after his leaving the world as never to account himself any better than an old sinner to whom silence and solitude and a life that shut him up from Conversation were given as his portion and therefore I shall so far comply with his disposition in this pâ—rticular as to add only one thing which he would often say to an intimate friend of his That the thing he most dreaded in the service he endeavoured to pay Almighty God was lest he should insensibly grow fond and take up with this life and not sufficiently contemplate the greatness of Him he had the honour to serve And these apprehensions were the more reasonable in him because upon continual remembrances of that extraordinary zeal shewn in all his long hard service to his Master the late King he might find some ground to suspect himself less zealous where yet the service was infinitely better and the Master incomparably greater He lived about eighteen or twenty years after his Retirement and at last fell into a very weak and languishing condition and Nature was so far decayed that after his first voluntary retreat from the Court and company he fell into a more strict one the two last years of his life being lost to all conversation with men by his extreme deafness and so finding himself under some necessity of entertaining himself chiefly with Almighty God He dyed in the year of our Lord 1670 and of his own age the ninety second when Nature could last no longer but was forced to sink under so many years and so many hardships and shocks which he had undergone in several Wars for a long time together I cannot suffer my self to doubt but upon the perusal of these Memoirs and considering the many dangers the cross accidents and uncommon events which he was exercised with every body will be of opinion that there are some things very surprizing and wonderful and the marks of a particular providence with regard to him and that the publishing this account may be of great use since so many things are contained in it capable of doing good to those that are about engaging in the affairs of the world to them that are already engaged and to them too who have disengaged themselves from it For all these may learn from this Example of a Souldier one that had long experience of all the different conditions that could happen to him both in the Court and in the Camp that nothing was ever more true than that observation of the wisest Prince that ever lived Vanity of vanities all is vanity except the fear of God and the keeping of his Commandments FINIS BOOKS Sold by James Knapton at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard THE Memoirs of Monsieur de Pontis who served in the French Army 56 years under Henry IV. Lewis XIII and Lewis XIV Kings of France containing many remarkable Passages relating to the War the Court and the Government of those Princes Faithfully englished at the Request of his Grace the Duke of Ormond By Charles Cotton Esq Fol. Lord Bacon's Essays Octavo Scrivener's Directions to a holy Life Oct. Dr. Barrow of Contentment c. Oct. Sir William Temple's Memoirs of what past in Christendom from the War in 1672. to the Peace concluded 1679. Octavo Second Edition His Observations upon Holland His Miscellanies Two Parts Dr. Tillotson's Sermons Three Volumes Four Sermons against the Socinians The Unreasonableness of Mens Contentions for the present Enjoyments in a Poem on Ecclesiastes The History of the Inquisition as it is exercis'd at Goa Written by Mr. Dellon who labour'd five years under its Severities with an account of his deliverance Quadraenium Jacobi or the History of the Reign of King James II. from his coming to the Crown to his Desertion The second Edition Twelves Plutarch's Lives Translated by several Hands 5 Vol. His Morals 5 Vol. The Life of the Emperour Theodosâ—â—â— Done into English from the French of Monsieur Flechier by Fr. Manning Octav. Kilburn's Presidents Twelves Seneca's Morals By Sir R. L'Estrange Norris's Discourses 3 Vol. Reform'd Devotions Caesar in usum Delphini Processus integri in Morbis fere omnibus curandis a Do. Tho. Sydenham conscripti A learned Treatise of the Situation of the Terrestrial Paradise Written in French by Huetius and translated into English by direction of Dr. Gale Cole's English and Latin Dictionary Robertson's or the Cambridge Phrase being the best and largest Phrase-Book extant Scarron's Novels The Governour of Cyprus The wanton Fryar Two Parts Victoriae Anglicanae or an Account of several Victories obtain'd by the English against the French POETRY and PLAYS BEN Johnson's Works newly reprinted Sir Robert Howard's Plays Milton's Paradise lost with Cuts Dryden's Juvenal Miscellany Poems Three Parts Ovid's Epistles By several Hands Waller's Poems Oldham's Poems Cleveland's Poems Dennis's Poems Hudibras Three Parts compleat Mr. Dryden's Plays bound or single viz. 1 Dramatick Essay 1 Wild Gallant 3 Rival Ladies 4 Indian Emperour 5 Maiden Queen 6 Sir Martin Marr-all 7 Tempest 8 Mock-Astrologer 9 Tyrannick Love 10 Conq. of Granada 11 Marriage Alam 12 Love in a Nunn 13 Amboyna 14 State of Innocen 15 Aurang-Zebe 16 All for Love 17 Limberham 18 Oedipus 19 Troilus and Cressida 20 Spanish Fryar 21 Duke of Guise 22 Albion Albanius 23 Don Sebastian 24 Amphytrion 25 King Arthur 26 Cleomenes Mr. Shadwell's Plays bound or single viz. 1 Sullen Lovers 2 Humourist 3 Royal Shepherdess 4 Virtuoso 5 Psycho 6 Libertine 7 Epsom Wells 8 Timon of Athens 9 Miser 10 True Widow 11 Lancashire Witch 12 Woman Captain 13 Squire of Alsatia 14 Bury Fair 15 Amorous Biggot 16 Scowrers 17 Volunteers Also his Odes to the King and Queen Mr. Lee's Tragedies bound or single viz. 1 Sophonisba 2 Nero 3 Gloriana 4 Alexand. the Great 5 Mithridates 6 Theodosius 7 Caesar Borgia 8 Lucius Junius Brutus 9 Constantine 10 Oedipus 11 Duke of Guise 12 Massacre of Paris 13 Princess of Cleve Mr. Otways Plays bound or single viz. 1 Alcibiades 2 Friendsh in fash 3 Orphan 4 Souldiers Fortune 5 Second Part of the Souldiers Fortune 6 Titus and Berenice 7 Venice preser'vd 8 Don Carlos 9 Caius Marius 10 Windsor Castle a Poem Also these and most other Modern Plays Mr. Anthony Abdelazer Bellamira Country Wit Circe Chances Cambyses Country Wife Cheats City Politiques Destruct of Jerusalem Duke and no Duke Devil of a Wife Distressed Innocence Empress of Morocco Earl of Essex English Monarch English Fryar Edward the third Emper. of the Moon Fond Husband Feign'd Courtizans Forc't Marriage Female Virtuoso Gentlem. danc Mast. Henry V. and Mustaph. Heir of Morocco Fortune Hunters Ibrahim Island Princess Ingratit of a Commonwealth Julius Caesar Injur'd Lovers Innocent Impostor Innocent Usurper King and No King King Lear Love in a Tub London Cuckolds Love for Money Man of Mode Mulberry Garden Macbeâ—h Madam Fickle Maids Tragedy Marriage-Hâ—ter Maids last Prayer Othello Old Batchelor Plain-Dealer Philaster Pope Joan Regulus Rehearsal Richmond Heiress Scornful Lady She woud if she coud Siege of Babylon Sir Solomon Squire Oldsap Successful Strangers Sir Courtly Nice Sir Patient Fancy Triumphant Widow Titus Andronicus Treacherous Broth. Traytor Vertuous Wife Very good Wife Widow Ranter Woman's Conquest Woman Bully Wife's Excuse FINIS
all my People both Souldiers and Slaves commanding them to be ready and at the first touch of the Boatswain's Whistle fall to their Oars amain The second Cannon shot came to our Ears presently after and then I made them row toward the shore as fast as they could and saw the Enemy spreading their Sails to prepare for attacking the Mole Being landed I immediately went to the King and acquainted him that the Enemy were hoisting Sail and that the Weather Wind and Tide were so favourable that they could not lose so fair an occasion At this news the King gave his orders throughout and afterwards went with part of the Nobility to the Battery which was at the Head of the Bay commanding me to lye under the shelter of this Battery There was nothing very remarkable in this fight except the Cannon shot of which a prodigious number was fir'd on both sides There was nothing to be heard but Peals of Thunder nor to be seen but Lightning in the midst of a dark Smoke that cover'd the whole Sea It was a fine sight to see those monstrous Vessels too that resembled great floating Castles and advancing one after another in very graceful order gave Broad-sides at our Mound of fifty or threescore Cannon shot at a time But as the English attack'd briskly they were as warmly receiv'd The Battery where the King was did wonders He made several shot himself delighting extremely in every thing that related to War and never was more liberal either of Lead to the Enemies or Gold and Silver to his Souldiers and Gunners During the whole fight I kept my self close under the Cannon of his Battery according to the orders I had receiv'd venturing out only a little now and then to pursue a Vessel when it retir'd from the Charge but being forc'd to return very quickly for fear of being snapt by some other that came on There was only one Cannon Ball fell into my Galliot with which she was much damag'd and two Slaves kill'd XIX At length the Enemy seeing Heaven declare on our side and that all their attempts were vain made a retreat fatal to Rochelle and advantageous to the King and his Arms. Then I fell to cruising again and was so happy as to meet with a favourable accident which was of great advantage towards restoring me to the King's favour Seeing a very beautiful guilded Prow floating upon the water and the Arms of England in it I made up and found it was a considerable Prize and a Present worthy the King With much ado I haled it up into my Galliot and return'd a proud man toward the Beach where after I had got it ashore I went straight to the King's Quarter As I was going Monsieur Bassompiere met me and told me Monsieur Canaples had entreated him to beg my Pardon of the King in his name by reason that his Father Mareschal Creâ—ui did as I said formerly very much condemn his behaviour and besides he knew well enough how the King stood affected which made him speak first to get the merit of a thing which hop'd might turn to his honour I told him of the good luck I had met with and he gave me all the hopes imaginable advising me to make use of this advantage to ingratiate my self with the King I then declared my design which was to let the King know that the Shot which took off this Prow came from his Battery as indeed it did and so by degrees insensibly to persuade him that his Majesty himself had made the shot He approv'd of my design telling me he thought the true way to go to work for my own interests was to advance the King's honour On I went and at my entring the King's Lodgings I compos'd my countenance the best I could without discovering the least gayety but looking very modest and dejected as became a man who had reason to apprehend the consequences of so unlucky an affair as mine I told his Majesty that one of the English Vessels was much disabled and I had found a great piece of her Prow which I thought it my duty to bring away that his Majesty if he pleased might see it I would not say any thing more at first thinking he would be apt enough of his own accord to attribute the glory of this shot to himself He told me he would go view it and askt me by the way whereabouts I had found it I answered very innocently and without spurring on too fast in such a place on the right hand which was the part expos'd to his own Battery The King who passionately desir'd it might be thought his own doing but durst not yet take it to himself without some ground was pleas'd with my answer and reply'd 't was I that made that shot at such a time I saw the Vessel fall off as soon as ever I had discharg'd and did then believe she had receiv'd some damage Upon this I began to confirm his opinion by several circumstances which was matter of great Joy to this Prince who stood much upon his being a good Marks-man and did really excel in all military matters there being perhaps scarce a man in his Kingdom that could draw up the greatest Army in Battalia so soon or so advantageously as himself He took great pride in showing this Prow and telling every one that came that I could testify it fell upon a shot of his which was as much for my satisfaction as his own for thus I was made a Judge in the case and did not question but having determined favourably for him he would not fail to do as much for me Mareschal Bassompiere loth to lose so fair an opportunity when the King was in so good a humour got his Majesty to do that at his request and for his sake which he was inclin'd enough to do of himself but that he would have seem'd to proceed more upon favour than justice I humbly beseech your Majesty said he to grant me one humble request which I have to make you The King who probably guest what he would be at he seem'd a little shy telling him he could not engage his word till he knew for what Sir reply'd Monsieur Bassompiere I can assure your Majesty the cause is good and you will have no reason to repent of the favour But tell me what it is said the King if the cause be good why are you so nice in declaring it Is it something that concerns your self or some of your Relations Sir said he the favour I would obtain neither concerns my self nor any Relation of mine but another that hath more need Oh! you are too subtle for me reply'd the King I am no Diviner to know your thoughts At last Monsieur Bassompiere told him that it was my Pardon he took the boldness to beg and did it from Monsieur Canaples too who was infinitely troubled for the misfortune he had brought upon me The King seeming mightily surpriz'd stood
begg'd to be admitted once more and then before the Court excus'd the Clerk of the States whom he had accus'd and used him roughly the day before After he was withdrawn and while they carried him back to the Town Hall the Parliament proceeded to give their voices A case so plain would not bear any long debate and it was impossible but a person taken actually in arms against his Prince must be condemned One of the Commissioners therefore first pronounc'd him guilty and it was observ'd that in the close of his Sentence the tears stood in his Eyes All the rest of the company exprest their consent in dumb show by taking off their Caps and the Keeper of the Seals confirming the same he drew up the Sentence and signed it before the Court broke up Theâ— all the Judges made haste home that they might at their own houses give free vent to those tears and groans which Ceremony put a restraint upon in the publick Court of Justice The Sentence being brought to the King his Majesty could not bear being a little mollified and changed two Articles in it The one that whereas he was to have been executed in the publick Market place this should be done privately within the Town Hall and the other that Monsieur Montmorency's Estate which was confiscated he should have leave to dispose of as he pleas'd Which accordingly he did by Will and deliver'd it to Monsieur St. Preuil to carry to the King desiring him to beg his Majesty's Pardon in his Name Nay which was an action truly worthy of a good Christian he had a mind to let his bitterest Enemy see that he died without any grudge or revengeful thoughts against him and therefore gave the same Monsieur St. Preuil a Picture of St. Francis with charge to make a Present of it to Cardinal Richelieu as a testimony that he died his humble Servant About noon the same day that Sentence was given two Commissioners and the Recorder came into the Chappel of the Town Hall and sent for Monsieur Montmorency thither who kneeling down at the foot of the Altar and fixing his Eyes upon a Crucifix had his Sentence read to him Then rising up and turning to the company he said Gentlemen I beg your Prayers that God would enable me to suffer like a Christian the Execution of what was just now read to me The Commissioners leaving him with his Confessor one of them as he was going said Sir we are going to obey your commands we will pray to God to strengthen you He continuing in the Chappel and looking again up to the Crucifix and afterwards down upon his Clothes which were very rich threw away his Night-gown and said Shall such a sinful wretch as I presume to go to dye gaily habited when I see my innocent Saviour stript naked upon the Cross No Father said he to his Conâ—essor I must strip to my Shirt that I may do some fit pennance for the Sins I have committed against God Just at this instant the Count de Charlus came from the King to demand the Order of the Holy Ghost and the Mareschalâ—s Staff of France The remainder of his time was employed in committing himself to God and strengthning his mind against death by the Contemplation of his Saviour's Sufferings and in praying him to pardon his Sins When notice was brought him of the hour appointed for his Execution he begg'd they would do him the favour to let him suffer about the same time of the day that Christ dyed which was some two hours sooner than the Order and this was left to his own choice Before he went to dye he wrote a Letter to his Lady Madam Montmorency conjuring her to be comforted and to present the concern for his death as an offering to God to procure rest for his Soul by moderating her grief in consideration of the Mercy God had shewn him XV. He order'd his Hair to be cut short behind and being stript to his Shirt and Drawers he went in the middle of the Guards who saluted him as he past cross a walk that leads into the Court of the Town-Hall at the entrance of which he found the Scaffold which might be some four foot from the ground When he was come up upon it attended with his Confessor and his Chyrurgeon he saluted the company which were only the Clerk of the Parliament the Grand Provost and his Archers and the Officers of the City Train-bands who had orders to wait there He begg'd of them to acquaint the King that he dy'd his most humble Subject and Servant infinitely troubled for having offended him for which he begg'd his and their pardon He enquir'd for the Executioner who had not yet come near him and in great humility would not allow his Chyrurgeon to do any thing about him but giving himself up entirely to be dispos'd of by the Executioner as to the binding part the putting him into a right posture and the cutting off his hair again which was not cut close enough before he said with great significations of remorse that so great a sinner as he could not dye too ignominiously At last he kneel'd down near the Block upon which he laid his Neck and after he had recommended his Soul to God the Executioner immediately cut off his Head all the company turning away their eyes from the sad sight all melting into tears and even the Guards themselves expressing their concern by deep sighs and groans Thus dy'd Henry of Montmorency Duke and Peer Mareschal and sometime Admiral of France Governour of Languedoc Grandson of four Constables and six Mareschals first Christian and first Baron of France Brother-in-law to the first Prince of the Blood and Unkle to the renowned Prince of Conde after having won two Battels one by Sea against the Hugonots by which he made way for the taking of Rochelle and the other by Land against the Empire Italy and Spain by which he forc'd the Alpes and sav'd Cazal Both which actions contributed much to that Glory which the King of France hath Those that were present at his death gave him this testimony That so much Piety and Courage was never seen upon such an occasion and in a man of that Quality and indeed it was but fit that both Nature and Grace should work wonders in the person of the first Christian and the bravest man in all France Since our Monarchy began there never was any Nobleman in the Kingdom with whom both Nature and Fortune had dealt so bountifully He was born in the year 1595. the wealthiest best accomplished most generous Lord in the whole Kingdom graceful in his Speech and charming in all his Conversation A person of that honour and genteel address that all the world lov'd and admiâ—'d him He exerted all his powers of Wit Wisdom Quality and every other advantage of Honour and Reputation both at home and abroad in the service of his Majesty and that to so great a degree that
he made directly for Flanders and troopt off with all that he had borrow'd But by good Fortune the Knave was taken Prisoner by a Party out of Aire or Bethune and my Horse was afterwards retaken by another Party from Arras and there fell into the hands of an Officer for whom I had procur'd the Command of a Company In the mean while hearing no news of my Horse and knowing how the poor Taylor and some others that had been concern'd with him were left in the lurch I began to be satisfy'd that I was robb'd as well as they I wrote away into Catalonia Provence Flanders Germany and every place where I had any acquaintance that if they could light of my Horse for he was very remarkable and generally known they should seize him and send him back to me for he had been stolen away from me Shortly after Monsieur Bourgailles who succeeded me as Major of the Regiment of Brezay and to whom I had given my Command of first Captain freely being then at Arras wrote me word that the Officer I had spoke of had my Horse I sent away to him presently and thought he had more honour and more friendship for me than to keep my Horse which I valu'd so much from me But truly his answer was He had swapp'd another for him and there was no reason he should lose by the bargain A little after this Officer's occasions call'd him to Paris and the Major sent me word he came upon my Horse I went strait to his Lodgings as soon as I had this notice and not finding him within examined the Stable There I found my own Horse and bade the Groom saddle him and when his Master came in tell him I had taken him out to go to such a place and he would not be angry So I went home with my Millefleurs but never heard any more of my Captain who did not think fit to come and make his demands for what he knew well enough he had no right to I lost this fine Horse afterwards when I was taken Prisoner and carry'd into Germany an account whereof you will find in the sequel of these Memoirs VIII The particular friendship that had been all along between Monsieur St. Preuil and me ever since my being Lieutenant in his Company of Guards obliges me to give an account of his disgrace and his death which happen'd at this time while I my self was out of favour I imagine that a Relation of the whole matter will not be thought tedious or impertinent and shall therefore lay down the several heads of Accusation brought against him because the great intimacy between us gave me an opportunity of knowing the whole truth of the Case and as well what might be said in his justification as what he was really guilty in You must know then that Monsieur St. Preuil was grown odious and at last lost his Head upon four or five Articles and all this by the judgment of God who thought fit to make an Example of the most obstinate Man that perhaps ever was in the Army Though the greatest part of the matters alledg'd against him and which brought him to ruine were not in truth so much to his disadvantage as the World generally believ'd The first Article was this A Monk of the famous Abby of St. Vast at Arras bearing a grudge to his Prior and resolving to be reveng'd on him came to see or some other way gave information to Monsieur St. Preuil that there were a great many Arms in that Abby which had lay'n conceal'd there ever since the Spaniards had been in possession of the Town To confirm this he left a Note with him that signify'd the several places exactly where these Arms were to be found and he assur'd him that there were a great many more besides conceal'd in a Nunnery of the same Town Upon this News Monsieur St. Preuil made a Visit to the Prior of that Abby and told him He was much surpriz'd at an Information that had been brought him concerning some Arms that lay hid in his Monastery and that he must deliver all those Arms to him because they were the King 's Right The Prior would own nothing of the matter and Monsieur St. Preuil told him at last He knew well enough where to find them and went away in a passion But presently after he came again with his Guards and ordering search to be made according to the Monk's instructions he found and carried them away and gave the Prior very rough and threatning language telling him That he would lay all the Monks Monasteries in the Town flat to the ground and that they were only a Nest of Roguish Monks that were Traytors to the King and held Correspondence with the Spaniard Still this Prior stood it out that he knew nothing of the matter and possibly he might say true for it is a very common thing for such Religious Houses to change their Superiors frequently and sometimes to keep the new comers in ignorance of many things done the time of their Predecessors From this Abby Monsieur St. Preuil went to the Lady Abbess of the Nunnery which the same Monk had told him of and said He was much concerned to hear that they should offer to conceal a great many Arms that belonged to the King and that he was â—ome in his Majesties Name to demand them The Lady answer'd That truly she had been but a Year Abbess and for her part was privy to nothing of that kind That she believed her Nuns knew nothing of it neither but if he would please to come and satisfy himself the Gates should be opened and no opposition made there to the Service and Interests of his Majesty Monsieur St. Preuil took the liberty they offer'd him and coming at mid-day with a great deal of company he went into the Monastery and took all the Arms away which were found exactly in the place he had been directed to But this created Monsieur St. Preuil a world of Enemies and rais'd a mighty Clamor against him The Nuns Relations gave out That he broke into the Monastery by Force that he abused the Nuns and expos'd them to be abused by vile profligate Fellows There was indeed one Nun in that Monastery exceeding handsom and all the Town knew it well enough and this was it that gave ground to that part of the Accusation But I who knew Monsieur St. Preuil throughly dare engage for him that he could never have been guilty of so brutish an Action 'T is possible he might throw out some reproachful words against the Nuns in the passion he was in to find Arms conceal'd in their Monastery But this was excusable in a person of his hasty temper and upon such an occasion as the Service of his Majesty was concern'd in and this was so far countenanc'd above that when this business came to be known at Court the King immediately sent his Mandate to depose the Prior.
He did me the honour to talk after this free manner and we lookt as if there had been a sort of friendly contest between us he still upon the attack and I upon the defensive part At last finding his questions were so often repeated to no purpose and that I stood my ground he said Since I would not satisfy his questions he would not satisfy me why he sent for me But bids me go from him to Monsieur Noyers and he should tell me commanding one of the Pages of his Chamber whose name was la Grise to go with me to Monsieur Noyers lodgings XX. This mighty earnestness of the Cardinal 's to know what kept me behind at Paris cost me a great many reflections I had no intimation yet of my Letter that I wrote upon this account being got into his hands and I fancied all his uneasiness might proceed from an accident some time before which made him very jealous of me Being one day with the King his Majesty beckned me after him into the Wardrobe It was a place where I never had been and so did not presume to follow him But he ordered the Gentleman Usher to call me in Then sitting down very thoughtful upon a Chest he began to ask me What was the meaning that all the Captains to whom he had given Commissions had quite forsaken him and that scarce any of them gave any attendance about his person I made the best excuse I could for them telling the King in general that the old Officers were quite woâ—n out with hardships and wars and no longer capable of doing the business of their places several had lost their limbs and were maimed in the service and some perhaps might be weary with the fatigue of the Army The King replyed and asked me more particularly What should be the reason that such a man naming him left his service and was gone off to the Cardinal 's I said to him freely and without any hesitation He could be no great gainer by the change that left the Master and put himself under the Servant These were my own words and such as I am sure the King was wellâ—pleased to hear This poor Prince then began to reckon upon his fingers the persons that had deserted him lamenting in some measure his own misfortune And I must needs say tho I tryed to excuse them as well as I could yet I was much affected to see so great a Monarch abandoned by the greatest part of his own Servants and could not but be amazed considering the honour and affection I bore him how any body could betray so poor a spirit as to prefer the service of a Subject before his though that Subject were never so great He seem'd to me to be extremely pensive and uneasy all the time we were together turning the discourse perpetually from one subject to another sometimes sitting quite mute and sometimes asking some foreign questions so that knowing that he did not use to talk at this loose rembling rate I concluded something lay heavy upon his mind which he was loth to declare though he would have been glad if I could by degrees have stumbled upon it For the King having at that time a great design in agitation against Cardinal Richelieu there was reason to imagine he had a mind to intrust me with some secret relating to that matter But it happened that our discourse was interrupted all on a sudden by Count Nogent who peep'd either through a crack in the door or the Key-hole which the King perceiving asked if any body were there Then Count Nogent scratching at the door the King in a surprize rose up so hastily that he had almost beat me backward discoveâ—ing by his behaviour that he was concern'd at our being found together in that place As soon as Monsieur Nogent was come in he told the King the Cardinal had sent him to know whither his Majesty intended to stay within because his Eminence would wait on him The King said the Cardinal should be very welcome Afterwards this Count asked me privately what the King was talking of with so much vehemence and gesture giving me to understand that he suspected something from our discourse I confess I had a great mind to check his curiosity and tell him he meddled with what did not concern him But fearing a man of that interest with the Cardinal I only answered That the King as he used to do talked several things about the Armies the Souldiers and the Officers He suspected this to be no better than a put off and replyed That there was something else in the wind And when he came back to the Cardinal he raised some jealousies of me telling him he found me alone with the King in the Wardrobe and that his Majesty had committed some secret of consequence to me XXI This private and familiar conference with the King it was that I imagined the Cardinal had a mind by degrees to get out of me when I waited him upon the occasion before mentioned When the Cardinal's Page had brought me to Monsieur Noyers his lodging his Eminences Livery made me way through all the crowd that waited to be admitted Every one made me room in respect to the Page that introduced me And going with him directly up to Monsieur Noyers his Chamber after our first compliments when he understood the Cardinal had sent me to him he took me with him into his Closet There he began to put the same questions the Cardinal had done before asking me over and over again Why I did not go with the King to Perpignan I found presently that this was a thing agreed between the Cardinal and Monsieur Noyers and that I had reason to think they had some private intelligence of the business I thought it the idlest thing in nature to ask me so many times the reason of a thing which they knew better than I and if I durst have been so bold could almost have found in my heart to be downright angry But I considered who I spoke to and kept within bounds for fear of the Cardinal and stuck close to the answer I had made his Eminence That having been served with an order from the King signed by Monsieur Noyers himself not to stir out of Paris he must have been the first that would have condemned me if I had gone Still he turn'd and wound me about a hundred several ways in hopes to make some discovery from me But when he saw me proof against all his cross questions after a great deal of this discourse he reacht a File of papers that lay upon his Table and drew off that fatal Letter written to Mr. Vitremont concerning the King's Journey and full of reflections upon the Cardinal and giving it into my hand said Look upon that Letter a little see if you know your hand and seal again No tongue can express the confusion I was in when this Letter was produc'd against me which I could