accept the offer if I had been in a Condition to raise her Fortune But besides that I had nothing to trust to but my Place and a small pittance of Money I had got whilst I was in Courland that which was the greatest obstacle to me was the difference of Religion she being a Calvinist and I a Catholick and being according to the Rules of my Religion induc'd to believe that she could not be sav'd I could not impetrate from my self to Marry a Person whom I must look upon as lost to all Eternity unless God would be pleas'd to take her into his peculiar Mercy The Princess of Tarente who was likewise a Calvinist did leave no Stone unturn'd to bring me over to her Religion making use of all the Perswasives that could be upon such like an occasion and employ'd several of my particular Friends in whom she knew I had a great confidence to back her endeavours but I happily escap'd all these Snares tho' at the same time I was catch'd in these of Mrs. ..... for I must confess that I lov'd her to the highest degree but could not resolve to comply with what the Princess would have me do Tho' it be true at the same time that Mrs de Launay whom I had espous'd in France was also in some measure the occasion of it notwithstanding that I look'd upon that Marriage as invalid About that time the Duke of ..... happening to pass through Hertogenbush in his return from Italy paid a Visit to the Prince and Princess of Tarente He no sooner saw Mrs. .... but he fell as desperately in Love with her as my self had done before Being now guided by his Passion he stay'd much longer than he intended at first and us'd often to visit these two Ladies in her Chamber where he would have stay'd all day long if Decency would have permitted him so to do At last he discover'd his Passion to Mrs. .... making all the Protestations Imaginable that his Love was not like that of many other Persons of his Rank but that he had so high an esteem for her Person and Merits that if she would relie upon his Honour he would Marry her notwithstanding the great inequality of their Condition That all that he desir'd of her for the present was that she would confide so far in his Word and Honour as to come to him at ....... where he would Marry her before he would ask any Favour of her That if she would give him her Word so to do he would send a Coach with Six Horses to the Hague which was to conduct her from thence into his Country but that he desir'd her not to speak a word of it to the Princess of Tarente being unwilling she should know any thing of the Matter This Precaution together with the Duke's Quality created some Jealousie in Mrs. .... for fear she should be drawn into an Error of which she might have occasion to repent for ever after She apply'd her self therefore to her Confident Mrs. la Motthe who advis'd her not to let slip so fair an opportunity of raising her Fortune being perswaded that the Duke was a Person of more Honour than to break his Word The Princess de Tarente would almost every day ask both of them what made the Duke be so often in their Chamber but did not in the least think of what pass'd there In the mean while Mrs. .... was in a great perplexity what to resolve upon judging that she could not without the greatest hazard to her Reputation go to meet a Prince in his own Country She set before her Eyes that in case he should happen to break his word with her she should be the general Discourse of all Europe which needs must impair her Reputation But Mrs. la Motthe at last made her surmount all these Scruples so that she gave her word to the Duke to comply with his Requests who told her at parting that each Moment she tarried here was so much time lost to compleat his satisfaction It was therefore agreed upon that the Duke was to send a Coach with Six Horses for her and that as soon as she had receiv'd News of their safe arrival she was to go with Mrs. de la Motthe to the Hague under pretence of buying some Cloths The Duke sent accordingly a Letter from ..... appointing the day when the Coach should be at the Hague the Letter being address'd to me by the two young Ladies appointment who also made choice of me to conduct them thither I had no sooner receiv'd the Letter but streightways I went to Mrs. .... to deliver it to her who thereupon desir'd leave from the Princess to go with Mrs. de la Motthe to the Hague to buy themselves some Necessaries The Princess having granted their Request they were met at the Hague by the Duke's Coach attended by his Gentleman of the Horse and four Horsemen After they had taken Coach I return'd immediately to Hertogenbush but said not a word to any body of what I knew No sooner where they arriv'd at ..... but the Duke perform'd his promise to Mrs. ..... whom he Married on the left Hand as it is usually done among Princes and other Persons of an Eminent Rank when they Marry below their Quality After he had Married her he settl'd upon her the Country of H ..... by which Name she was known for a considerable time after But by heâ— prudent Conduct she got such an ascendant over the Duke and the whole Country that since he has actually Married her on the right Hand so that now she is Dutchess of ..... one of the most considerable Princesses of the whole Empire The States of the Country having in respect to her Person receded from their Ancient Custom and her Children will be Legal Heirs to their Fathers Dominions Mrs. de la Motthe had likewise her share in the good fortune of this Lady the Duke having Married her to a Scotch Colonel upon whom he has heap'd many Favours Thus they left the Princess of Tarente who was extreamly surpriz'd to understand what good Fortune was befaln them The good understanding which had hitherto been cultivated betwixt France and the States-General began to abate by degrees the last being grown jealous of the Kings Power For not long after he had assisted them against the Bishop of Munster he was enter'd Flanders where meeting with no opposition from the Spaniards he had made several Conquests which made the Dutch look upon them with a Jealous Eye for fear if he should make himself Master of the Spanish Neitherlands the next turn would be theirs Seeing therefore themselves under a necessity for weighty Reasons of State to counterbalance the growing power of this Monarch they entred into an Allyance with England and Sweden in order to oblige him to make Peace with the Spaniards The King who all that time was not arrived to that pitch of Greatness he has appear'd in since was fain
persuade the rest I assured him further that there was scarce any thing which would be able to work more effectually upon their Inclinations than when they understood that they were to be headed by one of their own Country who 's Friends and Relations were known to them that by this means the intended Descent might be made easie and consequently a happy issue be expected from this Diversion The E. of S. .... finding what I said to carry with it a great deal of probability gave me for answer that I had done very well to speak to him about it that he would tell it the King and that if he approved of it I should be sent no where else Accordingly he proposed the matter that very day to the Prince who liking my Proposals as well as the rest had done ordered the E. to bring me to him the next day in the same place he had talk'd with me before I went the next morning about Nine a Clock with the E. of S. .... to Hampton-Court where I represented the Business with so much appearance of great Advantages to the Prince that he ordered the E. of S. .... immediately to give me another Commission in French in lieu of the former which was in English that when I should come into Poictou those who were ready there to join with the English might be convinced by their own Eyes that I had been appointed to Command them which would make them put the more confidence in what I should propose and the more willing to follow my Orders I took this opportunity to ask a favour of the Prince which was That he would be pleased to discharge my two Kinsmen Vignol and Forest who were made Prisoners at the same time when I was taken from their Imprisonment which he had the goodness to grant me without delay Being now assured of my sudden return into France I writ a Letter to the Marquis de Louvois which I committed to the Care of the French Merchant I mentioned before but this Letter contained a quite different Account from what I had writ before and what I intended to have confirmed in the next the Scene being much altered since that time It is impossible for me to express with what impatience I waited every day in hopes to receive my Dispatches in order to my return into France for to speak the truth I began to be much tired here where every thing seemed to conspire to make my stay burthensome to my self Among others I found this inconveniency that there was scarce a place to hear Mass in unless it were at the Queen Dowagers Palace and the common People were so much exasperated against the Catholicks that one could not go thither without being pointed at and sometimes they would not let you pass by without bestowing some Nick-name or other upon you 'T is true the Spanish Ambassador had also Mass said at his House but besides that the French were not very kindly look'd upon there the Room was scarce big enough to hold 20 People at once Not that this Ambassador had less Pride in him than the Spaniards commonly have but it had been his Misfortune to succeed in his Embassy to one who had run so much in Debt that he was Arrested so that there were few who would venture to Lett his Successor a House which was the reason he had been fain to take such a one as he could meet with first At the same time all the Ambassadors then in England being extreamly dissatisfied to see the Law of Nations violated in the Person of their Brother the before-mentioned Ambassador unanimously complained of it to the Prince of Orange but especially he who was in Custody made a heavy noise about the matter and that not altogether without Reason for besides this Affront put upon his Character he had another matter of Complaint which served for the most specious pretence that could be It is therefore to be observed That after the Prince of Orange's Landing as he was marching up towards London the King his Father-in-Law thought fit to leave the City in order to follow his Queen who was gone before into France The London Rabble laying hold of this Confusion pillaged the said Spanish Ambassador's House who whether truly or falsly it matters not pretended that he had lost more by this sinister Accident than would have over-pay'd his Debts The Prince King William III. not knowing what better Expedient to pitch upon to give Satisfaction to the Ambassadors than to pay the Money discharged his Debts and so appeased the matter Nevertheless most of the Foreign Nations look'd upon this Attempt as so hainous that they spoke of the English in very disrespectful Terms And not to disguise the Truth It is not only to Foreign Ambassadors they have sometimes been wanting in that respect which is acknowledged to be due to their Character by all civiliz'd Nations but there are also not wanting Examples when they have done the same to their own King for not long after the Restauration of King Charles II. a certain Brewer was so insolent as to Attach his Coach for some Money due to him This may serve as one instance of what I told you just now but what I am going to tell you will put it beyond all Exception Monsieur de Barillon the French Ambassador to Charles II. King of Great Britain talking one day with a certain Lord in the King's Presence Sir F. C. .... s who was made a Lord afterwards joined with them in their Discourse but had not spoke above three or four words in French when he began to continue his Discourse in English Monsieur de Barillon did not understand English which made him ask him what he said who pretending he could not talk in French went on in his Native Tongue Monsieur de Barillon ask'd him a second time what he said upon which the other without any further Compliment gave him the most sensible Answer of all which was a good Box on the Ear. The French Ambassador went the same moment to make his Complaint to King Charles II. who sate not far off upon a Chair of State who ordered C ....... s to be seized immediately and to be carried to the Tower which is the Prison-Royal of England as in France the Bastile The King of England who abominated this Brutality being resolved to make him an Example of his Justice granted a Commission for his Trial And as the Fact was of so odious a Nature and of the greatest Consequence he charged them to punish him to the utmost Severity the Law would allow of Monsieur de Barillon was not so Revengeful as to desire his Death but on the contrary made his Applications to the King whom he desired to Pardon C ..... s. But this Prince persisted immoveable in his Resolution to have him severely punished Nevertheless the Ambassador redoubled his Prayers to the King to obtain his Pardon who answered him very honourably
be insensible of if she would but take the pains to make serious Reflections upon what was past that she ought to remember how by my ill Conduct I had entangled my Estate and that I would never be at rest till I had spent all if I was set at Liberty and that therefore his advice was that it would be better both for herself and her Family to leave me where I was where I stood her in nothing and that at the same time he would take effectual care I should be as well used as if I were his own Brother My Spouse was so extreamly exasperated at his Impudence that she had much to do to forbear flying in his Face and gave him such a Reprimand as gave him to understand that she was resolved to do all what belonged to a Dutiful Wife to do upon such an Emergency as this notwithstanding all his Pretences and the next time she saw me she gave me a very ample Account of what had passed betwixt them notwithstanding one of his Officers was present at the same time To conclude the whole after she had taken many a troublesome Journey to Versailles in order to sollicite my Releasement with the King and the Ministers of State finding all her pains lost and that she was as far from the Mark as ever and Harvest time drawing near she was forced to return into the Country without the least hopes of ever obtaining my Liberty For this reason it is that I thought my self obliged to publish these Memoirs to satisfie the World that if I happen to die in Prison it is not on the Account of any Crimes I have been guilty of against Mankind for as to those committed against God Almighty I confess they are such as deserve a much greater Punishment at his Hands A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS TREATISE A AN Abbot commits a Rape upon a German Woman Page 108. Is accused of the same and makes up the Matter with her p. 111. Altenoe Besieged by Coningsmark p. 80. Is Valiantly Defended by the Roman Catholick Inhabitants p. 81. Is threatned with a second Siege p. 84. The Ambassador of Portugal Besieged in his House in London p. 14. The Spanish Ambassador's House Pillaged by the Mob in London p. 196. The Danish Ambassador in Paris makes enquiry after some Jewels in the possession of Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 122. The Apothecary of the Bastile p. 359. Almoner of the Bastile p. 361. Artus Duke of Britany p. 1 Monsieur d'Asfeld sent to Liege p. 146. The Count d'Avaux sent as French Ambassador to King James in Ireland p. 156. Duke d'Aumont Governor of Bologne p. 210 212. B. THE Lord of B ... p. 168. Baisenaux Governor of the Bastile his Birth Riches and Artifices p. 298 299 300. A Banker of London draws his Bill of Exchange upon Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 267. The Marquess de Barbesieux p. 367. His Answer p. 368 Mrs. de la Barre her Amours with the Baron de Casenavre p. 39 40. Mr. de la Barre a Councellor of Angiers a good drunken Companion p. 42. Is Bubbled by the Baron of Casenavre p. 43 44. Monsieur Barillon the French Ambassador in England is struck by an English Gentleman p. 197. John du Bart taken by the English p. 173. Monsieur de Bass sent to London p. 11. Is declared Envoy Extraordinary for France p. 12. Is recalled p. 15. Battle of Dunkirk p. 27. Battle of St. Godard p. 52 53. Prince Joseph Clement of Bavaria Elected Archbishop of Cologn p. 145. Is Confirm'd by the Pope Ibid. Barille Intendant of Poictou receives Orders from Court to examine the procedures of the Judges in a Case of Sacrilege p. 136 Monsieur Blesserie is jealous of Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 24 25. Monsieur Bordeaux the elder Intendant of the Finances p. 3. Monsieur Bourdeaux his Son Ibid. Is sent Envoy Entraordinary into England p. 4. Was likely to be shot in his Coach p. 10. Is declared French Ambassador Extraordinary in England p. 11. Prevails with Lambert and Harrison by the means of a good Bribe p. 12. He makes Love to Monsieur de la Fontaine's Lady p. 20. makes use of a Bawd to procure her Consent p. 22. Obtains a Pardon for her Brother Ibid. K. Charles II. refuses to admit him to his Audience p. 28. Is recalled Ibid. His Difference with Monsieur Colbert p. 30. His Death p. 31. Madam de Bordeaux retires into the Country to avoid the Courtship of the Gallants p. 4. Returns to Paris p. 5. Her Father Bankrupt p. 7. The Cardinal de Bouillon the French King consents but too late to his being Elected Bishop of Leige p. 148. Elector of Brandenburgh declares against France p. 74. Enters Westphalia and the Electorate of Cologn Ibid. Concludes a Treaty with France to stand Neuter p. 75. Breaks it p. 76. Is present at the Conference betwixt the Allies at the Hague and Defeats the Swedes p. 79. Bailiffs their Ears cut off p. 48. Some of them killed p. 49. C. THE Camp of Broussaille p. 160. Madam Caravas challenges Riperda in disguise p. 63. Is secured p. 64. Loses her Law-suit against Riperda Ibid. The Baron of Casenavre Marries Mrs. la Barre at Angiers p. 42. Bernard Cesuet Bailiff of Loudun his Daughter has an Intrigue with his Servant p. 132. His Wife suborns a false Witness p. 135. A Canon of Beauvais debauches a young Maid p. 326. Enters upon a design against some other Canons p. 327. Is carried to the Prison of Vincennes p. 329. Is put to the Rack p. 331. And Executed p. 333. The Canons of Liege are composed of Persons of divers Nations and Degrees p. 146. Chapelier de Villefort used to dress himself in Woman's Apparel p. 334. Gets under that disguise into a Monastery p. 340. Is discovered and scourged Ibid. Is committed to the Bastile p. 347 Is set at Liberty p. 352. The Count de Chateau-Renault commands a Squadron of Ships to conduct some Forces into Ireland p. 153. He puts into Bantry-Bay p. 158. Where he Engages the English Fleet. Ibid The Chirurgeon of the Bastile a Servant to the Governor p. 360. Christian a French Protestant a French Spy in England p. 205 206 214. Treaty of Peace at Cologn p. 78. Custom-House Officers of Peronne search Monsieur de la Fontaine's Baggage p. 98. One of them kills his Fellow Officer p. 99. A Father Confessor could not prevail upon Monsieur de la Fontaine to forgive his Enemies p. 313. Coningsmark General of the Sweedish Army Besieges Altenoe p. 80. Raises the Siege p. 81. Endeavours to Relieve Stetin but in vain p. 83. Ravages about Altenoe p. 84. A Grave Councellor of the Parliament of Paris makes Love to the supposed Countess of Meru p. 338. The Coast about Port-Lowis sounded p. 251 248 249. The Prince of Courland marches with his Troops to the assistance of the Emperor p. 51. Returns from that Expedition p. 53.
place that this being one of that nature he would see Justice done which Answer was look'd upon as a Sentence which would prove fatal to Pantaleon There was a certain Lady Sister to the Lord Mohun who had an extraordinary kindness for him and being admitted to see him in Prison told him that there was but one way left to save his Life He ask'd which way that could be She told him that they must change their Cloaths Don Pantaleon having accepted the generous offer of this Lady went out of the Prison undiscover'd by the Turn-Keys and so to the House of a Lady of Pleasure with whom he used to divert himself sometimes before Comwel had no sooner notice given him of his Escape and that he was not at his Brother's House but he put out a Proclamation for the apprehending of Don Pantaleon promising a considerable Reward to such as should discover him This had the desir'd effect for this Strumpet being inticed by the hopes of the Reward deliver'd him up immediately after when he was committed to the Tower of London The King of Portugal demanded Don Pantaleon to be deliver'd into his Hands as being joined in Commission with his Brother the Ambassadour But Cromwel persisted in his Resolution notwithstanding all the Remonstrances made to him on his behalf On the other hand Colonel Gerard being accus'd of having been engag'd in a Conspiracy against Cromwel to favour the Designs of King Charles II. was also taken and committed to the Tower where Pantaleon was before him they were both condemned to Death at the same time and accordingly had both their Heads cut off upon the same Scaffold Monsieur de Bordeaux improv'd this Juncture to his advantage to rid his Hands of Monsieur de Bass knowing him to be suspected by the Protector as being concern'd in the same Plot with Colonel Gerard. For which reason the Protector sent to the Cardinal that he had given such cause of suspicion as that he could not suffer him any longer near his Person and the Cardinal judging it not convenient at that time to fall out with the Protector had him recall'd immediately I used about that time to visit the Daughters of the Earl of Clare who were so obliging as to invite me to go with them into the Country to a House of a Lady of Quality's their Relation where an Accident befell us which had almost cost us all our Lives For a sudden Fire happening to break out in the House where we were we had much a do to save our selves from being buried in the Ruins of the House which was just ready to fall as we came away it being an old House which in a little time was all burnt to the ground Whilst the Fire lasted the young Ladies were very sollicitous to comfort the Lady of the House for her loss who appear'd as little concern'd at it as if she had not had the least share in it for she return'd them the same Answer that was made by Job to his Comforters God has Given it God has taken it And this her resignation to God's Pleasure did not remain long unrewarded For as they were busie in removing the Rubbish and rebuilding the Foundations of a new House a considerable Treasure was found supposed to be buried there in the times of the Civil Wars betwixt the two Houses of York and Lancaster by which she was doubly repaid for the loss of her House After our Return to London I us'd frequently to visit the young Ladies of Clare they being the best humour'd Women in the World where there was also a great resort of the best Company in Town Among the rest there was a certain young Lady of Quality extreamly fair and well shap'd who coming to visit them one time I fell extreamly in Love with and the young Ladies of Clare who were more her Friends than mine having soon perceiv'd it did all they could to encrease my Passion by telling me a thousand things to her advantage nay they did not stick to exceed the bounds of Truth in her behalf for they perswaded me she was very Rich when in effect she was not so There being rather more freedom allow'd in Conversation with the English Ladies than in France it self I did not stick to make Love to her that very Day and conducted her home where I stay'd with her for above an Hour She was under the Tuition of one of her Aunts who was lately come out Country where she liv'd with the Father of this young Lady to take a little Diversion in Town I asked leave of her Aunt as I had done of the young Lady before to come and pay her a Visit now and then whilst they stay'd in Town which was easily granted knowing me to be a near Relation of the French Ambassadours Some of my Companions having soon discover'd that I us'd to make frequent Visits there and being curious to know the reason as soon as they got sight of the Lady which was one of the handsomest in all England were not long before they guess'd at the true cause of it They could not forbear to talk of it to Monsieur de Bordeaux and by the descriptions they had given him of her Beauty had made him as amorous as my self though he had cunning enough to dissemble it pretending that what respect he shew'd was only upon my account He would often tell me that a Man must take Opportunity by the Foretop that this was the time to make me for ever that his advice was I should feast my Mistriss bravely it being a Custom among the English so to do that he would be ready to assist me in pushing it forward and that his Purse should be at my Service I gladly accepted his offers and meeting with an opportunity some days after I invited both the Aunt and the Neice to an Entertainment which they accepted of without much difficulty it being the Custom of the English Ladies not to be too difficult in such a case as this I waited on them at the appointed time in one of the Ambassadour's Coaches and carried them to a House at some small distance from the Town in the Road to Hide Park where a good Dinner being got ready for us by his Excellencies Cooks we were very merry together About five or six a Clock towards Evening the Ambassadour who had recommended this House to me which he sometimes made use of upon the like occasions pass'd as it were accidentally by in his Coach it being agreed among us that he should call upon me there as he was coming back from Hide Park To be short he acted the Innocent so naturally that having stop'd his Coach under pretence to ask whether they had not seen one of his Coaches pass by that way I look'd out of the Window under pretence to see who it was that ask'd after his Coach and having told them with some sort of a surprize that the Ambassadour was there they
me that his Most Christian Majesty had been pleased to Approve of what I had done in respect of the before-mentioned Officers that he had had the Goodness to Pardon them all their past Offences that I should order them to repair altogether to Ireland with all possible speed where they should meet with further Orders from the King with the Count d'Avaux his Majesty's Ambassador as to what concerned my self I should make what hast I could to come to Court where His Majesty would take care my money I had laid out upon these Officers account should be repaid me and if I wanted Conveniency for the Directions of my Letters from England to Calais there was a certain person who had an Employment in the Kings Farms there unto whom he said he had sent his Commands to do every thing as I should think fit to direct him That I needed not to make the least scruple of his Fidelity his recommendation being a sufficient warrant to me upon that account This Person was a Kinsman of Monsieur de Courchamp Farmer General and this Monsieur de Courchamp had given him his place Being fully satisfied in his fidelity after the Recommendation from the Marquiss de Louvois I writ to my Lord L .... to let him know that it was to this Person they should address my Papers and other Dispatches they were to send me as knowing him to be a Person in whom I could put as much confidence as in my own self That I had met with him by a lucky chance at Calais and that as long as he staid there I needed not in the least trouble my self for any other Direction but could rest satisfied and rely upon his Conduct Having thus far ordered every thing according to wish I set out on my Journey to Paris As I came to Boulogne the Guards that kept the Gates ask'd me who I was from whence I came and where I was to lodge I gave them a satisfactory Answer to all yet so as not to discover my self But the Duke de Aumont who was then Governour of that City and of the whole district of Boulogne being inform'd that I was come lately out of England and curious to hear what News I brought from thence sent to me the Major of the Town to desire me to come and pay him a Visit His House was in the Lower Town and as I came to wait on him one of his Footmen told me that I might go up to see the Duke without having my Name sent in to him which made me go straight ways into his Closet where I found him standing upon a Stool to look among his Books of which he had a good number there for one which he wanted at that time I no sooner opened the Door but he turning his Head towards me and perceiving an unknown person ready to enter his Closet ask'd me briskly Who are you I answered him I was the person he had just now sent for unto which he reply'd with a haughty look so that if I had not sent for you I suppose you would scarce have given yourself the trouble to have come without it Tho' he was a Person of very Eminent Quality and bore a very high Rank in the Kingdom yet as a Gentleman is not obliged to take an Affront from any body be he never so great a Person I began to look upon him with such a Countenance as might easily give him to understand that I did not take it in good part and told him that possibly I should not have come without his express Orders that my Business which was the occasion of my present Journey was so earnest and pressing as that I had no great reason to trifle away my time and that he would oblige me very much if he would be pleased to tell me in a few Words what it was he had to command me at this time He was so enraged at this Answer of mine that he told me tho' my business were never so urgent he commanded me not to stir out of my Inn till further Orders from him I was forced to obey and so was returning to my Inn extreamly ill satisfied with the ill Treatment I had so undeservedly received at his hands and I took a resolution to write that very night a very smart Letter about it to the Marquiss de Louvois tho' indeed I did not expect any great redress from him for besides that these great Persons are always supported by their powerful Interest at Court against any private Person the Duke d'Aumont's first Spouse had been the Marquiss de Louvois own Sister the chief account I made of it was that I might the sooner have an Answer from that Minister which would release me from my Confinement if the Governor should persist in his resolution As I was going from his House I happened to meet the Major whom he had sent to me before and understanding from him that he was just then going to wait on the Duke I told him in what manner I had been entertain'd by him and how he had confin'd me to my Inn I told him further that tho' I knew the Duke to be a Person who had a great Interest at Court yet I was strangely mistaken if his Conduct would be approved of there That I would have him to know that I was one of the King's Brigadeers and that perhaps he might not consider of what consequence the Business I was to manage might be to his Majesty and to convince him that I did not make use of this as a vain pretence to make my self appear otherwise than in reality I was I shew'd him the Superscription of the Packet which had been enclosed for me with Monsieur de Laubanie then Commander in Chief at Calais When he came to the Duke he gave him an account of what I had told him and how dissatisfied I was with his ill entertainment the Duke then began to make serious Reflections upon what he had done and in half an hour after came in person to my Inn under pretence as if he pass'd that way by chance and meeting with me in one of the Rooms below stairs told me That he was sorry things had happened thus because I did not tell him who I was That he had taken me for a Foreigner and the strict Orders he had received from Court to keep a watchful Eye upon any of them that should pass that way had been the occasion of the ill Reception he had given me He desired me to forget what was pass'd and to drink a reconciling Glass with him which he ask'd me to take with him the same night at his House at Supper He told me that it being already past Three-a-Clock in the Afternoon I could not go far the same night and that to make me recover what time I should lose to day he would have the Gates open'd for me on purpose the next morning as early as I pleas'd This sudden change made
at home whom I told that I had been acquainted with his Son in England where we had been both Prisoners at the same time which made him ask me whether my Name was not Fontenai I having told him it was so and that I was the same person he meant he ask'd me how long it was since my arrival there and whether I had been to see any body at Court I answered him That I did not come to Versailles till last Night and had not seen any body yet that indeed I had been that morning to wait on the Marquess de Louvois but no body being admitted to see him then I intended to wait on him again after Dinner He then told me That since I had not seen him yet it would be best for me not to do it now till I had paid my respects to the King who said he has given me Express Orders so soon as I should know of your coming either by my Son or otherwise to conduct you to Monsieur de la Vienne one of the Four Grooms of his Majesty's Bed-Chamber whom he has commanded to present you to him at the very Minute he sees you Accordingly he presented me to Monsieur de la Vienne who Conducted me into the King's Closet there to expect his return from Mass It was not long before the King return'd who being told by Monsieur de la Vienne that I was in his Closet he entred alone The first thing he ask'd me was what News I brought from England and whether I had any thing more to add to what I had Writ before to the Marquess de Louvois After I had given His Majesty an exact account of every thing that had happened to me in England since my last Letter to the Marquess de Louvois I told him likewise that I had brought a Letter from thence Directed to him and another to the Queen of England For you must know That the Person of Quality I spoke of before who came to see me Incognito at my Lodgings in London and whom I believed to have altered his Resolution of sending his Letters with me because I had heard no more of him before my departure out of London had only made use of this Precaution for his greater security sake For I was no sooner come to Gravesend but he sent these Letters and several others to some of his Friends in the English Court at St. Germain by a trusty Friend of his enclosed in a Letter directed to my self in which he recommended them to my most particular care Our King ask'd me from whom these Letters were and what I had done with them I told him that the Letters came from my Lord ...... and that I had left them in my Portmanteau with an intention to deliver them to the Marquiss de Louvois not knowing that I was to have the Honour to see His Majesty in person After I had given the King a Circumstantial relation of all matters of moment which happened during my stay in England he ordered me to give a full relation of it likewise to the Marquess de Louvois who was to Signify to me his further pleasureâ— I went the same day after Dinner to wait on the Marquess de Louvois again who espying me among the rest in his Anti-Chamber as he was going from Dinner into his Closet came to Whisper me in the Ear that he was not at leisure at present but that I should come again at Night about 8 a Clock when he would be very glad to talk with me Thus I went my ways and returning at the appointed hour he told me that I must come again the next morning at six a Clock Accordingly I came and being admitted into his Closet I stay'd with him there for above an hour for after I had given him a full account of the whole matter he made me Write two Letters in his presence one to the E. of S ..... the other to my Lord L ...... I sent them Word of my safe arrival in Paris and that I expected only the last Orders from the Pr .... to put our design in Execution I gave likewise those Letters which my L ...... had sent after me to Gravesend to this Minister who kept only that directed to his Majesty and return'd the rest to me telling me that I ought to deliver those Letters of my L .... to the Queen of England and to those other Gentlemen they were directed to He gave me at the same time a strict caution not to mention the least thing of my Transactions in England either to that Princess or any body else Just as I was going to take my leave I told him that I had brought over with me from England a Niece of Monsieur Christian who pretended to have business of the utmost consequence to Communicate to him that she having desired me to ask him leave to wait on him I should be glad to know what Answer he was pleased to give I took also this Opportunity to speak with him concerning My Lord L .... 's Business I told him that the said Lord had desired me to intercede with him concerning some Papers and other things belonging to him which as he pretended were taken from him notwithstanding he had a Pass from his Majesty for their safe Conduct that he had given me a Memorial containing the whole State of the Case and his Reasons and that if he thought fit to order Restitution to be made of them in consideration that thereby a more firm Correspondence might be settled betwixt him and me which would much redound to his Majesty's Service I would leave this Memorial with him He answered me as to these two points That after my return from the English Court at St. Germains I should introduce Christian's Niece to him and that then also I should deliver him the said Memorial To speak the whole truth of the matter My Lord L .... s pretensions were not so well founded as he flatterred himself and if it had not been for such a favourable Juncture as this they would scarce have pass'd for sufficient for him to have obtain'd his Request He had been Ambassador at the Imperial Court at Vienna and the Emperor had dignified him with the Title of an Earl which made him go by the same Title in England where else the eldest Son of an Earl cannot pretend to it till after his Father's Death He had afterwards been sent Ambassador into Spain and as he was returning home from thence had taken his way through France being provided with his Majesty's Pass both for himself and his Equipage which last he caused to be Embark'd in a Vessel bound to Plimouth where it safely arriv'd not long after But Plimouth being near fourscore French Leagues distant from London he had order'd the same Equipage which he brought from Spain to be imbark'd again on board another Vessel for the cheaper and more convenient Transportation to London which being met at Sea