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
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
Daughter was sent away by that private conveyance during his Sickness Nor was he ignorant how prejudicial the conjunction of Bretagne to the Dominions of Spain would be to France which was the reason that without many more to do he resolv'd to cross a contrivance so dangerous notwithstanding he was assur'd that the Queen would never forgive him should the King happen to die of his Sickness Thereupon he stopt the Princess with most respectful protestations of his sorrow for being constrain'd to come to that extremity This action of the Marshal was commended by the King and all good French men and the Queen her self feign'd to applaud it however when the King was recover'd she made use of her credit to ruin that faithful subject Nevertheless she could not prevent the marriage of her Daughter with the Count of Angoulême because it was generally desir'd But it was such an inward vexation to her that sinking under the weight of her corroding anguish she dy'd in the thirty seven Year of her age 'T is true the King did not express that sorrow for her death as 't is thought he would have done considering the passion he had for her as long as she liv'd whither it were that his mind was taken up with his cares of the Wars of Italy or that the Queen's attempts against his authority had cool'd the heat of his Love However after that he liv'd such a reserv'd life that no body believ'd he would ever have thought of a third Marriage but the Duke of Longueville was the occasion of reviving that desire in him That Prince having rashly engag'd himself in a battle against the English year 1514 lost the battle of Spurs and became a prisoner to Henry VIII of England To repair this fault he undertook during his imprisonment to bring off that Prince from his confederacy with the Emperor nor did he find any great trouble to perswade him to it For thô he were very young he was very thrifty and he was a weary of paying the Emperours Troops who was extreamly poor and of furnishing him a hundred Crowns a day for his table There only wanted therefore a plausible pretence to break the Confederacy and there was not a better at that time to be found then a more strict alliance between France and England Henry VIII had a Sister whose beauty was a domestick mischief to him as we shall find in the sequel of this history She was born after another Daughter so much unprovided of the graces of the body that the King of Scotland had never marry'd her but because the King would not marry the youngest before the eldest The youngest being come of Age the Duke of Milan and several other Sovereign Princes sought her in vain because 't was not then the custom to marry the King's Daughter out of the Island This custome which had not been alter'd for four Ages together had infus'd into the young English Lords of the highest Quality a confidence to pretend to the Princess and the King gave way to it lest he should be accus'd of too much severity toward his Sister tho' he had no design to have marry'd her to any of his subjects for fear of drawing a civil War upon himself not unlike to those wherein several of his predecessors had miscarry'd Nevertheless in regard it is a difficult thing for a Woman to hold out any long time against Love when she makes it her business to allure the Princess of England after she had entangl'd in the snares of Love all those that could give any cause of jealousy to her Brother was her self smitten with one whom he had little reason to fear There was introduc'd into the Court of England a young English Gentleman whose name was Charles Brandon without any other recommendation then that of the King's Nurse whose Son he was He was extreamly handsome well proportion'd in his person and very active in all manner of exercises He had the air of a person of Quality and there was observ'd in him that sweetness of temper and that discretion that he was welcome into all societies and chiefly into the Ladies company who were altogether prevalent at Court The King took him for his second in all his matches at Tenis and made him the confident of all his most secret pleasures He conferr'd upon him the office of his chief Huntsman and lest his name should remind the Courtiers of the meaness of his Birth he caus'd him to assume the title of the Counts of Suffolk illustrious for the merit and quality of the persons who had born it for above two hundred years It is not certainly known whether this new title had convinc'd the Princess that she might bestow her affection without any dishonour upon the person whom the King her Brother had honour'd with it since the English Histories are full of presidents of several Earls of Suffolk that have pretended to the marriage of the Sisters and Daughters of their King 's or whether the Love which she already had for him had imprinted that Idea in her mind in his favour but it was observ'd that in a short time after the Princess lookt upon Suffolk with a more passionate glance then she was wont to do Nor wat it so much to be wonder'd at that the Earle should make her suitable returns with Eyes no less inflam'd and sparkling And the Courtiers in a little time were so us'd to it that they took little notice of it whether it were the custome at that time to love at well beneath as above their quality or whether it were that the Courtiers thought it not proper to be more concern'd about it then the King himself was who only laught at the business and made himself merry with the two lovers so soon as he discover'd their reciprocal affection Not that he approv'd it in the main or that he had so high a value for Suffolk as to make him his Brother in Law thô he had a greater kindness for him then for the rest of his Courtiers But he was in hopes to draw some advantage from the inequality of this Amour which he thought would exasperate the English Lords against her and cause 'em to desist from looking any more after her besides that he assur'd himself that he should be so much the master of his Sister and Suffolk that nothing should be acted between them two but by his consent This was the posture of the Court of England when the Duke of Longueville made a proposal as from himself of a match between the Princess and Lewis XII The King of England listen'd to him with those marks of respect and approbation which suficiently discover'd what he had in his Heart He was importun'd to bestow his Sister out of the way and he met with the most lucky means that Fortune ever could have offer'd him 'T is true he could not without some trouble to himself put an end to a War so advantageous to him
with her into Poland Madam d' Arquten together with the Daughter which 't was said she had by St. Mar's After the death of Ladistau's the IV. she marry'd in second Wedlock Casimir his Brother and being no less desirous to prefer the pretended Young Madam Darquien she marry'd her to a great Lord of Poland and when she came to be a Widow to the Grand Marshal Sobiesâ—ki at present raigning by the name of John IV. Thus if the Story be true the Daughter succeeded the Mother and as she did before now wears the Crown of Poland In the mean time St. Mar's to make himself amends for the loss of his Mistress apply'd himself to Marion de Lorme who in truth was but of a very obscure extraction but might well pass for the most lovely Person in Europe and as she was none of the cruel ones so was he soon happy So soon as the King was in bed away flew he from St. Gemains and rode full speed to meet her at Paris and the delight which he took in her hindring him from rising early in the morning he was very rarely at the Kings rising The King who knew not the reason of his neglect ask'd several of his Officers what was become of him but they said not a word whether out of ignorance or whither they were afraid to provoak a favourite But La Chenaye the Kings first Vaiet de Chambre who had very much contributed to the putting his Mistresses out of favour finding that St. Mar's never made him any grateful acknowledgment for what he had done resolv'd not to let so fair an opportunity of Revenge escape him He knew that the King who was extreamly reserv'd in his Pleasures had an Aversion for those that gave themselves over to their Debaucheries and therefore thought he could not meet with a more certain expedient to plague the favourite then by acquainting his Master with his Love for Marion de Lorme which he did and faild not to infuse into the King those sentiments which he was desirous his Majesty should have of him St. Mar's perceiving the King's coldness toward him fetch'd him about so many way 's that he made him confess the many ill Offices that Chenaye had done him After the Count had discover'd from what hand the blow came he study'd nothing but Revenge upon the Author of his disgrace and to ruin so dangerous an Enemy in the good opinion of his Master To that purpose he imparted his design to tha Marshal de la Meilleraye who had some reason likewise of disgust against the same Officer and they were so assiduous in their endeavours to degrade him that they compass d their design La Chenaye had some kind of preceding inward Divination of his fall and spoke of it to the Cardinal who promis'd to support him But unfortunately for him his Patron was then at his House of Ruel when the order was brought him to be gone so that having no recourse to his Eminency he was forc'd to depart without delay The Cardinal was very much surpriz'd when he heard of Chenays's being dismiss'd from his employment and knowing that St. Mars was the author of it he upbraided the Favourite with it and told him he never thought he would have remov'd a Person from the King's Person whom he khew to be his Creature and this too in his absence and without his knowledge St. Mars whose interest forbid him to quarrel with that Minister while his Credit stood immovable was constrain'd totall him all the particulars of the Intreague and acknowledge his Affection for Marion de Lorme and as it is a weakness in all Lovers to enhaunce the Charmes of their Mistresses he gave the Cardinal so lively a description of her that he infus d into the Cardinal a great desier to see her How ever the suttle Minister made no the least discovery of his thoughts but in the Evening he spoke of it to the Abbot of Boâ—s Robert who was the Trustee of all his Private Pleasures The Abbot told him that he knew Mademoiselle d' Enclos commonly call'd at Court Ninon who ws an intimate Acquaintance of Marion de Lorme's and that by her means it would be and easie thing to entice St. Mars Mistress to Ruâ—l under pretence of seeing the Writers and for his Eminency to take a View of her at leisure yet she perceiving nothing of his Curiosity The Cardinal approv'd the Abbot of Bois Robert's Project and desir'd him to loose no time Thereupon the Crafty Confident went the next day to give Ninon a Visit and made the match so dextrously that Ninon as cunnung as she was knew nothing of the design The Cardinal having notice of the day that the two Lady's were to come and see his House order'd a Magnificent Collation to be prepar'd ready in a little Island in the middle of the Park where he had also the King's Musick both Violins and Hautboy's and all the Gallantry went under the Abbots name the Lady 's all that while not knowing any thing of the mistery of the Banquet which was carefully conceal'd from ' em The Cardinal also saw Marion de Lorme without being seen himself and found her a thousand times handsomer then he imagin'd her to be He had a desire to know wheher she had a kindness for St. Mars and order'd Bois Robert to make the discovery Tbe Abbot on the other side fail'd not to give his Eminency the satisfaction which he desir'd and gave him to understand that Vanity had a greater share then Love in Marion de Lorme's complyances with the King's Favourite but that the Lady kept all her tenderness for Desbarreaux a Councellor in Parliament a Young Gentlemen of a Graceful Meen a lievely wit and bonny Conversation but debauch'd and Irreligious to the highest degree Richilieu order'd the Abbot to make a proposal to Desbarreaux that if he would part with his Mistress to the Cardinal and engage her to correspond with his Affection he would be so far beholding to him for such ah acceptable Sacrifice that he would do for him whatever he desir'd to advance his Fortute Bois Robert discharg'd himself of his Commission with an extraordinary address but Desbarreaux return'd him nothing but jocose answers not believing the Cardinal could be guilty of so much weakness Which incens d tne Prime Minister to that degree that he persecuted Desbarreaux as long as he liv'd and forc'd him to fell his place and quit the Kingdom After Desbarreaux was gone Madam des Enclos at the request of Bois Robert spoke to her friend concerning the Cardinal's being in love with her and the first overture of his Affection that he made her was accompani'd with a Present of a Pair of large Silver Andirons and a Candle-stick which were valu'd at 20000 Livers St. Mars surpriz'd to see this ornamental furniture in his Mistresses Chamber would needs know from whom so much liberality procecded and not being able to clear the point
Lothaire the Kindom of Lorraine and Charles Provence with part of Burgundy The young Lothaire had marry'd in his Father's life time Thietberge the Daughter of Hubert Count of Burgundy Transjurana at this day call'd Savoy He was tenderly belov'd by that Princess and on the other side he had all the Affection for her that her Virtue deserv'd but this Union lasted not long For Hunting being the chief Divertisement of this Prince one day being surpriz'd by a violent Storm while he was impriming a Stag near Metz he retir'd to a Castle hard by where he was receiv'd after a most obliging manner by Valdrade the Daughter of the Lord who was the owner of it He was no less charm'd with her Wit then her Beauty and thought himself Happy that the bad weather had procur'd him such a fortunate meeting Afterwards he paid Valdrade such frequent 〈◊〉 that the Queen perceiving him so much estrang'd from her was resolv'd to know what sort of pastimes he follow'd To that purpose she caus'd him to be dogg'd and by that means discover'd that she had a Rivaless Nor could she dissemble her Jealousie She plagu'd Lothaire with such tart and bitter reproaches that to be reveng'd of her he no longer observ'd any Decorum He sent for Valdrade to his Palace and allow'd her as many Officers as if she had already been his Wife Valdrade also abusing the Power which she had over the King's Heart perswaded him to get rid of Thietberge whose fretful taunting Humour disturb'd the King's pleasures and to dissolve the Marriage Thereupon Lothaire propos'd to Gontier Arch-Bishop of Cologne his Grand Almoner the design which he had to repudiate the Queen and that he might engage him to a compliance the King put him in hopes that so soon as he should be at liberty he would marry his Niece Hermengard Flatter'd with these pleasing Hopes Gontier summons a National Council to meet at Metz compos'd of all the Prelats of the Kingdom and having gain'd Thietgand Archbishop of Treves who promis'd to serve him with all his Friends he propos'd the Dissolution of the Marriage upon these grounds that Thietberge had committed Incest with her own Brother and that the King had been affianc'd to Valdrade before he marry'd the Queen He likewise produc'd false witnesses to support the Calumny and so well manag'd his Affairs that he obtaâ—â—'d whatever the King desir'd Thietberge was summon'd she was examin'd upon the Articles exhibited against her and confronted by the Witnesses who persisted in their Depositions Upon which the Assembly order'd that she should be divorc'd from the King her Husband and banish'd whither his Majesty should think convenient Now tho' this Sentence set Lothair at liberty to enjoy his Amours nevertheless he was not wholly satisfy'd Valdrade would needs be crown'd and secure the succession of the Kingdom to the Children begot upon her Body and with this design she press'd the King so to order the matter that the Clergy of Lorraine should more clearly explain themselves upon the invalidity of Thietberge's Marriage Upon that Lothaire calls a second Assembly to meet at Aix la Chapelle where he represented to the Prelates that it being necessary for the publick good that he should have Children to inherit his Crown he desir'd 'em to consider whether his Marriage with Theitberge were contracted in due Form to the end he might take her again if she were his lawful Wife or marry another if his first Nuptials were of no force Wherein he testify'd such a seeming Sincerity to the Assembly that they gave him permission to marry another and he immediately caus'd this Sentence to be publish'd over all the Kingdom This done he declar'd to Gontier that he had a full intention to accomplish his promise and engag'd the Archbishop to send him his Neice Hermengard but after he had obtain'd whatever he desir'd he return'd her back to her Uncle and espous'd Valdrade publickly at Savern Thietberge finding her self so unworthily and undeservedly us'd Anno 863. retir'd to her Brother who implor'd the aid of Charles the Bald King of France and Lewis the German who were both glad of the pretence to invade the Dominious of their Nephew Lothaire But Nicholas VI. then Pope having intelligence of the War that was just ready to breake into a flame sent away his Legate Arsenius with Orders to accommodate the difference and take cognizance of the affair After Arsenius has fully inform'd himself of every thing he return'd to Rome accompany'd with the two Archbishops Gontier and Thietgaud who pretended to obtain at Rome a confirmation of the sentence given against Thietberge But the Pope understanding their prevarication and treachery against the Queen at a Council assembled on purpose in St. John di Laterano cancell'd the sentence depos'd the two Prelats and excommunicated ' em Instead of submitting to this Judgment they retir'd to the Emperor Lewis Lothaires Brother and wrote an insolent letter to his â—onnels wherein they declar'd himself to be excommunicated Which done they joyn'd with John Archbishop of Ravenna and Pâ—otius Patriarch of Constantinople and had like to have made a schism in the Church But Heaven protected the justice of Nicolas's cause and enforc'd all those Prelats to submit to his Authority The Pope sent back Arsenius to Metz that he might oblige Lothaire to take the Queen his Wife agen But the Legat unwilling to do any thing of his own head in so nice a matter assembled all the Bishops of France and having made known to those Prelats the innocency of Thietberge he desir'd 'em to instruct him what course it became him to take for reparation of the scandal which Lothaire had commmitted Thereupon it was resolv'd in that assembly that Arsenius should admonish the King in the name of the Holy See to take his Lawfull Wife again and to break of all commerce with Valdrade under pain of Excommunication The Legat acquitted himself of his Commission with all the respect that was due to His Royal Majesty but yet withall the resolution and constancy that became his character Lothair surpriz'd at such a terrible menace recall'd Thietberge and put away Valdrade who being cited to Rome ordered Angeltrude her confident and the Daughter of Count Mainfroy to sollicit her pardon For Angeltrude was oblig'd to take that journey with the Legat for her own interests as being under Excommunication for having quitted Boson her Husband to marry Auger his Vassal When Angeltrude departed from Metz she appear'd to be the greatest penitent in the World and fully resolv'd to do penance for her past disorders But she was hardly arriv'd at the foot of the Alps when being no longer able to live absented from the person she lov'd but she slipt away secretly without saying any thing to the Legate and hasten'd back to seek out her Lover Nor was Lothaire more constant in his resolution For so soon as hâ— saw that Arsenius's back was turn'd he expell'd the innocent
did the Spaniards make between your Majesty and the King of Castille upon your thread-bare Cap and your Leaden Agnus Dei instead of one beset with Diamonds The King was so amaz'd at this Curtain Lecture that he had not the power to interrupt her However as he was a great dissembler he did not discover his disgust tho he thought it high time to get him a more complaisant Mistress To that purpose having heard much talk of a young Lady of Dijon whose name was Huguette de Jaqueline that was well descended but very poor he sent for her to Court and having taken her for his Mistriss he had a Third Daughter by her whom he bestow'd upon Amà nd of Poitiers Lord of St. Valier Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Charles VIII Anno 1483. LEWIS Duke of Orleans had the misfortune to be belov'd by Ann of France the Daughter of Lewis XI I say the misfortune because the Passion of that Princess was in good part the cause of all the crosses that befell him during his life She gave him to understand her Inclinations toward him and thô the Duke did not comply with her but in terms rather of Respect then Tenderness yet she surceas'd not to interpret 'em favourably and to believe she was belov'd because she deserv'd to be so She refus'd for love of the Duke of Orleans a Match which her Father would have made for her with Nicholas of Anjou Duke of Lorrain and acknowledg'd to that Prince that it was the only reason of her refusal He answer'd with so much indifferency to what she spoke to him the most obligingly in the world upon that occasion that she began at length to open her Eyes and to understand that she had flatter'd her self to little purpose when she thought he had comply'd with her tenderness which was the reason that she resolv'd to marry Peter of Bourbon Duke of Beaujou Upon the first proposal of it that the King her Father made her as she was unwilling to be unfortunate alone she perswaded Lewis XI over whom she had a powerful Ascendant to marry the Duke of Orleans to Joan of France his Daughter who was neither beautiful nor of an agreeable temper The Duke would fain have excus'd himself but the King laid his Commands upon him so imperiously that he was forc'd to obey 'T is true that the Marriage was not consummated whether it were that he had an aversion for the Princess or that she had some natural defects as it was afterwards pretended which hinder'd her having of Children After the death of Lewis XI the Duke of Orleans demanded the Regency during the minority of Charles VIII who was not above Thirteen years of age but the Dutchess of Beaujou carry'd it before him But thô she had got this advantage yet for all that she could not chuse but seek the Duke of Orleans's friendship whom she had not the power to hate notwithstanding his indifferency and she offer'd him a share in the Government if he would but live in a friendly correspondence with her but he return'd those Answers that ill became him to her civilities Thereupon the Dutchess exasperated by his Contempt studied nothing so much as which way to be reveng'd She grounded her pretence upon a quarrel which the Duke of Orleans had had with the Duke of Lorraine while he was playing at Tennis with him and would have had the Duke apprehended but he withdrew to the Duke of Bretagne In whose Court while the Duke of Orleans resided he waited most sedulously upon the Princess Ann his Daughter and fell so deeply in love with her that he preserv'd his Passion for her till his death In the mean time he enter'd into a strict confederacy against the Duchess Regent of which himself and the Duke of Bretagne were the Heads They betook themselves to Arms on both sides and they came to the decision of a Battle in the Plain of St. Aubin where the Confederate Princes were defeated and the Duke of Orleans being taken pris'ner was afterwards lock'd up in the Tower of Bourges nor was he releas'd till after Charles VIII had espous'd Ann of Bretagne and at the same time that the King was preparing for his expedition into Italy Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Lewis XII LEWIS of Orleans being come to the Crown made it his whole study to marry the Princess Ann Widow of Charles VIII his Predecessor He caus'd the Reasons for the dissolving of his Marriage with the Princess Joan to be laid before Pope Julius as being uncapable of ever bringing forth Successors to the Crown and desir'd a Dispensation from his Holiness to marry the fair Queen whom he dearly lov'd Nor would his impatience permit him to stay till he receiv'd the Dispensation 't was enough to hear by the Legate's Secretary whom he had gain'd to his side that it was allow'd and drawing up Yet for all this the love of that Princess surceas'd not to cause him new disturbances She became jealous of Louise of Savoy Countess of Angoulesme Mother of Francis the First and their hatred brake forth to that degree of exasperation that it divided the whole Court into Parties Lewis XII had a design to marry the Princess Claudia his Daughter with the young Count of Angoulême whom he look'd upon as his Successor but the Queen oppos'd it to the utmost of her power Therefore to cross this design she resolv'd to marry her with Charles of Austria who was already call'd Prince of Spain and to give him Bretagne in favour of that Alliance To this purpose she sent privately a Gentleman of the House of Rieux into Flanders and thence into Germany This Gentleman made the Proposal to the Emperor Maximilian the Prince's Grandfather by the Father's side and to Chieuvres his Governour They agreed upon the Articles which were Sign'd and there remain'd nothing but the Ceremony of the Nuptials which had been solemniz'd unknown to the King had not the tender age of the Parties been an obstacle to the Consummation and had it been in the power of the Queen to have dispos'd of her Daughter as she would her self to which end fortune sometime after gave her an opportunity of which she try'd to make her advantage The King falling sick at Paris his distemper increas'd to that degree that the Physicians gave him over for lost and while the whole Court was in a consternation upon the desperate condition of the King's health the Queen took her opportunity privately to send away her Daughter by water down the River Loire to Nantes But passing through Angiers she was stop'd by the Marshal de Gi◠who was Governor of that place The Marshal was one that took part with the Countess of Angoulême and in regard he was not ignorant that the Queen oppos'd the King's design of marrying Claudia with the Son of that Princess he soon conjectur'd the reason that his masters
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
could never recover his Speech and in that manner he expir'd Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Francis I. WHen Queen Catherine de Medicis saw that her Husband was mortally wounded she consulted with her Confidents whether it were her best way to close with the Constable or the Guises For she lookt as well upon the one as the other to be her Enemies in regard they were equally alli'd to the Dutchess of Valentinois whom she mortally hated thô while the King liv'd she carry'd it very fair with her At last she resolv'd to unite with the Guises because they were the Queen her Daughter-in-Law's Uncles and for that somtime they had carry'd themselves but very coldly toward the Dutchess The Constable being inform'd of this Union dispatcht a Courrier to Anthony of Bourbon King of Navarr giving him an invitation to the Court there to assume the degree and Authority which his Birth allow'd him But the King who was afraid lest the Spaniards should possess themselves of his Kingdom during his absence remain'd in his irresolution so long that the Queen and the Guises had leisure to form their Cabal to remove such persons as they suspected and fill up the principal offices with their own Creatures The Duke of Guise had the Command of the Armies and the Cardinal the management of the Treasury The Dutchess of Valentinois was banish'd and forc'd to restore the Jewels and costly moveables that Henry II. had given her and more then all this they took from her the noble House of Chenonceaux which the Queen Mother would neeeds have for her self giving her in Exchange the Castle of Chaumont upon the Loire Bertrandi was depriv'd of the Seals which were restor'd to the Chancellor Olivier and he himself resettl'd as the Head of the Law in all the functions of his Office The Constable had Orders to retire to his House of Escouan and the Cardinal of Tournon was recall'd The Dutchess of Valentinois made her self amends for her misfortune with Brissac's company who continued faithful to her and being reconcil'd to the Guises prevented her being any farther persecuted But the King being arriv'd at Orleance after twelve Days Sickness di'd not without some suspition of being poyson'd in the Eighteenth Month of his Reign which gave occasion to new Intreagues The Intreagues of the Court of France under Charles IX year 1560 THere was great bustling and contending at Court for the Regency during the Minority of Charles IX but at last Queen Katherine obtain'd it and enforc'd the King of Navarr to be contented with the Lieutenancie General of the Kingdom The Queen Mother was a refin'd Politian and one who thought she might make use of illegal as well as legal ways so she might Reign She was magnificent in all her actions and lov'd all manner of divertisements which she made subservient to her Ambitious designs During the troubles that turmoyl'd the State the same Wagons that carry'd the Warlike Ammunition carry'd the Accoutrements for Balls and Masquerades By these Artifices it was that she retain'd the Young Courtiers about her who finding in their attendance upon her pleasures conformable to their Ages and their inclinations and Charm'd with the beauty of her Maids of Honour generally preferr'd her part before others that were set up in contempt of the Royal Authority The Court was then divided into two Factions Huguenots and zealous Catholicks Lewis Prince of Conde headed the first and the Guises govern'd the second The King of Navarr the Constable and the Marshal de St. Andrè seem'd to make a third party and the Queen's aim was to preserve the Authority which the Regency gave her by dividing and balancing these three cabals in such a manner that the one should not oppress the other two The third party which was usually call'd the Triumvirate seem'd to her to be most powerful and she made use of the Dutchess of Valentinois to divide the King of Navarr and the Constable for fear least being united they should leave her no more then the shadow of Government And the Dutchess undertook it so much the more willingly because her Interests agreed best with the Queen 's She feign'd as if she had suffer'd her self to be over-rul'd by the tears of her eldest Daughter and the submissions of the Duke of Aumale her Son in Law to reconcile her self and renew her good correspondence with the House of Guise which had abandon'd her to the mercy of her Enemies and the Court took this reunion for an effect of Heroic Virtue thaô indeed an indispensable necessity was the only motive that induc'd her to it The Dutchess had both Wit and experience enough to Judge that 't was impossible for her to preserve the vast wealth which she enjoy'd but by the support of the House of Guise which was not in a condition to hold up any long time but by a reconciliation with the Constable so that indeed the Dutchess labour'd for her self while the Queen and the Duke of Aumale fancy'd to themselves that she acted for them In a word she made such effectual use of the Authority which she had still over the Constable that she accustom'd him by degrees not to look upon the Guises any longer as his Enemies Thus the Dutchess maintain'd her self till she dy'd in the same flourishing condition wherein Henry II. had left her no body daring to cross her any more when they saw her have such potent protectors But it was not enough for the Queen to have broken the Triumvirate it behov'd her also that she might get all the power into her hands to fasten to her Interests the two Princes of the House of Bourbon And in regard she knew that Love was the most powerful engine to move the inclinations of that Age she made use of the Charms of her Maids of Honour to bring about her design The two most amiable were Mademoiselle du Rouet the Daughter of Lewis de la Berandiere de Guiche Lord of the Island of Rouet in Poitou and Mademoiselle de Limueil The first undertook the Conquest of the King of Navarr and the second to subdue the Prince of Condè To that purpose M. de Rouet wherever she came spoke so highly in praise of the King of Navarr that she infus'd into him a long desire to knoe who it was that so much oblig'd him with her encomiums in all companies Mademoiselle de Limueil on the otherside said nothing that could reflect upon the reputation of the Prince of Condè but still she gave out every where that he should be the last Man that she should make choice of for a Lover because he was naturally unconstant and minding nothing so much as his Ambition he could not condescend to those petty complaisancies that more frequently win upon the affections of Ladies then great Services The Prince of Condè hearing of these discourses thought himself bound in Honour to undeceive M. de Limueil and by that
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