiable and paid her several visits during his stay in that Province and her company made him a mends for the infiedlity of Madam de Sauve For he found her altogether as sensible of his affection as his first Mistress when he parted from Bourbeaux and besought her not to take it amiss if he â—et her hear from him by Parabese whom he had taken into his Service and whose Sister who was one of the same Province was one of his great Friends The Countess was overâ—oy'd at her having an opportunity to keep a correspondence with the King of Navarr and continu'd it till he came to the Crown As for Henry III. most certain it is that notwithstanding these irregularities of his youth his Subjects would have liv'd happily under his Reign had he not found 'em divided into two Factions extreamly exaâ—perated one against the other when he succeeded his Brother For he was Couragious Eloquent and Liberal even to profusion he lov'd men of Merit and was so naturally inclin'd to mildness that 't was alwaies a Grief to him when he punish'd Intreagues of the Court of France under the Raign of Hen. IV. THE first Person to whâ—m over Heâ—ry IV gave any mark of his affection 〈◊〉 Antonetta de Ponâ— Marchionesâ— of Gâ—erâ—◠〈◊〉 Widow of Henry de Silly Count of Roâ—â—â—â—guyen He saw her in Normandy and fell so passionately in love with her that he altogether forgot the Countess of Guich◠〈◊〉 whom nevertheless he had always a high esteem and never refuâ—'d 〈◊〉 any Kindness when it lay in his Power There was 〈◊〉 difference between those two Ladies thaâ— the first was a Country Lady that had never been at Court and that the seâ—ond had all the delicacy of Wit and Conversation which usually distinguishes persons of the Highest Quality from others The
Marry her which he could not find in his heart to do in regard it was not lawful for him because she had a Husband Under these circumstances finding it impossible for him to have a Successor he bethought himself of maraying Madam Catherine his Sister with a Prince of the Blood With this design he sent for her to come to him and going as far as the Loire to meet her He presented the Duke of Montpensier to kiss her hand whom he design'd her for a Husband The Princess gave him but a very cold reception whither it were that she did not like his person or that having already surrender'd her heart to the Count of Soissons she could not find room in her breast for another She arriv'd at Dieppe where she met with Madam Gabriella for so was Mademoiselle d Estrees call'd after her Marriage and the more she found her worthy of the Love which her Brother shew'd her the more she hated her She beheld her being in Favour with Envy and to humble her treated her with so much scorn and loftiness that had it been any other person 〈◊〉 could never have bore it However Madam Gabriella complain'd of her contempt to the King and besought him to part ' em But all that the King could do to satisfie his Mistress without disobliging his Sister was to carry Madam Gabriella along with him where-ever he march'd to compleat the Conquest of his Kingdom and to leave his Sister at Dieppe Madam Gabriella who seldom or never stirred from the King began to inform her self in the management of Publick Affairs by the advice of Madam de Sourdis and shew d so quick a Penetration and Judgment in matters of the highest importance that she procured to her self an entrance into the King's Counsels Nor did the Chancellor Chinconi contribute a little to procure her that favour He had conceiv'd a most violent Passion for her nor could he refrain from letting her understand it notwithstanding the gravity which the dignity of his Office exacted from him but doing himself that justice as to be convinc'd that there was no such Charms in his Person that could engage Madam Gabriella to endure his Courtship he had recourse to other means and made himself useful to her in giving her opportunities to satisfie her Ambition But her extraordinary joy to see her self mounted to such a high degree of honour was somewhat allai'd by the news which she receiv'd of her Mothers death who was massaker'd at Issoire in Aâ—vergne by the people that mutini'd against her Lover the Marquiss d' Allegre But she endeavour'd to repair that loss by her Correspondence with Bellegard whom she met in Private yet so warily that the King could never tax her of infidelity tho he had frequent jealousies which she made a shift to dissipate with her Caresses and her Protestations of being insensible to any but himself Nevertheless Fortune found away to discover this mistery notwithstanding all the Precautions which those two Lovers took to avoi'd surprisal The King having lain with Madam Gabriella one night rose very early the next morning to execute some enterprize that he had in his thoughts and left his Mistress a bed where she lay under pretence of some little Indisposition while Bellegard the better to conceal his Game gave out that he was return'd to Mante But so soon as the King was gone Arphure a Confident of Madam Gabriella's commonly call'd la Rouse introduc'd the Duke into a Cabinet of which she her self had only the Key and let him out again so soon as her Mistress was rid of all such persons as were any way suspected to her But while these two Lovers were tasting all the Pleasures that a tender Passion could afford 'em dreaming of no disaster the King who mist his design return'd and by his hasty return put 'em into a strange Confussion However a bad shift was better then none Arphure presently slipt the Duke into her Cabinet where she hid him at first the Door of which was next the Bedside and the Window lookt into the Garden The King had a mind to eat some Sweetmeats and knowing that Arphure kept her Mistresses junkets in that Closet he call'd for the Key Madam Gabriella made answer that la Rousse had it in her Pocket and that she was gone to visit a kinswoman of hers in the Town Upon that the King whose suspitions were but the more exasperated by such a refusal threatend to break open the door and was going to work tho she complain'd that the noise would offend her Head But the King who was resolv'd to be satisfi'd of his doubts made as if he had not heard what Madam Gabriella said and laid on with his Foot against the Dore that Bellegard finding he should be forc'd in his Sanctuary thought it became him to venture Body and Soul to get out of the Bryars and therefore opening the Window out he got and jump'd into the Garden tho he thought it a little to dear to buy his Pleasure at the price of such Catts leaps But fortune happen'd to favour him so far that he got no harm by the fall whether it were that the Ground were moist and yielding or that this fear had dispos'd his body for the danger Arphure who stood Sentinal to see what would become of the business no sooner beheld the Jump and the fair Escape but in she comes sweating and wiping her face with her Handkercher and crying Lord Madam I never dreamt you would have had any occasion for me With that the Crafty Confident open'd the Closet and gave the King what Sweetmeats he desir'd But then surpriz'd to find no body in the Closet he concluded that Bellegard was become invisible while Madam Gabriella embolden'd by his astonishment lay reproaching him and deriding his jealousie at such a rate that she made an absolute triumph of it She told him that surely his love began to coole and that he only sought a pretence to be rid of her but that she would not give him the advantage of quitting her first for that she would e'en prove an honest Wife at length and go home to her Husband The King scar'd with these menaces threw himself at her feet begg'd her Pardon a thousand time and promis'd never to have an ill thought of her more Nor durst he for a long time after shew the least mark of Jealosie for fear she should in earnest take a whimsey so contrary to his Repose While the Court was in this posture the Dutchess of Guise who stay'd at Paris with the Heads of the League sent to desire a Pasport of the King to go to one of her Houses in the Country which the King granted freely and also gave her leave to pass through the Town where he lay Mademoiselle de Guise was glad of the Journey not so much out of Curiosity an Infirmity natural to persons of her Sex as to satifie two opposite Passions She lov'd Bellegard
full hopes to be Queen see quite alter'd her Conduct and took upon her such an Aire of Modesty that the King several times repented that ever he had accus'd her â—of Disloyalty But 't was not enough for him to be satissfi'd of it the world must be also no less fully convinc'd â—to which purpose the Dutchess resolv'd to receive the Sacrament at Paris The King had stay'd all the Lent at Fontain Bleau from whence he departed upon Palm-Sundy for Melun at what time the Dutchess order'd a Barge to be made ready to carry her upon the Tuseday in the Passion Week to Paris where she arriv'd the same day and alighted at her Sister 's the Marshal of Balagni's Wife The next day she went to little St. Anthonies to hear the Service call'd the Tenebres with Mâ—dam and Mademoiselle de Guise the Dutchess of Rétz and her Daughters The other Ladies went in their Coaches but she was carry'd in a Sedan a Captain of the Guards of the Body walking always by the side of the Sedan whose business it was to attend her to a Chappel that was preserv'd on purpose for her to the end she might neither be crowded nor expos'd to the View of the People During the Office she shewâ—d Mademoisselle de Guise certain Letters from Rome which gave her to understand that what she desir'd would be suddenly accomplish'd She also shew'd her two Letters which she receiv'd the same day from the King so Passionate and so full of Impatience too see her his Queen that she had all the reason in the world to be satisfi'd The King sent her word that he was just sending away to Rome Dufrene Secretary of State whom she knew to be entirely devoted to her Interests as having marry'd one of her Kinswomen to press his Holiness to give him his Liberty in a Matter which he was wholly resolv'd upon When Service was done she told Mademoisâ—lle de Guise that she intended to alight at the Deanry of St. Germains where she had accstom'd to lodge and that she intended to go to bed not feeling herself ver well withall desiring her to come and keep her Company And at the same time she went out of the Church and got into her Litter while Mademoiselle de Guise went back to her Coach So soon as Mademoiselle came to the Dutchess of Beauforts she found her undressing herself and complaining of a great Pain in her Head But the Dutchess was no sooner a bed but she was taken with a terrible Convulsion from which she recover'd by the help of Strong Remedies and then it was that she began a Letter to the King ' tho she could not finish it being hinder'd by another Convulsion When she came to her self again a Letter was presented her from the King but she could not read it being seiz'd by another Convulsion that held her so lohg as she liv'd Upon Tuesday she was brought to Bed of a Still-born-Child the Violence of her Distemper having Kill'd it and the next day being Friday she expir'd by Six a Clock in the Morning Some there were who ascrib'd the cause of her Death to another cause and gave it outh that she had made a Contract with the Devil to Marry the King and that that same Enemy of Mankind had taken away her Life They farther add as an Embellishment to set out the Fable that the Dutchess was acquainted long before with the Tragical end that atended Her For that being one day in the Garden of the Tuillerys she met with a famous Magician who was telling several Ladies of the Court their Fortunes at what time the Dutchess having a desire to know what should be ber Destiny was very Importunate with the Magician who excus'd himself for above an hour telling her that considering the flourishing Fortune she enjoy'd she could wish for nothing greater But at length the Dutchess insisting to know at least what end she she should come to the Magician bid her at her leisure pull out her Porket-Lookinglass and there she should see the Object of her Curiosity Upon which the Dutchess when she pul'd out her Mirror saw the Devil taking her by the Throate which terrifi'd her to that degree that she sounded away in the arms of one of her Women that attended her The very same thing or very like it is told of the Constable Montmorancy's Lady who dy'd but a little before after a very strange manner But People of Sence and Judgment gave no Credit to these Stories The same day being Wednesday La Varenne came to tell the Marshal d Ornano who was hearing the Passion Sermon at St. Germains de Lauxerrois that the Dutchess was dead and that it would be convenient to hinder or prevent the King 's coming to Paris whether he was just designing his Journey and therefore desir'd him to go and meet him in order to make him alter his Roade The Marshal requested the Marquess of Bassompierre then at the Sermon to go along with him which he did and so they met the King beyond Saussi near Ville Juif who was coming Post for Paris So soon as the King saw the Marshal his heart misgave him that he knew already the Tidings which he came to tell him and by his Lamentations and bitter Complaints soon made it appear that Hero's have their failings as well as other Men. They carry'd him to the Abby dela Saussaye and lay'd him upon a Bed till they could meet with the Convenience of a Coach to carry him back to Fontain Bleau Where being arriv'd before night be found in his Appartment the greaest part of the Lords of the Court who were all got thither upon the noise of this Mournful Accident So soon as the King was enter'd his Chamber he desir'd all the Company to return to Paris and pray to God to send him Consolation retaining only to keep him Company Bellegard the Count de Laudes Termes Castelnau La Chalosse Monglas and Fronteval Nevertheless as Bassompierre was retiring with the rest he bid him stay to give him an account of the Circumstances of his Mistresse's death because he was the last that was with her For Five or Six dayes the King was not to be seen but by those whom he had excepted unless it were by some Embassador's whose condoling Complements he was oblig'd to receive but they return'd immediately after they had had their Audiences When the King's Grief was a little allay'd his Favorites who understood that the right way to dissipate his Melancholy was to set before his Eyes some other Dazling Lady that might make him amends for the loss of his Dutchess engag'd him in a Hunting Match near Malherbe a Castle belonging to the Marquiss d' Entragues That Lord had two Daughters surpassingly Beautiful and Witty above the Common Rate especially the Eldest who was call'd Henrietta de Balzack Madam d' Entragues being acquainted with their Design to entangle the King with one of her Daughters sent to him
that indignity which no other Lover would have brook'd But he was so far from finding his Passion for her abated by such her extravagant behaviour that he heap'd new favours upon her and made her Marchioness of Vernueil While the King was labouring to pacifie his Mistress the Duke of Savoy arriv'd at Court He had engag'd himself when the Dutchess of Beaufort was living to take that journey in hopes by her Mediation to put an advantageous end to the differences between him and his Majesty concerning the Marquisate of Saluces But when he heard of the Dutchesses death which broke all his measures he would fain have excus'd himself but then it was too late because he had made too far a Progress to go back He was well receiv'd by the King and in regard he knew the Ladys had a prevailing power in a Court so amorosly inclin'd as that of France he made most Magnificent Presents to the Fairest as well as to the Courtiers who were their Masters greatest Confidents which gave a beginning to a Conspiracy that brake forth afterwards However his Artifices took no effect so that he was constrain'd to return without obtaining any thing The King who was absolutely resolv'd to recover the Marquisate of Saluces gave orders for his Forces to march toward the Frontiers of Savoy and after he had taken his leave of the Ladys at Paris he went to Lyon In the mean time seeing his Marriage with Marie de Medicis had been solomniz'd by vertue of his procuration which Bellegarde carried and for that Viego de Vrsini Duke of Bracciano had Espousd her in the Kings name the Princess was brought to Marseilles whither she was conducted by Elizabeth de Medicis her Aunt the same Dukes Wife and Eleanor de Medicis Wife of Vincent I. Duke of Mantoua and Jordano de Vrsini her Cousin-German 'T is reported that Jordan had had those tender sentiments of Affection for her which no way became so near a Relation She was receiv'd at her landing by the Cardinals of Joyeuse Gondy Giury and Sourdis by the Constable Montmorancy by the Chancellor Bellieure and by the Duke of Guise Governour of the Province by the Dutchesses Dowager of Nemours and Guise and by several other Ladys The Marchionses of Vernueil had always follow'd the Court but when she understoâ—d that the Queen was arriv'd at Lyon she return'd to Paris because she would not be present at a Ceremony that ruin'd all her hopes The Constables two Daughters were at the Marriage and the Dutchess of Ventadour who was the youngest kindl'd a Flame made no long stay at Court this new Passion extinguisht assoon as that which he had for tâ—e Queen being obligd to separate from both without any hopes of ever seeing 'em again Nor was Vrsini the only person that fell in Love with that Charming Dutchess The Dukes of Guise and Epernon offer d their Sevices to her at the same time and quarrell'd so violently dnring that Rivalship that the King was constrain'd to interpose in order to make an accommodation between 'em tho he had somthing of an inclination to have become their Rival himself There was also â— quarrel about precedency between Madam de Ventadour and Mademoselle de Guise and tho' expedients were found to satisfie the Pretensions of both Parties yet it was impossible to sweeten that same tartness which the jealousie of Beauty had created between ' em The King publickly declar'd that he was very well fatisfi'd with his marriage but the change of his condition had not alter'd his sentiments for Madam de Vernucil to whom be sent frequent Messages And those marks of friendship which she receiv'd at a time when she had the least reason to expect 'em made her so proud that she could not forbear talking of the Queen in terms that were no way conformable to that respect which she ow d her Of which the Princess was inform'd and declar'd her self to be extremely sensible of the Affront And this hatred of Madam Vernevil which she publickly discover'd form'd two factions at the Court the one declaring for the Queen and the other for the King's Mistress An. 1600. The King after he had conquer'd alll Savoy and concluded an Accommodation with the Duke by the exchange of la Bresse for the Marquisate of Saluces through the Mediation of the Legate who was come to Lyon to give the second Nuptial Benediction took Post Horses for Paris Nevertheless he took Barge Rouanne and went by Water down the Loire as far as Briare from whence he came to lie at Fontain Bleau the next day din'd at Ville Neuve St. George from whence crossing the Sâ—ine below the Tuilleries for the red Bridge was not then built he lay at Vernueil accompanid only by four persons but he stai'd not there above three days and then return'd to Paris He lodg'd at Monglas's in the Cloyster of St. Nicholas du Leuvre where he had always the Ladies at Supper with five or Six Princes and his Favorites The Queen departed from Lyon almost as soon as he but she travelle'd more slowly and met by the way the Ladies that were to serve her in the imployments of her Houshould The Dutchess of Nenours was made Superintendent Madam de Guerckeville Lady of Honour and Madam de Richlieu Lady Dresser But the Queen would by no means permit the latter to do her duty as having already design'd Eleanor Galigay for that Employment who had serv'd her along time and to whom she had promis'd the Place However the business was to remain undetermin'd till the King should put an end to the dispute which however was no small vexation to the Queen But it caus'd a far grater Heart-burning within her when she was constrain'd to send back into Italy all the Persons that had accompanid her so that the Ladys who were plac'd about her were soon sensible of the effects of her disquieted humour Upon which Madermoiselle de Guise who had no kindness for the Marchioness of Vernueil endeavour'd to perswade the Queen that it was an effect of her Counsels and pretended to share so deeply in the Queens discontents that she insinuated her self by that means into her favour The King rode to meet the Queen as far as Nemours changing Horses threescore times He carry'd her to Fontain Bleau where after he had stai'd five or six days he accompani'd her to Paris where he lodg'd her in Gondy House because the Loure was not then in a condition to receive her The same day the King commanded the Dutchess of Nemours to waite upon the Marchioness of Vernueil at her Lodgings and present her to the Queen Fain would that prudent Princess have excus'd her self from such an ungrateful Office which was the only way to incur the loss of her Credit with her Mistress but the King would be obey'd Thereupon she carried her to the Queen who was surpriz'd to see her and gave her but a very cold Reception The
folded up in such a manner that the Cross appear'd outermost Presently he clap'd himself down upon it for fear a Testimony so clear beyond all contradicton should betray his Secret nor would he be perswaded to rise tho' the Duke Importunately press'd him to walk on till one of his Valets to whom he had made a sign had carry d it out of the Room when his Rivals back was turn'd In the mean time he made a shew of being very much troubled and storm'd with a good Grace against the inconstancy of Mademoiselle d' Entragues and when the Cloak was out of danger he rose up and walk'd on with the Duke as long as he stay d. So soon as the Duke was gone Bassompierre gave notice to Madam d' Entragues of the Dukes mistake and that same Young Wanton the more to confirm him in it treated Bellegarde before his Face as if they had been the most Intimate Persons in the World The next Morning the Duke of Guise wag d War with the Grand Squire who unwilling to dissabuse him return'd him Ambiguous Answers Bellegarde gave an account of all that Discourse to Madam d' Entragues who approv'd his Conduct and desir'd him to continue it by which means all the Kings and the Dukes Suspicious fell upon the Grand-Squire Thereupon they inform'd Madam d' Entragues of her Daughter's Familiarity with him which was the reason that she watch d her more narrowly One Morning as she drew the Curtain to Spit she observ d that Mademoiselle's Bed who lay in the Room was thrown open and that the Bird was Flown she presently suspected the Truth and rising went softly into the Wardrobe where seeing the Door belonging to the Private Staires open she call'd out at what time her Daughter hearing her Voice rose with all speed from Bassompierre and went to her Madam d' Entragues after she had given her Daughter two or three Wherets o' th' Ear in the Transports of her Passion caus'd the Door of the Privy Staires to be broke open because Bassompierre had bolted it within side that he might have leisure to dress himself When 't was open up she ran in great hast three Stories high but she was strangely surpriz d to find no body there but much more to see the Randevouze-Chamber furnish'd with Zamet's best Furniture and trick'd up with Silver Sconces and Candlesticks Thus ended this Intercourse But Love which is Ingenious provided other ways for those two Lovers to meet one another at Mademoiselle Dazi's whom they made their Confident Nevertheless this hurly-burly totally extidguish'd all the King s Suspitions of the Duke of Guise's having an Intreague with the Marchioness of Vernueil There was some Discourse of Marrying Mademoiselle d' Entragues to the Count d' Achè in Anvergne But that Match was broken off upon examination of the Articles after which the Marchioness of Vernueil and her Sister went to pass away the fair Season at the Marchioness of Conflans's near Charenton about whose House the Duke of Guise and Bassompierre walk'd their Rounds every Night But at last Bassompierre broke off altogether with Mademoiselle d' Entragues aspiring to a more Advantageous Alliance and beg'd leave of the King to marry Mademoiselle de Montmorency and to treat with the Duke of Bouillon for his Employment of first Gentleman of his Chamber Nor did the King believe it only enough to grant him what he ask'd but consented also in favour of the Match that the Constable who was out of Favour should return to Court The next morning at the King 's rising he was admitted to kiss his Hands had a Gracious Reception and in the afternoon the King went to visit the Dutchess of Angolesme where Mademoiselle de Montmorancy Lodg'd and where he saw Madam d' Essars with whom he presently embarqu'd and had two Daughters by her who betook themselves to Religious lives the Eldest being made Abbess of Fonteleraut But after the death of her Husband she privately marri'd Lewis Cardinal of Guise the Brother of Charles Duke of Guise The Cardinal had obtain'd a dispensation from the Pope for holding two Benefices notwithstanding his marriage but after his death the Duke seiz'd upon the Contract and the Dispensation which was the reason that Mademoiselle de Essars was never accounted any other then his Concubine However she had three Children by that Conjunction the Eldest who dy'd Bishop of Condom the Marquiss of Romorantin and a Daughter marri'd to the Marquiss of Rhodes But notwithstanding the affronts that were put upon her under the next Raign she marri'd the Marquiss du Hallier afterwards Marshal de l' Hopital Her Marriage with the Cardinal de Guise and the Dispensation after they had happen'd into the custody of several at length fell into the Hands of Mademoiselle de Guise who dyd in 1608. The Marchioness of Romorantin understanding that she was drawing toward her end caus'd her Confessor to lay it home to her Conscience and make her sensible that it would be a piece of injustice to detain those Writings that might be serviceable to reestablish the low Estate of her Children and preserve their claim of Succession to the House of Guise Upon which the dying Princess was over-rul'd and sent the requested Papers in a Box by an unknown hand to Madam de Romorantin Who immediately went to Court and throwing herself at the King's Feet besought his Protection To whom that Great Prince whose profound wisdom appear d in his meanest Actions made answer that she must address her self to his Parliament whose business it was to take Cognizance of those Differences But to return to Madam de Montmorancy The Duke of Bouillon who was Brother-in-Law to the Constable took it ill that a Match should be treated of and he not be acquainted with it and therefore he resolv'd to cross it One day that the King had been visiting Madam de Montmorancy at the Queens lodgings and was very passionately crying up her Beauty the Duke drew him aside and told him that he wonder'd he had given his consent to the marriage of that Lady with Bassompierre since there were no other matches that were fit for his Nephew the Prince of Conde but either she or the Dutchess of Main and seeing Policy would not admit him to suffer the Head of the League too powerfull already to advance his Credit by an Alliance he was oblig'd to give Madam de Montmorency to the Prince The King heard his advice without making any answer but the next day going to see the Practice of a Ball that was to be danc'd at the Louvre Bellegard cry'd up the Charmes of that Lady to such a degree that the King resolv'd to undertake the Conquest of her himself And in regard that for the better bringing about his Design 't was convenient she should marry a Man for whom she had no kindness he was desirous of being satisfi'd what opinion she had of Bassompierre To this purpose an Opportunity offer'd it self within a
Project it could not be kept so secret â—â—t that the persons concern'd had an inkling of it The first person who had notice of it was the Count of Buquoy Grand Master of the Ordinace in Flanders who carri'd the news to the Archduke and Spinola Immediately a Council was held wherein it was resolv'd that under some fair pretence the Princess should be invited to lodge in the Palace with the Archduke and the Infanta This was propos'd to the Prince of Conde without discovering the mistery to him withall they insinuated into him that in regard there was some unkindness between him and his Wife 't would be the best way to separate a while that he might have time to recover himself from his disgust To which the Prince consented without any scruple upon those assurances that the Archduke and the Infanta gave him not to part with her out of their Custody without his Consent Nor durst the Princess nor Coeuvres oppose it not having any manifest pretence to excuse themselves besides that hey were in hopes of executing their designs before the change of her lodging Nevertheless because they could not adjust all their Measures during the time that the Princess was to stay in the Prince of Orange's Palace therefore 't was thought convenient for the gaining of three or four days more that the Princess her self with whom he faign'd to be in Love should entreat Spinola to give her a Ball at his House the but crafty Genoese who smelt the design excus'd himself neatly However Coeuvres no ways discourag'd by this unlucky accident resolv'd to carry away the Princess upon Saturday night being the 13th of Feb. 1610. because she was to remove into the Palace the next day being Sunday She pretended she was ill for fear her Husband should lye with her which was a thing that very rarely happen'd and hinder from making her Escape The Archduke who was inform'd of every thing by Buquoy gave notice of it by Spinola to the Prince of Conde to whom they had never made any discovery till then for fear he should make a noise to no purpose and it was resolv'd that the Archduke should be requested to order the Prince of Orange's House to be guarded all the Night Conde was so alarum d at what Spinola had told him that not being able to keep the secret after he had taken sufficient care to disappoint the enterprize he brake out into frivolous complaints As for Coeuvres he deny'd every thing because he had as yet done nothing to convict him and because there was nothing more to be done he dispatch'd away a Courrier to the King for new Orders upon this unexpected Change The King perceiving that Artifice had nothing avail'd him resolv'd to make use of Force to get the Princess of Conde out of the hands of the Archduke and to declare War against the most Catholick King To which purpose he sounded James VI. who after the Death of Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the Crowns of England Ireland and Scotland and endeavour'd to oblige him to break with the Spaniards But he being already grown in years was unwilling to engage in a War of that consequence Upon which Hen. IV. made a League with the Duke of Savoy the Venetians and the States of the United Provinces who were most concern'd to humble the Pride of the House of Austria The Death of the Duke of Cleves upon which a difference arose between the Elector of Brandenbourgh and the Duke of Newburgh about the Succession furnish'd the Most Christian King with a specious pretence to take Armes and he began to send his Forces toward the Low Countries but the tragical end of that Prince disappointed all his vast designs For Hen. IV. going in his Coach to the Arsenal with the Dukes of Montbason and Epernon Ravaillac attempted to kill him as he went out of the Louvre but could not execute his design in that place because he found himself posted on that side where the Duke of Epernon sate The King moreover had not order'd his Guards to follow him as he was wont to do so that when his Coach enter'd into the Ironmongers Street and that his Footmen passâ—d through St. Innocents Church-yard by reason of a stop that hinder'd the Coachman from driving on the Ruffian had an opportunity to get upon the fore-wheel and give the King two Stabs with a broad Knife the first between the second and third Rib which was of little consequence the second between the fifth and sixth Rib which peirc'd his Lungs and cutt the veiny Artery near the left Valvule of the Heart which last wound prov'd Mortal Thus this great Monarch ended his days when he was about to have made all Europe Tremble The Intreagues of France under the Reign of Lewis XIII THE Amours of Lewis XIII afford but little matter because that if he cast a particular eye upon any Lady of the Court 't was rather a Pastime then any real Passion Nevertheless there were Intreagues wherein the Ladies bore a part which I shall endeavour to relate with as much conciseness and clearness as the Thing will give me leave The Duke of Buckingham a Favorite of Charles I. King of Great Britain was come to Paris to conduct Madam Henrietta of France whom his Master had marri'd into England but intruth to set up a Faction in the Kingdom which might prevent the King from putting his design against the Hereticks in execution To which purpose he thought it necessary to acquire some familiarity among the Lady's who had most Credit at Court as being perswaded that 't was a difficult thing for persons of their Sex to conceal the greatest secrecies from those who are once so happy as to have touch'd their Hearts The Daughter of the Duke of Montbason who after the death of the Constable de Luynes marry'd in second Wedlock to the Prince of Joyinville and who was then call'd the Duke of Chevreuse was she whom Buckingham deem'd the most proper to second his designs Her Beauty had purchas'd her an absolute power over all the great Lords of the Kingdom She had a most persuasive Eloquence a boundless Ambition and a wanton Humour which made her covet the Conquest of all those whom she thought worthy of particular distinction Buckingham who had a penetrating judgment quickly understood her Character and perceiv'd that the Grand Prior natural Son to Henry IV. and the Count of Chalais were the most assiduous to pay her homage and the two persons likewise for whom she had the greatest value but that she treated 'em with so much equality that they could not discover which way her heart most enclin'd Buckingham having insinuated himself into their confidence offer d 'em to make the Dutchess explain her self and tho a man would have thought a Confident so lovely as the Duke a very improper person to fulfill the Trust which they had repos'd in him yet they never suspected any thing because that being a
Stranger and one that was but to make a short stay in France they did not believe he would engage in an Intreague with Madam de Chevreuse The Duke of Orleans the King's Brother was then at Limours and the Dutchess at Dampierre that lye not above ten Leagues a sunder The Grand Prior and Chalais who were the Duke of Orleans's principal Favorites carry'd Buckingham to Limours from whence they went every Afternoon to Diampierre During Buckingham's stay there he invented every day some new Courtly feast to divertise the Dutchess to which he always invited the two Lovers for fear they should grow jealouss In the Evening he had the honour to converse in private with the Dutchess by the means of Madam de Vernet her good friend whom he had engag'd in his Interests by his liberality Now when he had receiv'd such sufficient proofs of the Dutchess of Chevreuses Compliance that he could no longer doubt but that she lov d him in good earnest he told her that to conceal their correspondece from his Rivals there was a necessity of engaging em in a Conspiracy against Cardinal Richlieu who was at that time Chief Minister and perswade 'em that tho they were alone together yet they never spoke of any thing but of State Affairs The Grand Prior and Chalais easily fell into this Snare and whereas they saw to their great vexation that the Duke of Orleans their Master had no share in the Government they immediately rellsh'd the proposal which was made 'em to perswade the Prince to declare himself Head of the Faction that they would set up upon the assurance which Buckingham gave em of the King of Great Britain's Protection This Intreague could not be carri'd so secretly but that Cardinal Richlieu had notice of it However he would not presently fly out against the Dutchess not being well assur'd that she was in the Plot So that he only procur'd the Banishment of Madam de Vernet This menace which one would have thought should have made the Conspirators afraid of a more severe punishment did not make 'em give over their clandestin Practises The Marshal d' Ornano Monsieur's Governour headed 'em afraid if his Master should marry Mademoiselle de Montpensier as the King desir'd least she who was a notable Lady should get the upper-hand of the Duke and put him out of his favour Therefore the principal aim of the Malecontents was to break off this Match and perswade the Duke of Orleans to marry Mademoiselle de Bourbon the Prince of Conde s Sister and by that match to unite those two Houses in a strict Alliance or to put him upon looking out for some forraign Princess from whom he might have great Assistance and a Powerful Protection As for Mademoiselle de Montpensier they design'd to marry her to the Count of Soissons thereby to tye the House of Guise to that of Bourbon Cardinal Richlieu who had every day advice of this Negatiation that he might find out the Bottom of it went to take the Air for three days at Bassompierre â—s House who was the Count of Chalais's Father-in-Law and had the knack of flattering the Count so ticklingly that he fetch'd the whole plot out of his very Soul Some days after the Marshal d' Ornano was arrested at Fontain Bleau and carri'd to the Castle of Vincennes they also secur'd the Duke of Vendosm and the Grand Prior his Brother at Blois But it cost them nothing but their being put in a world of bodily fear for the real Punishment fell up Chalais who lost his Head Madam de Chevreuse who foresaw the Tempest betimes secur'd her life and liberty by Flight and retir'd into Lorrain from whence she went to Brussells There were other Intreagues at Court after the death of Mademoiselle the Duke of Orleans first Wife For this same Prince being fallen in love with Maria de Gonzaga the Duke of Montoua's Daughter had a design to marry her and the King himself no way seem'd to dislike the Match But the Queen Mother whose aim it was to marry Monsieur to the Princess of Florence after she had made use in vain of all her perswasions and all her authority to make him consent to the Match had recourse to violence and at Columniers caus'd that Princess to be seiz'd together with the Dutchess Dowager of Longueville Monsieur being touch d to the quick with this ill-usage of a person so dear to him withdrew into Lorrain where nevertheless he prov'd unfaithful and being charm'd with the person of the Princess Margaret the Dukes Sister to the burying in Oblivion of his first Affections he marri d her without his Majesties consent The King incens'd at this match sent a Powerful Army into Lorrain under the Conduct of the Marquiss of St. Chaumont There upon the Princess Margaret seeing that the security of her Country depended upon her Liberty departed the City by four a Clock in the morning in mans Apparel well mounted and attended only by a Gentleman whose name was Dause who had serv'd Madam de Remiremont and two other Ladies and after they had rode thirteen Leagues without drawing bit and hid themselves in a Wood to avoid some Swedish Troops which they descri'd at a distance she arriv'd very much tyr d at Thimville into which place she had much ado to get admittance Presently she gave Monsieur who was retir'd into the Low Countries advice of her arrival who immediately sent to her de Fontaines Chalandray de Rames de Laveauport the Duke d' Elboeuf and Puis Laurens afterwards he went to meet her as far as Marche en famine understanding she was to take that Roade from Namur and carri d her to Brussells where the Magistrates came to kiss her hands and by the Infanta she was conducted to the Queen Mother who as well as a good part of the Grandees of the Kingdom were constrain'd to seek for Sanctuary in that City against the Persecutions of Cardinal Richlieu Now in regard the greatest part of the Court of France was at Brussells I do not believe it will be any deviation from my Subject to give some account of the Gallantries of the French Princes and Ladies that were retir'd thither Monsieur whose amorous humour could not lie idle while he waited the arrival of the Princess Margaret pai'd his assiduities to the Countess of Rennebourgh but she being so austerely vertuous that she was commonly stil'd the Savage he went to refresh himself with the Company of a Spanish Lady call'd Dona Blanca whose humour was altogether as morose Madam de Chevreuse lai'd all her Snares to entrap Archduke Leopold the Emperors Brother to whom the Catholick King had given the Government of the Low Countries and the Duke d' Elboeuf made addresses to Madam de Grincalberque but all these Amours were only transitory Gallantries there was no body but the Duke of Guise that embark'd himself in Intreagues of any long continuance and such indeed as prov d
in good part the occasion of most of the misfortunes of his Life This Prince being the youngest Brother of his Family was design'd for the Church and was promoted to the Archbishoprick of Rheims but after his Brothers death he quitted his Benefices and courted Anna de Gonzaga Sister to the Princess Marie of whom we have already made mention Cardinal Richlieu finding this Alliance to be contrary to the good of the State made use of the King's authority to prevent it and order'd the Princess to be shut up in a Convent The Duke of Guise enrag d to see his Passion cross'd departed the Kingdom and withdrew to Cologne whither his Mistress having made her escape follow'd him in Mans Apparel but he oblig'd her to return and went to Brussells where he met with the rest of the Exiles Now in regard there was no good Company there to his mind he spent the greatest part of the Afternoons with the Dutchess of Chevreuse his Kinswoman who fearing least his assiduities should create a jealousie in the Archduke endeavour d to engage him other where and brought him acquainted with the Countess of Bossu She was a young Widow of a sweet and blithe humour and the Dutchess's great friend It was so order'd that she should be of the Dukes side in a match at Cards and she put her self to forward that he coulde not choose but return her an answer 'T is true that for fear she should make a wrong judgment of his Conduct she presently spoke to him about marriage and the Duke declar'd to her that he desir'd nothing so much as to share destinies with her but in such terms as sufficiently shew'd that he only sought to divertise himself during his Exile But tho the Countess had sounded his drift yet she made as if she hade never perceiv'd it hoping the more easily to engage him by her faigned Ingenuity One day she carry'd him to a very stately House of her's about a League from Brussells and treated him with all the divertisements that were proper for the Season which was the most pleasant in all the whole year for which the Duke could not choose but testifie his acknowledgment to her and talk to her of love as he was us d to do The Countess told him that if he were so amorous as he would seem to make her believe he should shew himself more eanestly desirous of their Marriage The Duke swore to her that there was nothing that he more Passinonately wish'd for then to spend the rest of his life with so amaible a person as she was and that it was her fault if she did not put it to the Tryal The Countess taking him at his word reply'd that she should soon see whither his Protestations were sincere since she had both a Notary and a Priest in the House to marry ' em The Duke was surpriz'd at this discourse but made as if he had not been so and thought he might take his liberty without running any hazard while he made the Dutchess the Cully of her own cunning seeing that a Marriage of that nature wanting the formalities prescrib'd by the Canon and without the Kings consent was voyd in Law The Dutchess therefore seeing the Duke ready to do what she desir'd sent for Manfele Almoner to the Army who gave 'em the Nuptial Benediction and dispens'd with asking the Baines as if he had the same authority with the Bishop of Malines Thus the Duke stay'd all that night with his new Spouse to whom he shew'd so much kindness and affection that she was extreamly satisfi'd with the happy success of her designs The next day he return'd back after he had desir'd the â—hew Dutchess that she would keep their Marriage private till he got the consent of the Court and his own Relations But notwithstanding all the care they took to conceal this Adventure from publick knowledge it reach'd the Ears of the Duke d' Elboeuf and the Dutchess of Chevreuse who both upbraided him with it as a piece of the foulest Treachery imaginable The respect he ahd for Laides curb'd him from flying out against the Dutchess but the Duke d' Elbouf and he had such high words together that they had drawn their Swords if the Archduke had no pacifi'd ' em The Duke of Guise finding he could not revenge himself by his Sword sought out for otherways to plague the two persons that had affronted him and thought he could not find a better than to bring the Countess home to his House and treat her there publickly as his Wife This was the course he took and from that time he liv'd with her very lovingly so long as she remain'd at Brussels But we must now return to France with the Duke of Orleance who having obtain'd of the King to approve his Marriage went to waite vpon him at St. Germains together with Madam 1640 While the King was busily employ'd in reducing the Huguenots of his Kingdom and defending his Allies against the enterprizes fo the House of Austria he was govern'd altogether by his Favorites never minding the Conversation of Ladies The Marquiss de Paradas succeeded the Constable de Luynes and the Duke of S. Sâ—nogi succeeded him After that Duke was thrown out of favour Cadinal Richlieu Iâ— obtain'd the sole ascendant over his Majesty without any Companion either in his favour or in the Ministry But after the Peace had given the King a little liberty to converse among the Ladies 't was soon perceiv'd that he cast a more particular eye upon Mademorselle de Fayeâ—ro tho that same application was wholly Platonick for he bounded his desires within the limits of Conversation never caring to have any particular pastime with her and never spoke to her but publickly in the Queen's Chamber This Love however as innocent as it was created a jealousie in the Gardinal and it seem'd to him so much the more dangerous and prejudicial to his favour because Madam de la Fayette was in a strict union with the Queen and for that the Marchioness of Senesay a Lady of Honour and the Queen's Creature was the Confident entrust d with the Secret The Cardinal therefore us'd all his endeavours to break that Union and at length obtain d an order from the King to banish those two Ladies which was carry'd to 'em by Cavigny Secretary of State and within a little while after the Marquiss of St. Ange Master of the Queens Household underwent the same desgrace Which very much incens'd the Queen against the Cardinal but in regard he was assur'd of the King has Master freindship he took little notice of it Mademoiselle d' Hautefort soon suceeded in the room of Madam de lu Fayette and the Cardinal suffer'd that growing Passion without any jealousie because that Lady had neither judgment nor with to carry on Intreagues equal to the Kings first Mistress But when he discover'd that she was solely guided by the Counsels of Mademoiselle de Chennerault
his Stables There met St. Mars and the Duke of Bouillon who sent for the Counts of Aubijoux de Brion and de Fonterailles There it was propos d whither they should put themselves under the Protection of the King of Spain upon which there happen'd great Disputes but at last it past in the Affirmative Fonterailles was entrusted with that Negotiation by reason of his Address and Cunning. Besides that being not so considerable for his Quality as the rest it was to be presum'd that his absence from Court would be the less taken notice off 'T was a good while before he would undertake the business but at length away he went and arrived at Madrid concluded a Treaty with the Duke d' Olivarez the Catholick King 's chief Minister It had been resolv'd upon that the Cardinal should have been Assassinated at Briare but St. Mars durst not put it in execution excusing himself that it was requisite to stay till Monsieur's Arrival to the end his presence might warrant those that should commit the Murder from daâ—ger For Monsieur remain'd at Paris to strengthen his Party and sent the Count of Montresor to draw in the Duke of Beaufort but he could not prevail During the King's Expedition St. Mars instead of preserving the Kings friendship by complying with him did all that he could do to loose it so far from closing with his Sentiments that he made it his business still to thwart him and when his Majesty desirâ—d him near his Person he affected to be absent from him Insomuch that when his friends reprov'd him and told him how he did himself an Injury by his behaviour he excusâ—d himself by telling 'em that the King's Breath was so offensive that 't was impossible to endure it This Language of his was carri'd to the King and contributed not a little to lessen the kindness which till then he had shew'd his Favourite But St Mars who thought of nothing so much as the death of the Cardinal took no notice of the King 's growing disaffection imagining it would be easie for him to regain his Masters favour if once he were rid of his Enemy Nevertheless the design of killing the chief Minister was delayâ—d by reason of a terrible Sickness that seiz'd him at Narbonne St. Mars seeing that the Physitians lookt upon it as very dangerous thought it a piece of Imprudence to go about to take away by violent means the Life of a Man whom the had condition of his Constitution threatned with a speedy death So that it may be said that the Cardinals Sickness preserv'd him from the danger that attended his Life Monsieur de Thou leaving Paris and going to the Court at Carcassonne met Foâ—terailles who imparted to him the Treaty which he had concluded with Spain Which surpriz d de Thou because he had not been at the Conference at the Hostel de Venise and had never approv'd the design the Negotiation of which they had for that reason conceal d from him Fonterailles had cary d this Treaty to St. Mars who having made a Copy of it had sent the Original to Monsieur by the Count d' Aubijous De Thou having taken his leave of Fonterailles went to the King who was march'd from Narbonne and already sat down before Perpignan There he met St. Mars who had so strengthen'd his Party that the Army was divided into two Factions the one of which call'd themselves Royalists the other Cardinalists and the Animosity was so great between 'em that they were every foot ready to go together by the Ears However in regard that St. Mars had no more then the outward appearances of the King's Favour he press'd Monsieur to declare himself and repair to Sedan Upon which his Royal Highness demanded with whom the Duke of 〈◊〉 had left orders for his being admitted into the Town Thereupon the Malecontents who had not been so wise as to procure one from him before his departure sent away Monmior into Italy to get an Order from the Duke with a letter of Credence to desire it of him But the Duke who knew not Monmior would not entrust him with a Secret of that Importance So that Monsieur was forc'd to send to him d' Aubijous disguizâ—d in the Habit of a Capuchin And these Journyâ—s to and fro caus'd 'em to loose so much time that at last the Conspiracy was discover'd The Cardinal who during the King's Absence thought himself not safe in Narbonne of which Marshal Sehomberg who had but little kindness for him was Governour resolv'd to remave into the Dauphinate or Provence for that the Counts of Sault and Alais who were in possession of both those Governments were his intimate Friends Thereupon he pretended to go and drink the Waters at Tarascon and coming to Agdâ— in order to go by Water from thence to Beaucaire by the way he receiv'd a Pacquet wherein he found a Copy of the Treaty made with Spain not knowing from whence the Intelligence should come and presently order'd Chavigni to carry it to the King who could hardly find in his heart to cause St. Mars to be arrested believing it to have been an Artifice of the Cardinal to ruin his Favourite Thereupon he consulted Father Simon upon the News which he had receiv'd and finding his Sentiments to be the same that Chavigni had vainly endeavour'd to infuse into him he resolv'd at last to make the foul Offender a severe Example of his Justice But because it was a difficult thing to secure all the Conspirators in the Army the King return'd to Narbonne pretending himself sick of an Ague of which he had already had some fits So soon as he arriv'd there he caus'd the Gates to be shut and gave all requisite Orders for the seizing all those that had any share in the Conspiracy Fonterailles had already made his Escape some days before shrewdly suspecting that the Treaty was discover'd To which purpose he had feign'd a Quarrel with the Camp-Marshal d' Epernon to the end that when his flight should be known it might be imagin'd that he was only stept aside to avoid the Rigour of Justice which punish d Duels very severely The King had commanded the Count de Charost Captain of the Guards of his Body to secure the Person of St. Mars but those orders could not be given out so privately but that the Favourite had secret notice of it He was then debaushing with some of his Friends when the Intimation was given him However he was so much the master of himself that he never chang'd Countenance for the matter but presently causing his Boots to be pull'd off and feigning the Headache he slipt out of his Apartiment which was in the Archbishops House near the Kings Lodgings and hearing that all the Gates of the City were shut he betook himself to Madam Bourgeois's House whose Husband who made Gunpowder was out of Town He there got admittance by means of a Silver Key and thought himself safe
the Fidelity of her good Friend Maâ—â—moisâ—lle d' Enclos who thought it a stain to her Honour to have above one Lover at a time and tho she were not so lovely as Marâ—â—n de Lorme yet she had a much wit plai'd so delicately upon the Lute and was so sincere that many prefer'd her before her friend These happy talents induc d the Marquiss of Villarceaux who had always a good Relish and a true Judgment to league himself strictly with her Upon which the Marchioness grew so jealous that she never heard her name mention d but she fell into a passion This occasion'd a pleasant Story She had by the Marquiss a pretty young Lad to her Son who began to learn Latin and one day it came into her head to ask his Master whither the Boy were likely to be a Schollar The Master to satisfie her curiosity bid him decline Ninus in his Mothers hearing The Boy began Ninus Nini Nino and at length he came to Ninum But then the Mother knitting her brows told the Master he was an Impudent Fellow to teach her Son the name of such a Punk 'T was in vain for the poor man to protest that he never thought of Ninon and that he never knew her the Mother in her fury would hear of none of his excuses but drove him out of the Rome with great indignation and disdain Whether this be true or no I know not but I had the story from the Abbot of Bois-Robert Toward the end of Lewis the Thirteenth's Raign there appear d a certain Prince by the name of Zagachirst who said he was one of the Kings of Ethiopia he had an excellent Talent at Courtship and made a world of Conquests in Paris Madam Saulnier was so violently in love with him that she gave him all she could wrap and rend out of her House-keeping Which was a very great accommodation to that Prince whose Subjects were not very exact in supplying him with Bills of Exchange Monsieur Saulnier who was a Counseller in Parliament could not brook the duration of this Intreague which dishonour'd him and was a very great disturbance to his Affairs he put in an Information against him for debaushing his Wife and obtain'd a Capias utlegatum against Zagachrist who was carrid Prisoner to the Chastelet The Lieutenant Criminal Tardieu drew up the Inditment against him and when he askt him any question observ'd all the Decorum that was due to the Majesty of his Character the Party accus'd being always sitting and cover'd while the Judge stood up and with his hat off However the Abyssiman Monarch dy'd in Prison nor did his Subjects ever send any splendid Embassy to demand his Carkass since they could not have his Person Intreagues of the Court of France under the Raign of Lewis the XIV till the Death of Cardinal Mazarin year 1643 IN regard the present King was but five years of Age when he came to the Crown the Regency was granted to Ann of Austria his Mother and the Lieutenancy General of the Kingdom to Gaston of Orleance his Uncle The Queen made choice of Cardinal Mazarin for her Prime Minister as having manag'd several successful Negotiations for her in Italy and fit for the Employment But the Duke of Beaufert in whom the Queen put a great Confidence while she was the Object of Richlieu's Persecutions lookt upon her choice with an envious eye because he was in hopes of governing the Queen during the Regency or perhaps for other reasons which his enemies attributed to him The Queen who endeavour'd to prevent division did all she could to soder disunited minds and to oblige the Grandees of the Kingdom to live in friendly manner with the Cardinal For there were then no less then three Factions at Courâ— Monsieurs who was govern'd by the Abbot 〈…〉 Riviere that of the Princes of the House of Bourbon which comprehended Lewis Prince of Conde the Prince of Conti and the Duke of Longueville who but a little before had married their Sister Mademoiselle de Bourbon The third was compos'd of the House of Vendosme and the Lorrain Princes who were alii d to the Duke of Vendosme the Duke d' Elbeauf being his Brother-in-Law The Ladies govern'd these Caballs the Prince of Conde being engag'd with Madam de Coligni afterwards Dutchess of Chastillon Sister to the Marquiss of Bouteville which had hinder'd the Prince from chastizing the presumption of Coligni her Husband for making his addresses to Madam de Longueville Coligni who was proper and goodly had expell'd the Duke of Beaufort from her Heart and she had rudely broken off with him tho she had written very tender Letters to him but a little before The Duke therefore to make himself amends for the infidelity of Madam de Longueville intreagu'd himself with the Dutchess of Mombason Daughter of the Countess of Vertus who might well be thought the greatest Beauty of France and sacrific'd to her the Letters of the Dutchess of Longueville This was the posture of the Court of France when all the Exiles were recall'd The Duke of Epernon return'd out of England the Counts of Montresor Fonterailles and Aubijous being assur'd of the Duke of Orleance's protection began to shew themselves publickly Mesdames de Senelay and Hautefort were restored to their places and the Duke of Guise who had quitted Brussells came to pay his vows to Madam de Monbason The Dutchess of Cheuvreuse who was one of the Gang at the same time appear'd at the Louvre but was coldly receiv'd by the Queen and commanded to withdraw to Dampierre not that she had any real design to banish her but she would have her be beholding to the Cardinal for her being restor'd into Favour that she might be oblig d to live amicably with him In short he went to see her the next day and gave her five and twenty thousand Crowns and made her great offers of his Service Immediately the Dutchess put him upon the proof of his sincerity by demanding two very important things of him The one that he should satisfie the Duke of Vendome for his pretentions to the Government of Bretagne in reference to which he had as yet been only fed with words and the next was that the Duke of Epernon should be restor d to his Emploment of Collonel of Foot and his Government of Guinne The Cardinal carri'd himself in both very obligingly and offer'd the Duke of Vendome the Admiralty in lieu of his Government The Duke of Epernon was restor'd to all his Honours and nothing was omitted to get the Government of Guienne out of the Count de Harcourt's hands Madam de Cheuvreuse after she had obtain'd these two Favours demanded a third which the Cardinal at first was very unwilling to grant but at length he gave his consent This was that he would confer the Government of Havre de Grace upon the Prince of Marsillac whom she had a desire to engage effectually in her Interests After two
Dutchess of Monbason should avoid all occasions of meeting the two Princesses which in the conclusion she never took care to observe For the Dutchess of Cheuvreux having invited the Queen to a Collation which she had provided for hâ—r at Renard s House carri'd her Mother-in-Law with her to assist her in the management of the Solemnity On the other side the Queen took a long with her the Princess of Conde who seeing the Dutchess of Monbason would have gone back again but the Queen bid her stay and desir'd the Dutchess for her sake to to walk off and divertise her self some where else Which she did after such an unmannerly fashion that the Queen was highly offended insomuch that when she return'd to the Palace Royal she sent her an Order by Guenegaud the Secretary of State to retire forthwith to her House at Rochefort 'T was thought there would have been an end of this quarrel by the removal of the Dutchess but Coligny who did not think himself sufficiently reveng'd upon 'em for designing to create a difference with the House of Bourbon to which he had the honour to be alli'd sent a Challenge to the Duke of Guise by the Marquiss d' Estrades The Duke accepted the Challenge and took for his second the Marquiss de Brideu The Duel was fought in the Royal Piazza where the Duke of Guise had absolutely the better as having disarm'd and dangerously wounded his Adversary after which he went to part the Seconds who fought with great courage but without any harm done on either side This Duel got the Duke of Guise a great reputation and would have augmented the value which his Mistress already had for him had he persever'd in that engagement but his heart gave way to other impressions in a short time afterwards The Queens six Maids of Honour were all of 'em beautiful and wanton except Mademoiselle de Segur upon whom the following Couplet was made But how unjust is young Segur Flaxen her Hair Complexion pure But Heart so hard that no Addresses Can gain her Amorous Caresses But the Lady whose Beauty had made the greatest noise was Mademoiselle de Pons of an Illustrious Family in Guyenne Her adorers were the principal Gallants of the Court and among the rest the Duke of Candale the Son of the Duke of Espernon admitted by Surviviourship to the Command of Collonel General of the Infantry Mareschal Schomburg Collonel General of the Swisses the Marquiss of Villeâ—â—ier Captain of the Guards of the Body the Marquiss of Moissans Lieutenant of the King's Gens-de-Arms and the Duke Joyuse Great Chamberlain Brother to the Duke of Guise This Latter had caus'd Madam de Pons's Picture to be drawn in Miniature but had not taken it away from the Painter in the mean time the Duke of Guise happen'd to go by chance to the Painters house where he saw the Picture and was so charm'd with it that he put it in his Poket and carri'd it away notwithstanding all that the Painter could say to him only he was so just as to pay him thirty Pistoles for his work The Picture infus'd a desire into him to make his addresses to the Original he discours'd Mademoiselle de Pons discover'd his Passion to her and was so assidous in his addresses that he dispeirc'd the greatest part of her Lovers The Duke of Candale engag'd himself with the Marchioness of Castellana which was the cause of his death she having given him too violent marks of her Love when he pass'd through Avignon where usually she liv'd in his return from Catalogna where he comanded the Kings Army The Duke of Joyeuse made his addresses to Mademoiselle de Guerchi a great Companion of Madam de Pons's who sacrific'd him aferwards to the Commander de Jars of the House of Roche Chouard The Duke therefore to be reveng d of his Brother for depriving him of his former Mistress endeavour d to put a formidable Rival upon him and to that intent so highly cri'd up the Charms of Madam de Pons to the Duke of Orleance that he set him a gog to get the sole possession of her Presently he became her most diligent Servant and for some time was a great disturbance to the Duke of Guise who understanding that his Brother had rais'd him up that Rival to perplex him endeavour'd to pay him in his own Coyn. Understanding therefore that the Duke of Joyeuse made his addresses to Mademoeselle de St. Megrin who was also one of the Queen's Maids of Honour he perswaded that Lady that Monsieur was in Love with her and knowing there was to be a Ball within an Evening or two at the Regents Lodgings he desir'd her in Monsieur's name to give him a Blew Ribband that she wore upon her Sleive assuring her that the Duke desir'd to wear that favour of hers when he came to the meeting The Lady being easily entreated gave Guise the Ribband who presently carri'd it Monsieur and requested him in the Ladies name to wear it that Evening at the Ball which he did accordingly After which to Monsieur who began to be a weary of the great croud that usually environ'd Madam de Pons left her and stuck to Mad. de St. Megrin who had not so numerous a throng about her and by that means deliver'd the Duke of Guise from the vexation of his Rivalship The time being come for the Army to take the Field the Duke of Orleance went to command the Army in Flanders and was accompani d thither by the greatest part of the Mettl'd Nobility that belong'd to the Court The Duke of Guise and Marquiss of Villequiers went as Voluntiers and at the same time to give proofs of their Valour and their love for their Mistresses they resolv'd at the Siege of Dixmude to venture so far in the Trenches that whoever of the two lost his life the survivour might be so happy as to enjoy Mad. de Pons without a Rival The same day the Besieg'd made a Salley where the two Lovers gave signal marks of their Courage but tho neither the one nor the other were any way sparing of their persons yet they both came off without so much as being wounded Upon which the Duke of Guise who was very sincere wrote a Letter to Mad. de Pons wherein he highly extoll'd the undaunted Bravery of his Rival When they reurn'd from the Campaign the Court remov'd to Fontain Bleau where happen'd a great quarrel who should have the King's Musick which Villequier had bespoke to give Madam de Pons an entertainment upon the Canal and which the Duke of Guise would have had for the same design insomuch that the Queen was forc'd to make use of her authority to deside the difference There also happen'd another quarrel between the Duke and Marshal Schomburg about a certain Lampoon which had been made upon the Queens Maids of Honour wherein the Duke of Guise was severely nipt and Copies were carri'd to him under the hand of the
many scurvy tricks that he was forc'd to send her into France where she met with several adventures that deserve a particular History The King's Marriage with the Infanta was solemiz'd in the year 1660 and Cardinal Mazarin dy'd at the beginning of the year 1661. Intreagues of the Court of France under the Raign of Lewis XIV from the death of Cardinal Mazarin to this present time IF the King's affection were no more then his pastime before his marriage 't was not afterwards the same He felt a real passion and that passion took possession of him after an extraordinary manner Madamoiselle de la Valiere who was one of Madam's Maids of Honour perceiv'd the Monarchs humour so agreeable to hers that she fell desperately in love with him She imparted the secret of her inclination to one of her intimate friends and this friend not heing able long to keep the secret with which she was intrusted there were so many persons at Court who were acquainted with it that they made a sport of it to the King Now in regard there is nothing more natural then for a man to know the persons that love and admire him besides that the King was naturally amorous 't was not long before he admitted himself into la Valieres company The first sight of her wrought no great effect for that there was nothing extraordinary in her aspect besides that she limpt a little in a word she had nothing of handsome shape However it cannot be deny'd but that from the very moment that he saw her he had something of an inclination for her yet so limited as only to think of well bestowing her upon some Lord of the Court but he could not resist his Stars Three days after he went to visit Madam who was somewhat indispos'd but there stopping with la Valiere he was so charm'd with her wit that he could no longer curb the violent passion that forc'd him to fall in love with her He stay'd but a little while with Madam but he return'd the next day and continu'd his visits for a month together which made most people believe that he was fallen in love with Madam and Madam to say truth flatter'd herself as if the Conquest had been hers These visits plainly shew'd that the King was passionately in love nevertheless in regard he durst not discover his Passion and for that it was contrary to the rules of decency to be every day at Madams Apartment and never see her he found a way to give it out all over the Court that he was in love with her He talk'd of her continually he extold her Air and her Beauty to the Skies and spoke it openly that since Mancini's departure he had never spent a happy minute but in the company of Madam Nevertheless 't is certain that all the Proofs he gave of his being in love with that Princess were only his being continually with her and his always whispering her in the ear before company when at the same time he talk'd to her only of things indifferent or of la Valiere after which he fell into most dreadful dumps Nor did Madam know what to think not dreaming that the King could ever love a Damsel so far from beautiful that she was the daily subject of the Duke of Roquelaure's jokes and Lampoons But as passionately in love as the King was he was a long time before he durst make known his affection nor did he do it but after an indirect manner One day that he was walking in the Park of Versailles he bemoan'd himself after a manner most extreamly tender that he had not found himself well for some time La Valiere who was present shew'd her self to be very much afflicted at it and gave marks of an extraordinary tenderness The King who perceiv'd it took her aside He told her that she was extremely obliging to be concern'd for his health and at the same time declar'd to her that she was the absolute Mistress of his Life his Death and his Repose La Valiere was at a stand and for a while profoundly silent The King upbraided her with insensiblity But then she made him an answer that altogether charm'd him Their conversation lasted three hours and was only interrupted by a showre of Rain All the rest of the day la Valiere mov'd with a pensive air and the King appear'd to be no less restless in his thoughts The next day they met again and their discourse was still of the same nature The same day the King sent her some Jewels of very great value together with the following Billet D' ye desire my death tell me sincerely Madam It behoves me to satisfie your longing All the World most earnestly seeks my disturbance 'T is given out that Madam is not cruel and that fortune wishes me well but all this while they neither say that I love ye nor that you reduce me to dispair You bear me a kind of tender affection that overwhelmes me For the love of God change your manner of dealing with a Prince that dies for your sake Either be altogether Compassionate or altogether Cruel The King was not satisfi'd with this Billet wherein he had displai d all his tenderness but the next day in the most magnificent apparel that ever he put on in his life he went to visit her at Madams Apartment at what time the Maids of Honour that were with la Valiere withdrew out of respect On the other side the King resolving to know his destiny and to push on his good fortune accosted her in a kind of trembling posture In conclusion he told her all that a tender and violent love could infuse into a person of wit inspir'd by an amorous passion But then Mademoiselle de la Valiere who was already in love with him could no longer hold out against so strong a Battery so that the King return'd happy He went to visit her the next day this familiarity lasted for fifteen days But an accident having discover'd the Intreague the two Lovers no longer dissembled which extreamly perplext Madam who really imagin'd that the King had had a kindness for her Her vexation therefore to see that the King had prefer d on of her Maids before her caus'd her to speak of it to both the Queens however she forbore to signifie any thing of her resentment The Queen Mother who was well acquainted with the King's humour in this particular was terribly alarm'd and resolv'd forthwith to speak of it to la Valiere which she did with so much embitterment that two days after she put her self into a Convent The King who knew nothing of this Adventure was extremely surpriz'd when he heard of it He presently got a Horseback and commanded a Coach to follow him So soon as he came to the House where she was inclos'd he demanded to see her She appear d at the Grate whereafter he had made her a thousand tender Vows and Protestations he bid her immediately come
forth She excus'd her self at first alledging the ill usage of both the Queens To which the King reply'd that he was King and that he would fain see who they were that durst controule his Actions At length therefore she came forth and put her self into the King s Coach Upon the Roade the King propos d to provide a House and a Train for her But that seeming too glorious she avoided it for that time by only returning him submissive thanks Thereupon the King carry'd her himself to Madam and recommended her to her care which redoubl'd the Princesses Despite Besides that the King continu'd his Visits with more assiduity then before He openly sent her Presents the most magnificent that Soveraignty could purchase All this while the King continually urging her to take a House she at last consented and he gave her Biron-House which he went himself to see furnish'd with the Richest movables that were in France The Queen was almost at Deaths Door for Grief but her Amends lay in her own hands what could not be avoyded was to be endur'd At the same time also the King fell sick at Versailles La Valiere was more prudent then to visit him However his Indisposition not proving dangerous at the same instant that Liberty was allow'd for Persons of Quality to pay him their Devoirs she wrote to him the following Lines 'T is the General Report that You are very ill It may be 't is only to afflict me 'T is likewise said that You are disturb'd at this last Rumour In the midst of these Perplexities I begg the Life of my Lover and then am ready to abandon the Kingdom and all the World besides Wherefore if You love me will you not permit me to pay You the Duty of a Visit Adieu send for me to morrow that is to say if my Disquiet will suffer me to live till then The King kiss'd the Billet a thousand times and order'd Madam de St. Agnan to bring Mademoiselle la Valiere to him His Orders were obey'd he saw her with a thousand Transports of joy and exceeded so far in his Amorous Caresses with his Mistress that he fell into a Relaps But that Excess of his produc'd no bad effect in regard that la Valiere nine Months after was brought to Bed of a Young Princess that prov'd a most enchanting Beauty The King's Love was so violent that some time after he became jealous of his Mistress He went to Visit her every day but he only mus'd or fell a reading all the while he was there and sometimes left her without so much as hardly speaking to her His jealousie became so prevelent that he fell into a dreadful fit of Melancholy However in regard that jealousie most commonly proceeds from an excess of Passion he was taken one Evening with so violnet a Pain in his Head and such frequent Vomitings that the Duke of St. Agnan to whom the King had imparted his jealousie thought it convenient to give la Valiere notice of it He also put her in mind that it became her to leave nothing omitted that might contribute to his Cure La Valiere made answer that the Kings Humour had extremely afflicted her but that she could not condesend to begg Pardon for that she was never Guilty of that in a word she had reason to complain of the King but that His Majesty had no reason to blame her The Kings Indisposition redoubl d but as violent as his Headake was his Love was yet far more impetuous He bid the Duke of St. Agnan go immediately to his Mistress and acquaint her with his Malady who presently return'd with the following Billet Did I but know the cause of your Pains I would apply a Remedy tho' it cost me my Life But Good God! how much in vain it is to tell you what I say 'T is not I that can dispose of Your Majesties happy or unlucky Dayes The King was charm'd with the manner of his Mistresses writing who presently after came to see him together with Madam de Montauzier who retir'd out of respect to the end of the Room with the Duke of St. Agnan while la Valiere sate upon the King's Bed Where she carress'd him with a thousand tender expressions which so enchanted the King that he beg'd her Pardon a thousand times This their Conversation lasted five hours and then they parted after they had reciprocally vow'd to Love each other Eternally The two Queens were at their witts end to see the King 's excessive Devotion to la Valiere nor was their any thing which they left omitted to take him off from this extream Passion But when they found that all their Efforts prov d fruitless they thought there was no other way but for Father Anat who was his Confessor to interpose his Spiritual Authority Which he did and that too after so severe a manner that the King thank'd him for his good Counsel and his Service but told him withal that for the future he would have no other Confessor but his Curate Thus was Poor Father Anat turn'd out of favour to the great grief of his Brethren whom he forgot to consult upon this ticklish point Sometime after it came into the Kings head that he would have both the Queens receive la Valiere into their favour To which purpose he spoke of it to Madam de Montauzier who went at the same Instant by his Order to the Young Queen's Chamber Madam de Montauzier was very much perplexed about the complaint she had to deliver however she ventur'd upon her message but the Queen would by no means listen to her Three days after she miscarry'd which had like to have cost her her life The King appear'd to be very much afflicted at it and one day as he stood by the Queens Bed side she desir'd him in the presence of the Queen Mother and a Clergyman of Note to bestow la Valiere in Marriage To which the King made answer that if la Valiere were so dispos'd he would not be against it and presently bethought himself of the Marquiss of Vardes for her Husband But the Marquess who was in love with Madam de Soissons and had no mind to any of the Kings Mistresses laught at the Proposal And afterwards the Marquiss of Vardes and Count de Guiche made such bold Lampoons upon the King's Amours that they were both banisht the Court. The King who had a vehement affection for la Valiere and understood how terribly she was discompos'd upon the Proposal of Marriage went to see her three times a day La Valiere however could not forbear upbraiding the King with the little love he had for her since he could consent so easily to resign her into the Embraces of another But the King gave her such potent Reasons for what he did that his Mistriss was satisfied The Kings Assiduitie and Affection for la Valiere thus redoubling they who approv'd not his Familiarity would needs proceed to violence One night
procur'd great Preferments and advantages to those for whom she had a kindness Madam de Montespan who saw that no body could be ignorant any longer of the Kings extream Affection for his new Mistress became so highly exasperated that she began to rail against it openly which very much offended the King Some time after Madenâ—oiselle de Fontange was brought to bed but her Lying-in prov'd mortal to her She fell into such a Consumption that they who knew her before hardly knew her when they saw her which was still attended with such a Flux of Blood that every body gave her over for lost All people believ'd her to have been Poyson'd and all people accus'd Montespan So far were all the Remedy's from doing her good that her languishment continu'd every day The King Visited her duly and manifested after a most tender manner the excess of his Grief to see her reduc'd to that condition But in regard she knew there was no cure for her Distemper she besought the King that she might retire from the Court adding with tears in her Eyes that she had nothing more to do in this world but to prepare herself for Death The King who was sensibly touch'd and disorder'd by his being present with her in her affliction granted her Request Thereupon she retir'd into a Convent in St. James's Subburbs where the Duke of Fueillade went to Visit her from the King two or three times a Week But in a little time after she dyd leaving after her death more visible marks of her being Poyson'd then were to be discover'd during her sickness by the report of the Physâ—tians The King's Grief was so extream that he could not refrain from shewing it and certain it is that he had taken his revenge upon Madam de Montespan after a more then ordinary manner had he not had prevailing Reasons to dissemble his Resentment For he was fully convinc'd that Madam de Fontange had been sacrific'd to the Jealousie and despair of that Ambitious Woman who had flatter'd herself that she should still enjoy the King's Affection In the mean time to let the world see that he was really sorry for the loss of Fontange and that the Esteem and Tenderness he had for her was not extinguish'd by her Death he gave a rich Abby to one of her Brothers marry'd one of her Sisters to great advantage and did an infinite number of other things in favour of her Family which did not a little mortifie Madam de Montespan who imagin'd that she being deliver'd from her Rivaless the King might take a new Fancy to her But she deceiv'd herself The King never went to see her but upon a Politick Accompt and resolv'd for the future to renounce all manner of Amorous Intreagues A little time after Madam Fontange's death Mademoiselle de Monpensâ—â—r who was still in love with the Court of Lansan threw herself at the Kingâ—s feet and obtain'd her Lover's Liberty after ten Years Imprisonment 'T would be a hard matter to express the joy of that Princess when the understood from the King 's own Mouth that Lansan was at Liberty nor the Extasies she was in when he arriv'd at Paris However he did not lodge in her House tho' he were permitted to go when he pleas'd to see her So that he was wich her from Morning till Night This Familiarity continu'd for some Month's and Madam de Montpensier was so charm'd with him that she settl'd upon him two considerable Lordships with the King's consent Nor could Lausun be more assiduous then he was in waiting upon her But in regard he lov'd that Princess in hopes of espousing her when he found it impossible for him to marry her because the King had positively declar'd against it he took a distast against his Mistress and he took himself to a Lady that wanted neither Youth nor Beauty and whom he found to be nothing flinty hearted Mademoiselle de Montpensier was not long before she found that Lausun was unfaithful to her Presently therefore she set Spies upon him in the Country and was soon inform'd that he frequently Visited a Young Widow with whom several Persons of Quality in Paris were deeply in Love She complain'd to him of his Insidelity nor did Lausun altogether disown it and whereas Mademoiselle upbraided him that tho' a Princess she had debas'd herself to a willingness to make him her Husband he vow'd to her after he had begg'd her a thousand Pardons that he would never see the Lady more and he was as good as his wordâ— for for five or six Weeks he was her most diligent Servant But one Evening as he was walking alone in one of the Allies of Luxembâ—â—gh Garden while Mademoiselle was in another talking about some affaires with a Minister a Lacquiey without a Livery deliver'd him a Billet wherein he was desir'd in the name of a Lady of great Quality to meet her the next day at eleven a Clock in such a Church Monsieur de Lausun fail'd not to meet and the Lacquey who waited for him at the Church door carry'd him to a House that was not unknown to him Presently he understood the Mistery The Lady receiv'd him blushing but immediatly recovering herself she told him that being endow d with such extraordinary Qualities he ought no to wonder that others made the first advances and that she should esteem her self happy if she had not been so forward in vain The Lady had so much wit and so many Charms that M. de Lausun who never dreamt of such good Fortune stood like one in a Trance But being recover'd from his surprize he spoke as the Lady desir'd and swore a thousand Oaths that he had been enchanted with her Person above six Weeks together but that the profound respect he had for all Persons of her Sex and for those especially that held that Rank in the world as she did had kept him from declaring his Passion Some days after Lausun gave the Lady a Visit But Mademoiselle who was become extreamly jealous and watch'd him where ever he 〈◊〉 had presently discover'd this new Intreague which he must renounce or else there was no longer Peace with Her It may be said that Lausun was got clear of one dreadful Prison to be confin'd to another mo less loathsome for in short he had no longer any kindness for Mademoiselle but there was a necessity for him to live in torment upon more then one account He was at his wits end with his unhappy rate However he was resolv'd to torment himself and to ingage himself no more in Amorous Intreagues This Resolution lasted for some Weeks and Mademoiselle was proud of her self that she had fix'd him at length Never had he appear'd so full of Passion nor so affectionate to her The Princess never stept a step but Lausun follow'd her He was with her at her uprising and he never parted from her till Midnight and he shew'd her so many testimonies of his
tenderness that a Person more quick fighthed then Mademoiselle de Montpensier might have been perhaps deceiv'd However he had an utter Avesion against her and whatever Resolution he had taken to resist the Charmes of any new Inclination he could not forbear falling in love with a Young Dutchess next to whom he sat in a Box at the Representation of an Opera He told her without any more ado that he lov'd her The Dutchess hearken'd to him and they became the most intimate friends in the World But he was soon cross'd in his Amours by the Jealousie and Reproaches of Mademoiselle so that he found himself constrain'd to quit his Conquest which brought upon him a Tertian Ague that held him two Months before he could be cur'd He had recourse to an English Physitian and three times taking the Quinquina rid him of his troublesome Companion But the same remedy could not cure him of his disgust of Mademoiselle The Jealousie of that Princess made such a noise that all the whole Court knew the Count of Lausun had had three or four Mistresses within the space of five or six Months Insomuch that the King could not forbear laughing and saying at the same time that he could not but pitty his Kinswoman whom he had told a thousand times what would befall her Lausan being a meer Shatter braines Mademoiselles Enemies rais'd a thousand stories about him which render'd her ridiculous and Lausun for his part became the subject of all the Town-Raillery But that which was the greatest vexation to him was this that it got him so ill a repute among the Lady's that there was hardly a Chambermaid would admit his Caresses for fear of his Mademoiselle The Young Widow that he fell in Love with first of all and who was almost distracted because the Count had forsaken her sell upon him one Evening before a great deal of Company and play'd upon him so cruelly for his Inconstancy and about his Ague the marks of which a Wit as he was he had nothing to say for himself Thereupon he retir'd so ill satisfy'd with himself that he had return'd no better answers to the Lady's Raillery that he went and vented all his Spleen upon Mademoiselle where he committed two or three absurd actions and his Ague took him again the same Night Thereupon he return'd to his Quinquina but his Ague being fix'd his touchey humour became Insupportable But as Mademoiselle de Montpensier had brought upon herself so many Mortifications so neither was Madam de Montespan exempted from ' em For the death of her Rivaless had no way render d her condition more easie 'T is true the King made her frequent Visits but they were cold and to little or no purpose and at length she perceiv'd that the King took more delight in the Company of Madam de Maintenon who was Governess to his Children then in Hers. In a word M. de Maintenon was the Woman in whom the King put all his confidence So that Madam de Montespan was again at her wits-end For in regard it was she who had made the other what she was she could not endure that the Work or her own hands should prove serviceable to her destruction The whole Court was no less surpriz'd then Madam de Montespan to see the King so assiduous to a Woman of whom a thousand stories had been told and who was known by most People to have been no better then Scarron's Widow But the King loves Wit where ever he meets with it and every body knows Madam de Maintenon to be infinitely Witty above the common rate of her Sex and that there is no Intreague so difficult which she is not able to carry on The first time that Madam de Montespan saw her she soon perceiv'd what she was capable of so that without any hesitation she retain'd her in her Service and that Crafty Woman understood so well how to insinuate herself into her good liking that she entrusted her with all her Secrets she saw all the Letters that Madam de Montespan wrote to the King and all those which the King wrote to her And when Madam de Montespan was at a loss how to compose a Letter Madam de Maintenon did it for her and had incomparable success One day she wrote one for the Countess with which the King was enchanted The King knew well that it was above his Mistresses Genius and and therefore would needs know who wrote it Should I tell yee reply'd Madam de Montespan you would hardly believe it But not to hold ye any longer in suspence I do protest to ye Sir that it was Mistress Scarron who dictated to me I had such a cruel pain in my Head that day and your pleasure was so absolute that I should return you an answer that I was forc'd to have recourse to her Assistance From that very day the King had a great desire to see her and he was so well satisfy'd with her Conversation that he told her a thousand pretty things the most obliging in the World At the same time he recommended her to Madam de Montespan to take particular notice of her and took such particular cognizance of her himself that he purchas'd for her the Signiory of Maintenon which acquir'd her the Title of Marchioness and a Herald had order to fetch her descent from Jone d' Albret Queen of Navarr who after the death of her Husband marry'd privately with one of her Gentlemen who pretended to be the Father of Madam d' Aubigny Madam de Maintenon's Grandfather However it were for many People exclaim'd against this Pedygree Madam de Maintenon found herself of a suddain to be both the King 's Confident and Favourite and the only Consolation of that Monarch after the death of Madam de Fontange Madam de Montespan did all she could to put the King out of conceit with her but hitherto nothing has succeeded The King has such a value for her that he does not disdain to consult her sometimes in the most Ticklish Affairs of State and as things now stand the King would rather quarrel with the whole Royal Family then with her Nevertheless she has often undergone most Terrible Mortifications But still the King's favour has upheld her in the midst of these petty Anguishes of her Mind to which the Joys of great People and Favourites are generally subject She has had several Letters deliver'd to her that have ript up all the Occurrences of her Life Among the rest that which follows was one that was disper'd up and down by her Enemies T is the wonder of the World Madam notwithstanding you are mounted to so high a Pinacle of Favour that you should so little know your self We may very well apply to you the Tale of that vile Aminal which carrying the Relicques of a Deity thought it had been himself to whom the People pai their Adoration and nor the Idol with which he was laden A little consideration of