the Appartment which Bouteville had hird and furnish'd for her Their first enterview was very tender and passionate and at night they parted very well satisfi'd the one with the other But when she was a bed she was astonish'd to hear the door open and an unknown person come into her Chamber She ask'd him what he would have but he went out again without answering so much as one word presently she call'd her Maids but they could give her no account of this adventure But the next morning she was inform'd that the Chamber where she lodg'd had been hird by an Italian Fencing Master who had a pretty woman to his Wife of whom he was jeaous that being to ride a little way out of Town he had carri'd the Key along with him thinking to surprize his Wife at his return and discover whither she had not some peculiar favourite besides himself Thereupon not knowing that his Wife was remov'd he open'd the Door softly with his Key but was in so great amaze to see the Chamber so richly furnish'd and to hear a strange voice speak to him that he made all the hast he could out again Madam de Pons told Bouteville the Story who came in a short time after and the Fencing Masters jealousie prov'd the subject of their merriment for several days together At the beginning of Autumn Madam de Pons went to the Spa where she saw the Rhine-Grave and gain'd a new Conquest He carri'd her home to his Palace after she had been drinking the Waters and there she contracted a most intimate friendship with her admirers Wife who was no less innocent then beautiful and reported up and down that she was highly oblig'd to Mademoiselle de Pons who had infus'd good humours into her Husband but there were some that were careful to disabuse her so that Madam de Pons dreading the effects of that Ladies jealousie return'd to the Hague where she heard that Malecorne lay dangerously sick which oblig'd her to return into France 1656. She came to Charleviâ—le where the King s Lieutennant who commanded in the absence of the Duke of Noitmoutier who was Governour receiv'd her after a most obliging manner and fell so passionately in Love with her that he offer d to deliver up Charleville and Mount Olympus into the hands of the Spaniards if by that means she could procure to her self a considerable Establishment at Brussels but she refus d his Offers Malicorne who had by this time recover'd his Health came to see her Charleville and after he had stay'd with her some few days return'd to Paris to prepare a Lodging for her where she might remain Incognito till she could reconcile herself to the Court. At his departure she gave him a Letter directed to Mademoiselle Le Fevre which he made use of by adding some lines in a counterfieited hand to get out of her hands the little Box wherein were all the Letters from all the Lovers of his unfaithful Mistress by which he understood her complacency for the Marshalls d' Aumont and d' Albret during their Intreagues and deeming her unworthy of a real Passion he resolv'd to forsake her utterly broke off with her and never saw her more As for the Duke of Guise he Intreagu'd himself with Mademoiselle de Gorce who was not of so illustrous a Family but who lov'd him more cordially and faithfully so that after his death she retir'd into the Convent of Carmelites where at length she took the Habit upon her 1656. The same Year the Queen of Sweden arriv'd in France the King sending the Duke of Guise to meet and receive her upon the Frontiers Love had oblig'd that Princess to quit her Crown for she was in Love with Count Magnus de la Gardia and because he refus d to Raign with her nor could find in his heart to love her because he had devoted all his Inclinations to the Sister of Charles Prince Palatine the Father of the present King after she had made use of all her address to procure the consent of the States of the Kingdom she resign'd her Scepter and the Throne of Sweden to the Prince Palatine upon condition that he should marry his Sister to the Count du la Gardia This Queen was perfectly learned in all the Sciences spoke the greatest part of the Languages of Europe and with as much ease as she did the Swedish Tongue Now in regard she had a great Reputation among all the European Nations she strove to conceal the real Motive of her Abdication and would have People believe that Religion was the pretence She had been bred up in the Lutheran and was desirous to embrace the Roman-Catholick-Faith To which purpose she came into France and took into her Service none but Foreign Officers and Roman-Catholicks Among the rest she made the Marquiss de Monaldeschi descended from a very mean Family in Italy her Squire and did him the Honour wholly to confide in him After she had spent the remainder of the Year at Paris she remov'd to Fontain Bleau at the beginning of the next where she discover'd that Monaldeschi from whom she had had complacencies a little too familiar for a Princess to have with one of her Officers had boasted of 'em to the disadvantage of her Reputation She had also intercepted Letters which he wrote to his Friends in Italy for which she first upbraided him with his Ingratitude but seeing that he obstinately persever'd in denying his Crime she convicted him by the Testimony of witnesses that were not to be contradicted and then deliver'd him to three of her Officers who killd him in the Stagâ—-Gallery after she was withdrawn Nor did the Marquiss dye like a Roman but like a Modern Italian that is to say like a Coward not making so much as one struggle to defend his Life nor striving otherwise to save it but by imploring the Queen's Pardon which he beg'd the Priests that confess'd him and the Queen's Almoner who came into the Gallery at the time they were just preparing for the fatal stroak to sue for The King was highly offended at this act of Violence and sent to the Queen of Sweden to let her understand that she would have done more prudently to have addrest herself to him and to have demanded Justice against the Marquiss since she had no Priviledg to exercise any Soveraign Authority within his Dominions The Queen thus reprimanded made but little stay in France but went to Rome where she was kindly receiv d by Innocent X. and took into her Service a French-man whose name was Alibert the Son of one of the deceased Duke of Orleance's Super-intendents She continud at Rome till her death and kept a very modish Court the Roman Ladys that came to visit her relaxing in respect to her Grandeur much of that severity which is usually practis'd in Italy Before I finish these Memoirs I think my self oblig'd to give some account in this place of an Intreague
Thibaut Count of Blois But some time after she was brought to Bed the King being inform'd of all Eleonor's Galantries resolv'd to vacate his Marriage To which purpose he assembl'd the Clergy of France at Boisgency where Alegrin his Chancellor set forth the reasons that mov'd the King to desire a separation and easily obtain'd what his Master desir'd because the Queen made no opposition However Lewis that he might come off with Honour surrendred back to her the Dutchy of Aquitaine and the Earldom of Peitou which she brought him in Dowry and only kept the two Daughters which He had by her Eleonor after this Divorce retir'd to Poitiers where she was visited by Henry Duke of Normandy the King of England's Son Who thô he were a Prince whose Person was no way inviting and had the worst colour'd Hair in the world yet she fail'd not to admit of his sedulities and to hearken to the proposals of Marriage which he made her because he was Heir presumptive to the Crown of England Henry was well inform'd of all the disorders of her past life but his eager desire to joyn Guyenne and Peitou to the rest of those Dominions which he was to inherit prevail'd over all other Considerations He espous'd Eleonor which so enrag'd Lewis that he suffer'd no opportunity of Revenge to escape him So that a War was kindl'd between the two Princes so soon as Henry came to the Crown which lasted till an end was put to it by the Marriage of Henry the King of England's eldest Son with Margaret the Daughter of Lewis and Elisabeth of Castille his second Wife And thô the affianc'd Princess were but five years of Age she was put into the hands of the King of England for a farther confirmation of the Alliance When she came to be of age proper for the consummation of the Nuptials the King of England refus'd to deliver her to his Son for fear he should become too potent and go about to dethrone him with the assistance of France Thereupon Henry impatient to enjoy his youthful Spouse that was to secure him his Succession to the Crown of England the Princess being design'd to the Heir of the Kingdom he stole her away and fled into France to the King his Father-in law From thence he wrote to his own Father demanding England or the Dutchy of Normandy as an Earnest of his Succession and upon the King's refusal resolv'd to obtain his Pretensions by force of Arms. Queen Eleonor also engag'd Richard Duke of Aquitain and Jeoffrey Duke of Bretagne her Brothers to take part with Henry and Lewis oblig'd William King of Scotland to invade England on that side while he sent Robert Earl of Leicester with a powerful Army to make a descent into the Island out of France So that a Man would have thought that the King of England assail'd on every side must have been overwhelmed by so many Enemies But Heaven protected him His Son Henry dy'd in a short time after and Peace was concluded between England and France and the Marriage of Richard who was become Heir to the Crown by the death of Henry with Alice the Daughter of Lewis was the Seal of that Union But in regard the Princess was very young she was put into the hands of the King of England as her Sister had been till she came to years of maturity and Queen Eleonor was shut up in close imprisonment to prevent her contriving new troubles at Court. In the mean time King Henry shew'd himself so extreamly complaisant to the Princess Alice that it was look'd upon to be an effect of love and the Princess answer'd him with a frankness pardonable as her years however Richard grew jealous to that degree that he could not find in his heart to marry her when he came to the Crown Queen Eleonor also whom he set at liberty so soon as he saw himself seated upon the Throne confirm'd him in his aversion and negotiated a Match between him and Beranguelle the Daughter of Don Garcias King of Navarre whom she carry'd to Richard then in Palestine where he espous'd her This anger'd Philip surnam'd the August King of France who at the same time had made a voyage to the Holy Land but he would not shew his resentment there for the injury done his Sister because he would not give the Infidels an opportunity to take advantage of the division of the Christians But so soon as he return'd into France he enter'd the Territories of the King of England in revenge At length Eleonor after she had been the cause of many mischiefs in both Kingdoms where she had worn the Crown ended her days at Poitiers in the Fourscore and fourth year of her age Mary of Moravia Mistress to Philip surnamed the August Anno 1192. PHILIP the August after the death of Isabella of Hainault his first Wife marry'd Isembourg or Eudelberge the Daughter of Waldemar the Great King of Denmark but found so little pleasure in the enjoyment of her that after the first Night he never would Bed her again However he endeavour'd a long time to combat this aversion but not being able to surmount it he imparted the secret of his disgust to William Bishop of Beauvais who told him that in regard there was a near affinity between him and the Queen it would be no difficult thing for him to disannul the Marriage if he would summon an Assembly of the Prelats of his Kingdom The King relish'd this Proposal and having sent for all the Bishops of France and amongst the rest for the Archbishop of Rheims who presided in the Assembly the sentence of Separation was pronounc'd Some time before the King had seen the Portraicture of Mary Agnes the Daughter of Bertol Duke of Moravis which appear'd so charming to him that he had always the Idea of her in his sight Therefore when he saw himself at liberty he sent to demand her in Marriage and having obtain'd his desires he espous'd her with a more then ordinary Magnificence Anno. 1198. Isemburg would not be present at the Nuptial Ceremony but secretly left the Court with a design to retire into Denmark But when she came to the Frontiers of France she bethought her self of the fault she was about to commit in abandoning the Justice of her Cause she return'd back again and shutting her self up in a Convent sent an account of her misfortune to King Conuie her Brother He being astonish'd at Philip's inconstancy sent to his Ambassador then residing in Rome to make his complaints to Pope Celestin and to demand Justice of him Celestin immediately dispatch'd away two Cardinals the one a Priest and the other a Deacon to make inquiry into what had past in the dissolution of the Marriage and to make use of all the Authority of the Holy See to oblige the King to take Isemburg again in case he had no lawful cause of separation So soon as the two Legates arriv'd at Paris
sollicited to do homage for the Dukedom of Burgundy He felt strange combats in his breaâ—t and struggl'd with more then one single passion upon this accompt and before he would positively determin he would needs take advice of Madam de Gyac with whom he had a long time had an Intreague That Lady who was still young and handsome did not suit with the Kings age who was already going down the hill of his years and would willingly have been reconcil'd to the Court in hopes of smiting the Dauphin in the Eye for whom she felt some kind of amorous inclination and with that design she advis'd the Duke to do what was demanded from him The place appointed for the Ceremony was Monterault where a large room of hoards was erected upon the Bridge with three bars that were let down as the Duke pass'd forward But when he was upon his knees in order to do his homage a pretence was taken from hence that he laid his hand upon the hilt of his Sword upon which Tonnequi du Chastel who stood next the Dauphin fell'd the Duke with a blow upon his Chin with his battle ax and the rest of the Courtiers compleated the Murder However his death was reveng'd by his Children who introduc'd the English into France nor had the Dauphin who in a short time after came to the Crown by the name of Charles VII sav'd the Kingdome but by a particular assistance that Heaven miraculously sent him The Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Charles VII year 1424 JAQVELINE of Haynault Countess of Holland had espous'd for her first Husband John Dauphin of France the Son of Charles VI. and after his death was marry'd to John of Burgundy the Son of Anthony Duke of Brabant his cousin He was a Prince both old and gouty who avoided the World and sought retirement only Jaqueline was quite of another humour and could not find in her heart to shut her self up in the Country with her Husband However she was bound to obedience and was constrain'd to consine her self with him in a Castle whither he had withdrawn himself from the hurry of business Nor had she any other consolation then to bemoan in private with her Women the fantastick humour of her Husband Her Maid of honour had formerly made a voyage into England attending at that time upon Katherine of France who had marry'd Henry V. and she was return'd with all the Officers of the Houshold of that Princess whom the King her Husband had sent back some Months after Now tho' that Lady had made but a short stay in London nevertheless she had seen all the magnificence of that Court of which she made so pleasing a description to her Mistress that she infus'd into her a desire to cross the Sea's and taste her share of the pleasures which that Court afforded The Lady also spoke to her so advantagiously of Humphrey Duke of Glocester the King's Brother that she caus'd her to conceive an esteem for that Prince which did not a little disquiet her repose She desir'd also to see his Picture and open'd her mind to her Maid of Honour who found a way to satisfy her curiosity And the Portraicture and the Persuasions of her Woman increas'd her Chimerical Passion to that degree that she resolv'd to cross over into England She imparted her design to none but such Officers whom she could not avoid entrusting with her Secret and having made choice of a day for her departure she got a Horse-back with a small Train carrying all her Jewels along with her She got to Dunkirke whence she embark'd for Dover and so for London She was well receiv'd by the King of England and better by the Duke of Gloucester who had been inform'd how much he was concern'd in the voyage which she had undertaken And he knew so well how to make the best of her preventing him that he oblig'd her to yield her fell up to him upon the faith of a Marriage which she could not contract in regard she had a Husband living But the King of England's complacency in indulging her idle Passion had like to have broken the good correspondence between him and the Duke of Burgundy Cousin to the Duke of Brabant his kinsman but reason af State prevail'd above that frivilous Disgust Sometime after John of Bavaria Duke of Luxembourg Governor of the Counties of Holland and Zealand ordain'd his Heir Philip Duke of Burgundy his Sisters Son without making any mention in his Will of Jaqueline his Neece by the Father's side which oblig'd her to return into Haynault where the Duke of Gloucester would needs accompany her She was receiv'd by her Subjects with extraordinary Magnificence notwithstanding the opposition of the Counts of Conversano and Anguien who sided with the Duke of Brabant The Duke of Gloucester also endeavour'd to make himself Master of such places as he pretended were fall'n to Jaqueline by the death of the Duke of Luxembourg But he was constrain'd to quit his enterprize and her whole Rights he maintain'd because Pope Martin V. threaten'd him with Ecclesiastical Censures if he did not restore the Duke of Brabant his disloyal Wife The Duke obey'd without any reluctance and was glad of that pretence to abandon Jaqueline that she might not perceive he was become unfaithful and paid his Vows to another Shrine For Jaqueline had taken along with her into Haynault an English Lady who was call'd Madam Shelton and the Duke was soon aware of the advantage which that Lady had over her Mistress as well for the Graces of her Body as for the fineness of her Wit and delicacy of her Sentiments Nor could he withstand so many charms and finding they concurr'd with his Sedulities he was glad to find himself at liberty that he might follow his own inclinations He therefore left the Dutchess at Mons and return'd into England where he marry'd Madam Shelton But the Duke of Gloucester's infidelity was not the only thing which troubl'd the Dutchess she fear'd the effects of her Husband 's just resentment and she imagin'd every moment that she saw him invading her Territories with an armed Force But the death of the Duke deliver'd her from these Fears news being brought her in the midst of her disturbanbances that a Feaver which seaz'd him at Brussels had put an end both to his Life and his Jealousies Réne de Anjou Duke of Barr having had a contest with the Count of Vandemoâ— who should succeed to Charles Duke of Lorrain they disputed their Right by dint of Arms. The Count had recourse to the Duke of Burgundy a sworn Enemy to the House of Anjou who assisted him with Men and Money and after he had obtain'd that reinforcement he march'd to find out his Enemy meeting him in the Plain of Bullenville near Neuchatel in Lorrain he gave him Battle defeated his Army and took him prisoner Nor could the Duke obtain his liberty till the death
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
on when he pleas'd that he never envy'd the present that Fortune had made to so charming a person that the Ring belong'd to her by an inviolable Law of the Empire which was so far from permitting the Emperors to take back again what had fallen from their hands how great so e'er the value of it were that he ordain'd it to remain with the person that should find it as a testimony of the Adventure 'T was no difficult thing to find out the place from whence this Law was taken nor to bring examples to justify that it had been in use The Dutchess therefore made use of all her alluring language to perswade the Emperor to receive the Jewel back again and the King press'd him withal the civility that could be imagin'd But the Emperor who had too well begun his artifice to leave it off imperfect persisted so obstinately in his resolution that the Jewel should remain with the Dutchess that the King was constrain'd to let her keep it The effect of this Jewel was that the Dutchess who wanted no Wit reflecting upon the Emperors courtship and upon his suttlety to make her accept of a magnificent present at the only conjuncture wherein the King could consent to her acceptance of it found her self engag'd to defer her revenge upon the Constable for fear least the disgrace of that Favourite should reflect upon a Prince so liberal as the Emperor The Court remov'd afterwards to Paris where his Imperial Majesty staid only so long as was necessary to give the King some time to empty his Coffers by a supersluous magnificence From thence he went to Chantilli where the Constable treated him in his turn The King also conducted the Emperor as far as St. Quentin and commanded the Dauphin and the Duke of Orleans to accompany him as far as Valenciennes A Man would hardly believe the caresses which the Emperor bestow'd upon the Youngest of those two Princes under pretence of his being charm'd with his pleasant humour He treated him like one that was to be his Son-in-Law and put him in hopes that the fief of Milan was not the only favour which he was to expect After the Emperor was got within his own territories the Constable and the Bishop of Vabres the French Ambassador demanded Audience and prest him to perform his promise The Emperor durst not disgust 'em at first because the King might succor the Inhabitants of Gaunt and therefore he only return'd 'em for answer that the King of the Romans his Brother was upon the road for Flanders and that it was necessary to stay for his arrival to the end there might remain no dispute about the investiture which he had promis'd without acquainting him who was to succeed in the Empire with his design The Constable upon that return'd to the King his Master but the Bishop of Vabres who folow'd the Emperor continu'd his importunities so vigorously that he constrain'd him at last to pull off his Maske and to disown all that he had said to the Constable The King so much the more nettl'd at this piece of Infidelity by how much it equally concern'd both his Honour and his Interests acknowledg'd his fault in not demanding a writing from the Emperor and because there is nothing so usual as for Princes to lay the blame of their own mis-failings upon others when they have the least pretence he complain'd of his being deceiv'd for no other reason but that he might have an occasion to punish the Constable whom he upbraided with all the faults he had committed he confin'd him to his House of Chentilly and people made no question but the Dutchess d'Estampes was the cause of his Disgrace And the proof of what was alledg'd was grounded upon this that the Dauphin after he had made use of all his power to support his Gossip for so he call'd the Constable not only could not prevail with the King but drew upon himself severe Reprimands which he thought he no way deserv'd year 1540 Nor was the Constable the only person upon whom the Dutchess's wrath fell heavy for the Chancellor Poyet felt those effects of it which were much more violent The pretence that she took to ruin him was occasion'd by John du Tillet chief Prothonotary of the Parliament of Paris and John de la Renaudy Gentleman of Perigord who was afterwards the Principal Author of the Civil Wars of France The credit of the Parties or the difficulties of the Questions that were to be decided had remov'd the Affair to several Tribunals from whence it was summon'd to be heard before the Council and at last transmitted to the Parliament of Dijon La Renaudie fearing lest he should be overthrown obtain'd the King's Letters by the favour of the Dutchess d'Estampes whom he had engag'd in his Interests to delay giving Sentence that he might have time to perplex the Cause anew Gilbert Bayard the King's Secretary presented the Letters to the Seal and fail'd not to advertise the Chancellor that it was by his Majesties express Order who could not refuse that Favour upon the sollicitations of the Dutchess d'Estampes 'T is not known whether the Chancellour examin'd those Letters to the end he might acquit himself in his Office like a person of Sincerity or whether it were out of any secret reluctancy to follow the Capticio's of the Dutchess with a blind adherency or whether it were that he favour'd du Tillet's Cause but certain it is that he refus'd to seal the Letters till he had alter'd 'em in several places La Renaudie not finding 'em then fit for his purpose carry'd 'em to the Dutchess not a little already incens'd against the Chancellor since the Admirals arraignment and quicken'd her to Revenge under pretence of maintaining her Honour Nor did she delay it any longer then the Evening of the same day at what time she presented la Renaudie holding the Letters in his hand to the King as he rose from the Table That Gentleman naturally eloquent as he made it afterwards appear in the conspiracy of Amboise aggravated the importance of the words which the Chancellor had alter'd and endeavour'd to exasperate the King against him by reason of that opposition which he adventur'd to make aginst his absolute Power The King who for a long time had had a desire to disgrace the Chancellor could not have met with a more plausible pretence He was hated by all the Court and it was well known that no body would be sorry for him nevertheless for important Reasons his downfal was delaid The King only order'd La Renaudie to carry back the Letters to the Chancellor and to command him peremptorily in his Name to dispatch 'em without any qualifications La Renaudie return'd to Poyet and deliver'd his Message with an arrogant Tone in the presence of the Queen of Navarr who at the same time solicited for a Servant of hers who was convicted for having stoll'n a wealthy Heiress The Chancellor was
his Heart for the Princess of Conde and in regard he was assur'd that he should not obtain any favour from her but by lawful means he endeavour'd to perswade her to consent that he should dissolve his Marriage under pretence that his Wife was a Heretick not doubting but he should easily obtain his desires at Rome The Queen Mother having notice of the King her Son s design was extreamly alarum'd at it afraid least if the Princess of Conde who was an Ambitious Woman and one that had a Genius above the common sort should come to be Queen she would altogether govern the King and be mistress of all that authority which she had acquir'd in his Councils Therefore to send off this blow she set all the most charming Ladies of the Court at work to inveigle her Sons affections Mademoiselle de Chateauncuf amus'd him for some time but was oblig'd to give way to Mademoiselle de Eâ—â—oâ—â—f who neither had the happiness to retain him long fetter'd in her Chains Madam de Sauve the Secretary of States Widow was she that triumph'd at last over all the Rivalesses The King gave himself solely up to Her but the engagement was not reciprocal because she lov d the King of Navarr Their Intreague first began while Navarr and the Duke of Alenson were Prisoners together and Madam de Sauve was wont to go and bear 'em company meerly to divert 'em and alleviate the vexations of their imprisonment These two Princess fell equally in love with her but she had not the same kind sentiments for both She hated the Duke of Alenson but she made favouraable returns to the tender addresses of the King of Navarr When that Prince was set at liberty the interests of the Party that acknowledg'd him for their Head obliged to absent himself from his Mistress but his absence nothing abated the Passion which she had kindl'd in his heart nor did she omit any opportunity to let him understand that she was still the same when Henry III. began to cast an eye of Favour upon her But she made no other use of his complacency then to second the Queen Mothers design which was to revive in his heart that tenderness which he had formerly had for Mademoiselle de Vaudemont and to perswade him to seat her by him upon the Throne But this was not all for 〈◊〉 more powerful reason over-rul'd Madam de Sauve to infuse into him the same sentiments The Duke of Guise was become an inamor'd Servant of hers and had insensibly banish'd from his heart the tenderness which he had for the Queen of Navarr and she thought to do him a great piece of service by advancing his Kinswoman to that high degree of honour which would oblige him to love her the more And the death of the Princess of Conde which happen'd about the same time gave Madam de Sauve a fair opportunity to engage him with Mademoiselle de Vaudemont The King saw her as he was going to be Crown'd at Rheims and finding in her face the same Allurements that had formerly charm'd him he resolv'd at length to marry her Francis of Luxemburgh of the House of Brienne had made his addresses to her before the Lorrain Princes had any hopes of making her Queen Henry III. who knew it had a desire to marry him to Mademoiselle de Chasteauneuf and whether he thought it became him to take care of the Fortune of a Person whom he had once lov'd or that he took some kind of Pleasure to change Mistresses with Luxemburgh he propos'd it to him upon his Coronation Day To which the Lord made answer that he had so great a value for whatever concern'd the Queen that he could but be highly overjoy'd at the advantage which fortune had procur'd her and that he applauded her for having made so happy a change of her Lover But in regard there was not so much to be got by him in marrying Mademoiselle de Chasteauneuf he besought his Majesty to allow him time to consider The King repli'd that it was not for him to hesitate upon what he had propropos'd to him and therefore he expect'd to be forthwith obey'd Luxemburgh finding himself so vigorously press'd upon desired eight days to prepare himself and obtain'd three which serv'd him to find a way to quit the Court and retire in a place where he might shelter himself from the King's displeasure Nor did the King whose first transports were only to be fear'd think any more of him after he was once got out of his sight The pleasures which he tasted in his conversation with the Queen put Luxemburghs disobedience quite out of his mind For he had so much complacency for that Princess that he acted the person of a Lover rather then of a Husbahd in her company Now in regard that Age was an Age of Licetiousness several Lampoons were made upon all these passages that would not have been endurâ—d at another time and as they had also a great veneration for the Queen Mother an Edict was made in railliery against Faithless Lovers which began in these words Henry by the Grace of God unprofitable King of France and imaginary King of Poland Turnâ—â—y of the Lovre Church-warden of St. Germans de Lauxerrois Son in Law to Colas First Valet of his Wives Chamber Pedler of the Palace Gaurdian of Four-Beggars Protector of Penitents and Capuchins By this Satyr it may be seen that the King affected to appear devout in publick but in private abandond himself to all manner of voluptuous sensuality without any moderation and the Queen-mother was so far from restraining him that she indulg'd him in his humours that she might have the greater share in the Government One day he gave a great Entertainment at Cheâ—â—nceaux where the Ladies appear'd like Nymphs half naked to their Wasts and with their hair dishevell'd about their Shoulders Not long after the King went in Masquerade to Hostel de Guise where the Duke presented the Company with a Ball to honour the Nuptials of Mademoiselle Marcel with the Baron de Vâ—erâ—eâ— and where the confusion and disorder was so great that the Candles were blown out and the Chastity of the Ladies suffer'd no small detriment in the Dark The King also to make himself popular frequently went to divertise himself among the men of the Long Robe especially to the President Boncharts House whither he was drawn by Mademoiselle de Bussy his Daughter-in-Law All the Courtiers in imitation of their Master thought of nothing but making love and knowing well that wild passion never seeks after equality but makes all equal they address'd their vows to persons as well superior as inferior to 'em in Rank and Dignity never considering the consequences of such ill concerted Intreagues St. Megrin a Gascoine Gentleman had the confidence to make choice of the Dutches of Guise for the Object of his Tenderness and was well receiv'd But notwithstanding all the caution he had taken to conceal
his Amorous Commerce he was discover'd and it cost him his Life One evening returning from the Loâ—â—â—re at eleven a Clock at Night thirty men in Vizards fell upon him in the Street St. Honore stab'd him in a thousand places and laid him dead upon the Stones where he expir'd soon after The King caus'd his Body to be carry'd to 〈◊〉 House ne'r the Bastille from whence he was born in great Pomp to St. Pâ—â—d's Church and there buri'd But there was no pursuite after the Murderers because the Duke of Maâ—â— was known to be at the Head of 'em and for that the King was not ignorant that St. Megrin had drawn that misfortune upon himself by his own imprudence tho his Majesty was wont to make him a familiar Companion of his Pleasures Nor was Bussy dâ—Amâ—oise the Duke of Alenson's Favorite more happy then St. Megrin He lov'd Mademoiselle de Manteran for tho he had engag'd himself in a strict Intreague and private enough too with that Lady by the means of the Lieutenant Criminal of Saumur his Confident who took care to manage their Randevoâ—zes whither she thought by such an act to conceal the dishonour of her miscarriage of whither she began to disgust her Lover However she sent for Bussy to meet her in her Castle where she would be alone but as soon as he was arriv'd there the Marquis of Monteraâ— who kept himself private in the next Room fell upon him with ten more of his Friends Bussy who was stout and brave defended himself like a Lyon while his Sword was whole but when they had broken it he threw a way the Hilâ— and with Barrs and Stools such as he could lay hands on wounded three or four of his Enemies When he had nothing to defend himself he bethought himself of taking his Heels and as he was preparing of leap out of the Window he receiv'd a mortal wound which laid him weltering upon the Floor The Duke of Aâ—â—nson was no way concern'd for his death because his excessive Pride and Vanity had disgusted him Some months after there was great rejoying at Court upon the Marriage of the Queens Sister Mademoiselle de Vaudemont with d'Argues whom the King had made Duke of Joyeuse All the Ladies made their appearances in the place most magnificently adorn'd there were Masquerades Balls Runnings at the Ring and Tournaments Ransard and Baif had each of 'em a thousand Crowns a piece for Epithalamiums and Verses upon the Subject of that Festival All the Princes to collogue with the King treated the new marri'd Couple every one in their turn The Cardinal of Bourbon who lodgd in the Abby of St. Germans prepar'd a great entertainment in that place the 10th of October 1581. He had order'd a most stately Gallery to be erected for their Majesties to pass to the Pre aux Clercâ—â— It was to have been drawn by four and twenty small Boates that were to have been cover'd with painted Skins which were to have made 'em appear at a distance like so many Sea Mousters and they were to have carry'd Trumpets Hautboys and Violins which were to have founded and strook up successively several Consorts of Warlike and Rural Musick But this Machine did not take effect So that the King was forc'd to go in his Coach to the Abby But this defect was repair'd by several other Gallantries among which there was an Artificial Garden adorn'd with all the beautiful products of the Spring tho it were in the depth of Winter When the King treated the same Company at the Louvre he caus'd a Ball to be daunc'd which represented the divertisements of Ceres and her Nymphs This Ball was attented by a Carrousel wherein the Horses trampl'd to the sound of several Instruments and an Artificial Firework which darted forth Rockets that as they fell form'd the Cifers of the Duke and Dutches. The next year upon Shrove Tuesday the King ran in Masquerade till six a Clock the next morning committing a thousand Follies For which the Preachers tax'd him in their Sermons with too much freedom Henry the Third being offended at it seal for Rose a Doctor of the Sorâ—onne who had declar'd against that Cavalcade with more heat then any of the rest nevertheless got off at the expence of a sight reprimand For said the King to him Doctor Rose I have suffer'd you for these ten years together to râ—n roaring about the Streets and never said any thing to ye yet here for one fegary at the end of the Carnaval you have mangled my Reputation in your Sacred Pulpit pray be more discreet another time and do so no more The King was also so good natur'd that sending for him again within a few days after he gave him four hunder'd Crowns and ask'd him whither that â—â—m would suffice to buy him Sugar enough to sweeten the bitterness of his Sermons When Hen. III. took his Progress into Guyenne the King of Navarr who went to meet him at Bourdeaux entred into an acquaintance there with the Countess of Gâ—iche the Widow of Philibert Count of Gramont who was Slain at the Siege of la Fere. He found her very Amiable and paid her several visits during his stay in that Province and her company made him a mends for the infiedlity of Madam de Sauve For he found her altogether as sensible of his affection as his first Mistress when he parted from Bourbeaux and besought her not to take it amiss if he â—et her hear from him by Parabese whom he had taken into his Service and whose Sister who was one of the same Province was one of his great Friends The Countess was overâ—oy'd at her having an opportunity to keep a correspondence with the King of Navarr and continu'd it till he came to the Crown As for Henry III. most certain it is that notwithstanding these irregularities of his youth his Subjects would have liv'd happily under his Reign had he not found 'em divided into two Factions extreamly exaâ—perated one against the other when he succeeded his Brother For he was Couragious Eloquent and Liberal even to profusion he lov'd men of Merit and was so naturally inclin'd to mildness that 't was alwaies a Grief to him when he punish'd Intreagues of the Court of France under the Raign of Hen. IV. THE first Person to whâ—m over Heâ—ry IV gave any mark of his affection 〈◊〉 Antonetta de Ponâ— Marchionesâ— of Gâ—erâ—◠〈◊〉 Widow of Henry de Silly Count of Roâ—â—â—â—guyen He saw her in Normandy and fell so passionately in love with her that he altogether forgot the Countess of Guich◠〈◊〉 whom nevertheless he had always a high esteem and never refuâ—'d 〈◊〉 any Kindness when it lay in his Power There was 〈◊〉 difference between those two Ladies thaâ— the first was a Country Lady that had never been at Court and that the seâ—ond had all the delicacy of Wit and Conversation which usually distinguishes persons of the Highest Quality from others The
King found the Marchioness more reluctant then he imagin'd and was so far from offering her any violence that he was so charm'd with her Beauty that he had some thoughts to have maâ—â—â— d her But the cares of the War eâ—â—orcing him to absent himself from her long absence abâ—ted his Passion and suffer'd him to be surprized by the Charms of another Beauty While he was tak'n up with the Siege of Paris Maâ—â—â— de Beauvilliers Daughter to the Count of St. Agnan and Abbess of Montmartre sent to him for a safe conduct which he granted after a most obliging manner She came to return him thanks and made her addresses so Gracefully that being a Woman of a comly Presence he could not consent that she should be lockt up in a Convent But being oblig'd in a short time after to raise his Siege he order'd her to be conducted to Senlis which was under his obedience where he paid her those respects and sedulities of which she could not be insensible She had been cloyster'd by force and for the private interest of the Family and she lookt upon the affection of the Prince as a kindness of Fortune to release her out of Prison But tho the King were extremly devoted to her yet could he not forget Madam de Guercheville and knowing her deserts he resolv'd to make her amends for the loss of his heart by helping her to a Husband upon whom he might heap his Favours He cast his eye upon Charles du Pâ—essis Lord of Liancourt in whose favour he wrote to the Marchionoss and so soon as he had marri'd her he gave him the Employment of Grand Squire One evening the King discoursing of the Beauty of the Court Ladies cri'd â—p extreamly the Abbess of Montmartre and said more over that he never saw a person so charming Upon which the Duke of Bellegard the present told him that he would soon be of another opinion if once he saw Mademoâ—selle d'Estrees and made him so lively a description of her Beauty that the King had a great desire to be acquainted with her Some days after the Court remov'd to Mante where the King divertis'd himself extreamly with the Ladies of the neighbourhood but Mademoiselle d'Estrees never appear'd After that he went to Senlis to visit his Admirable Abbess where he gave here all the divertisments that his small stay would admit him to prepare for her When he return'd to Mante the Duke of Bellegarde begg'd leave of his Majesty that he might go to Coeuvres where Gabriella d' Estrees then resided with whom he was deeply in love and for whose sake he had quitted Madam d'Humieres tho she had taken great care of him during a sickness that had held him for some time at Mante and had also sacrafic'd for his sake the Admiral de Villars who had left nothing omitted to gain her affections However the King would not suffer him to take his journey but upon condition that he might go a long with him Bellegard would have been glad to have been rid of such a Companion but in regard it became him not to dispute with his Master he was constrain'd to take the King along with him and which was more had the misfortune to see that his Soveraign found her much more amiable then he had imagin'd her to be The King ingag'd her to come to Maâ—te where she made a new Conquest and deprived Madam de Humieres of a Lover that is to say of Henry of Orleans Duke of Langueville That Prince who had endeavoured to chear up her heart for the loss of the Duke of Bellegard prov'd as unfaithful as he and went to dash himself against the same Rock leaving nothing omitted to gain the affection of Mademoiselle d'Estrees during the King's absence who was forc'd to take the Field to compleate the ruin of the Leaguers and was detain'd in Action longer then he expected Upon his return he apply'd himself more sedulously to Mademoiselle d'Estrees then ever and declar d openly in the tone of a Master that he would have no Companion If the Duke Of Longueville were not a little disconsolate Bellegard was much more who was to renounce a Heart of which he had been in possession whereas Longueville built upon a foundation of ill grounded hopes Nevertheless he promis'd obedience and contented himself with expressing himself to his Mistress after so sensible a manner that she could not forbear to share in his grief But she was not so moderate herself for she flew out against the King and told him with an extraordinary resolution that she would be free in her inclinations and that he would but incur her Hatred if he hinder'd her from marrying Bellegard which was a match that had been agreed upon with the goodliking of her Relations She also departed from Mâ—nte without taking her leave and return'd to Coeuvres Her Anger and her departure equally afflicted the King and he resolv'd to make use of the greatest Submission that might be to gain her Favour The main difficulty was which way to get to Coeuvres in regard he was to travel seven Leagues in the Enemies Country nor could he march with a numerous Convoy without making his Passion known and giving his Mistress a new occasion of Distast so that he ran a great Hazard with a few Men For that the Country was cover'd with the Enemies Forces and there was a necessity for him to cross a very dangerous Forrest However he took the last Resolution love causing him to shut his Eyes against all other considerations Thereupon he got a Horseback with five or six of his Officers in whom he most confided whom he dismis'd when he came within three Leagues of the Castle of Coeuvres and when he was alone he allighted disguiz'd himself in the Habit of a Peasant and taking a sack full of Straw upon his back trud'g on with his Burden till he came to his journeys end Mademoiselle d' Estrees who together with her Sister Madam de Villars stood at the Window of a Gallery that over look't the Country saw the Countreyman at a distance but never dreaming of such a Fantastick adventure n'ere examin'd his Face When the King came into the Court of the Castle he threw down his Burthen and going directly up Staires without taking notice of any body to the place where he had seen her stand who was the cause of his Disguise he accosted her after a most submissive manner But he surpriz'd her extreamly when she perceiv'd him in a Garb so little conformable to his dignity and far from being oblig'd to him for what he had done for her sake she receiv'd him with a disdainful look which was more suitable to the Habit which he wore then the Luster of his Birth So strangely does hatred Impoyson the most Heroick Actions Had Bellegard done as much for her sake she would have valu'd it at a high Rate because she lov'd him but she took it ill at the
sparkling Glances which she darted from her eyes but was very officious in paying his assiduities to her never valuing the trouble it might be to Madam de Beaufort The Counstable also took delight in her disturbances and jeasted about 'em with Marshal de Biron who solely possess'd the Kings Inclinations But Fortune soon after delivered the Marchioness from so dangerouss a Rivaless for she dy'd in Childbed leaving the Constable two Children Henry afterwards Duke of Montmorancy and Charlote Margarite who was marri'd to Henry of Bourbon Prince of Condè which was the occasion of a very great Intreague towards the end of this Raign Madam de Beaufort had also by the King Katherine Henrietta legitimated of France whom in 1619 marry'd Charles of Lorrain Duke of Elbeuf and Alexander de Vendosme commonly call'd the Grand Prior who ended his days in the Dungeon of the Castle of Vincennes where he had been confin'd by the order of Lewis XIII But the Marchioness was not brought to bed of this Prince till after the Queen was unmarry'd and then it was that finding her self at liberty she made use of all her wit to oblige the King to set the Crown upon her Head The King also over whom she had an absolute ascendant left nothing omitted on his part to have gratifi'd her desires and banish'd Nicholas de Neuville Lord of Villeroy and Secretary of State for presuming with too much liberty to condemn his design Now in regard the King was certain to obtain whenever he pleas'd the consent of Queen Margaret there remain'd no more to do but only to get the Court of Rome to allow the Divorce To which purpose he sent with the Character of his extraordinary Embassador Nicholas Brulard Lord of Sileri then President of the Parliament and afterwards Chancellor of France He was one of the most able Ministers the King had and in regard he was no less Zealous for his Masters Interests then for those of the Marchioness to whom he was beholding for a good part of his Fortune 't was to be presum'd that he would leave nothing uneffected to render his Embassie successful But before we relate the success of his Negotiation it will not be amiss to shew upon what grounds the King demanded the Dissolution of his marriage which cannot be better understood then by the Manifesto that he publish'd upon that occasion The Manifesto of Hen. IV. upon his Divorce from Queen Margaret I Thought my self exempt from giving an accompt to the Publick of the motives that induc'd me after twenty years being wedded together to separate my self from the Sister of the Kings my Predecessors under pretence of being too near in Blood And indeed being above the Laws I did not think my self oblig'd to give an account of my actions to any but God only But in regard that Strangers and several of the French Nation take an occasion from thence to blame my Conduct some calling me Voluptuous others Atheistical and both tother condemning me for ingrateful I thought my self concern'd in honour to satisfie those who have suffer'd themselves to be abus'd and to confound the malice of my secret Enemies by exposing to the Eyes of the World the true causes of the Divorce which I desire For considering the high Station to which God has rais'd me 't is not sufficient that my life should be without reproach it behoves me also to render it free from suspition and to draw the Curtain with which I endeavour to hide the disorder of my Family 'Ts said that Heaven sends admonitions to those who are born to command over others of the misfortunes that will be fall ' em If the bloody Rain that fell at Rome before the Battle of Cannae were a presage of the loss which the Republick was shortly to sustain I may say that the Blood that was shed upon the day of my Nuptials seem'd to foretel the cruel Afflictions that should befall me by reason of this fatal Union But I never minded that unlucky Omen nor the words of Charles the Ninth Brother to this unchast Woman who being better acquainted with her then my self said by way of Raillery that he did not give his Megg for a Wife to the King of Navarr only but to all the Hereticks in his Kingdom I interpreted his meaning another way and imagin'd that he lookt upon it as a knot that would for the future inevitably bind to his Service all the Huguenots nevertheless time has but too plainly discoverd to me the mistery of that Oracle I was so little acquainted with that Princess that I knew not that she had been sensible of love ever since Eleven years of Age that Entragues and Charrins both boasted that they had obtain'd her chiefest favours at that Age. I know not whither a Generous Emulation to dispute the Conquest or the Transports of his Pleasure caus'd Entragues to go beyond his strength but certain it is that his efforts brought him within two fingers breadth of the Grave and made him relinquish his bargain to take a Wife less beautiful but more prudent and reserv'd The Prince of Martignes supplyâ—d the place which Entragues left vacant and having discarded Charrins for whom she had no great kindness he remain'd the sole master of her heart That Prince being naturally vain glorious was so far from making a mistery of his good fortune that there Intreague after it had been the discourse of the whole Court was divulg'd in the Army and passing from mouth to mouth afforded ample matter of Raillery to all the Foot Souldiers of which Martignes was Collonel That indiscreet Lover upon all occasions of greatest danger wore an Embroider'd Scarf and carried with him a little Dog that she had given him which he kept to his dying day as a Pledge of her Friendship The loss of this Favorite drew tears from her which the King endeavour'd to wipe away by marrying her to the King of Portugal But the Duke of Guise who pretended by espousing her to give some colour to his Ambitious Designs cross'd that Match by the cunning of the Cardinal of Lorrain her Uncle who was sent to the King of Spain to condole the Death of Elizabeth of France his Wife In the mean time the Duke insinuated himself into the favours of that Princess by means of the kind Offices which he did Madam de Carnavalet 'T is said that the Dukes of Alenson and Anjou broke off that Intreague and that she had those complacencies for 'em that propinquity of Blood did no way authorize but I cannot believe that her Debauchery ran up to that excess However it were the mark had been hit several times before our marriage and all men will be easily convinc'd that I had no need of any great strength to carry the Ring at the first Course So soon as we were marry'd they who had right to pretend to her familiarity discarded themselves and oblig'd her by their withdrawing themselves to stoop to
the Duke of Nevers and therefore sent him to Rome to obtain his Absolution but the Dutchess would follow him notwithstanding all that the King could do to hinder her And because the Duke was forc d to stay at Rome about a Year he had time to Cure himself of his Passion and publickly declar'd at the return of the Dutchess that he found her very much alter'd for the worse Nor was she troubl'd in the least at the King 's ill opinion of her Beauty but pay'd him the same Civility s as she had done before 1604. After her departure the King finding himself constrain d to return to his Mistress divided his Heart between the Marchioness of Vernueil and the Countess of Moret and in regard they had each of 'em Favorites the one being belov'd by the Duke of Guise the other by the Prince of Joyinvâ—lle they suffer d the Partition without any Jealousie The King being arriv d at Buzanci after he had reduc d Sedad dispatch d Bassompierre to Queen Margaret to compliment her upon the death of Juliendat whom she tenderly loy'd and withal gave the Marquiss two Letters to his two Mistresses Bassompierre in the discharge of his Trust began with the Marchioness of Vernueil because her Sister with whom he had an Intreague lay at her House and was so indiscreet as to tell her that he had a Letter for the Countess of Moret The Marchioness curious as all Women are would needs see it and order'd Mademoiselle d' Entragues to lay her Commands upon him to give it her What can a Man deny a Woman that he loves Bassompierre therefore betray'd his Master to gratifie his Mistress and deliverd into her hands the Letter which he had for Madam de Moret The Marchioness after she had read it return'd it to him again and told him he might easily save himself from any trouble by causing a Seal to be made like the King 's and so closing up the Letter as it was before Bassompierre follow'd her advice and sent his Valet de Chambre betimes next Morning to a Graver to make a new Seal But as illuck would have it the Servant apply d himself to the very same Workman who had made the King's The Graver suspecting there was some great Mistery in the Business took the Letter under pretence of examining the Impression and at the same time falling upon the Lad took him by the Collor in order to stop him but the Boy being too strong for Turpin that was the Gravers Name rescu'd himself out of his hands and leaving his Hat and Cloak behind him ran away as fast as his Legs could carry him afraid he should have been hang'd had he been taken Bassampierre order'd his Valet to be hid out of the way and immediately hastning too the Countess of Moret told her that he had inadvertently open'd a Letter which he brought her from the King mistaking it for a Billet which he had receiv'd from a Lady and therefore fearing to be accus'd either of design or Curiosity he intended to have Seal'd it again with the imitation of the King's Signet and then up with the story of Tarpin and his Servant and desir'd her to send to the Graver and demand the Letter The Countess never diving farther into the Matter only laught at the Accident and immediately sent to Turpin for the King's Letter but he sent her word that he had parted from it and deliver d it to the President Seguier who was President of the Criminal Court Now in regard that neither the Countess nor Bassumpierre could tell how to deal with the President in whom they had no Interest and astern man besides they thought it convenient to address themselves to Madam Lomenie to the end that by her Credit she might stiffle the business either by getting the Letter out of the Presidents Hands or by obliging her Husband who was then Secretary of State to give such an account of it to the King as might excuse the Marquiss Bassompierre having taken his leave of the King went to Madam de Lomenie whom he found very busie in preparing dispatches for the Court She pray'd him therefore to sit down till she had finish d a Letter which she was writing to her Husband The Marquiss suspecting that that same very Letter might relate to Turpin's Adventure ask'd her if there had happen'd any thing new and so urgent that she could not give him a Minuites time to speak with her to whom Madam de Lomenie made answer that some body had been attempting to Counterfit the King's Signet but that by misfortune the Criminal had made his escape and that all that could be done was to secure the Letter which was Writt'n with the King 's own Hand that she was writing to her Husband that he would understand from the King's Lips to whom it was dire ed and with whom he had entrusted it by which means the mistery would be easily unfolded adding withal that she would have given 2000 Crowns to have had a more certain khowledg of the Truth Bassompierre tell a laughing to see her make such a mighty business of such a Trifle as that wash and told her that he would satisfie her at a cheaper Rate and with that he told her the whole story as he had related it to the Countess of Moret Madam de Lomenie who was Bâ—ssompierre's intimate Friend as well as her Husband promis d to pacifie the Business provided he would go to Villiers Cotret where the King was to be the next Morning and trouble himself with another dispatch which she was sending to her Husband upon the same Subject to give him a particular account of what she had heard Bassompierre accepted the Condition and having got an answer to the Letter which he had deliver'd to Madam Vernueil and to that which the Countess had not receiv'd he departed for Villiers Coâ—ret and found the King already arriv'd and laughing with the Coyntess at the Adventure and the trouble she had put the Marquiss to Some days after the King went to St. Germains with the Queen the Princess of Conti and the Duke of Montpensier and as they were crossing the Water in the Ferry-Boat of Neuilli the Coach overturn'd in the River The King and the Duke escap'd drenching because they leap'd in time out of the Boot but the Ladys were in great danger of being Drown d. The Marchioness of Vernueil being inform'd of the accident told the King by way of Raillery the first time he came to Visit her that so soon as she had seen the King's Person safe she would have cry'd out The Queen Drinks Which unlucky flowt being carry'd to the Queen She was so incens'd at it that in fifteen Days she would not speak to the King so that there was much ado to reconcile ' em After their reconciliation there was a Ball propos d wherein the Queen was desirous to be one of the Masquers herself but upon the King's
Request that the Marchioness might Dance amongst the rest the Queen broke off the Match But the Friendship between the King and the Countess was not of long continuance Her Intreague with the Prince of Joyinville with which his Majesty had been acquainted having set 'em at Variance only when she had nothing else to say for herself she endeavour d to excuse it by saying the Prince had promis'd her Marriage Of which the King desirous to be satisfy'd sent for the Dutchess of Guise and blaming the Imprudence of her Son threaten'd to punish him if he relaps'd into the same miscarriage and if he did not repair the fault he had commited by marrying the Countess adding withal that he could well endure the having his Mistresse's sought for in Marriage but that he would not permit the covering of Criminal Intreagues under that Vaile and that if he were any thing indulgent to the Prince of Joyinville t was for love of her that was his Mother But the Dutchess naturally haughty took amiss the King's Civilities and answer'd him in such a manner as highly provoak'd him In that ill humour he commanded the Prince of Joyinville to be seiz'd but he made his Escape upon notice that had been given him of the King's Anger His Parents endeavour'd to pacifie His Maiesty but they could obtain nothing more but only that his rash Miscarriage should be pardon'd provided he departed the Kingdom never to return again Which Order he obey'd nor was he recal'd from his Exile till the next Reign And now the King to make himself amends for the Disloyalty of the Countess of Moret would needs knit an Intreague with the Dutchess of Montpensier who had been a Widow some few months And because she was then in the Countrey he order'd the Count of Cramail her Neighbour to make her the first Overture The Count sounded the foard but with a design to make himself the advantage of it but finding her no way inclin'd to act any thing contrary to her Honour he said nothing at all to her All that he could do for the King s satisfaction was to engage her to come to Court Nor was the King more successful and therefore seeing no hopes of prospering in his Enterprize he gave it â—â—ite over Madam de Vernueil knew so well how to make her best advantage of the King 's Melancholy upon the ill success of his other Amours that she triumph d over all her Rivals tho' the Countess of Moret within a few dayes after was brought to Bed of a Son who was the same Antony of Bourbon Count of Moret who in the next Reign was slain at the Battel of Castelnauari fighting in the Duke of Montmorency s Army More then this the Marchioness thinking to increase the King's Passion by rowsing his jealousie spread abroad a Report that the Duke of Guise had a desire to Marry her and had caus'd the Banes to be publish'd unknown to that Prince who never thought of her but address'd all his Vows to Madam d' Entragues her Sister Nevertheless he was not at all belov d by Her For Bassompierre who was the sole possessor of all her Affections spent whole Nights with her almost every four and twenty Hours He ascended through a Private Door that open d into the Cutlter's Street in the third Story of his House which he had caus'd an unknown Friend to hire and she met him by a back pair of Stairs when Her Mother was a Sleep 1607. The King being inform'd that some body slipt in every Night into Madam d' Entragues's Lodgings thought it had been the Duke of Guise and that he went to Visit the Marchioness of Vernueil Thereupon he spoke to the Prince about it who appear'd so astonishd that the King perceiving his Innocence by the marks of Amazement which he discover'd in his Countenance and entrusted him to make the Discovery Upon that the Duke of Guise set his Spies to work the same Night who saw Bassompierre make his Entrance but could not tell who he was because he was wrapt up in his Cloak upon which nevertheless they could discern the Order of the Holy Ghost upon it That Cloak belong'd to Bellegard only he had lent it to the Marquiss by reason of a showre of Rain that fell just after they had sup'd The Spies therefore abus'd by that appearance reported to the Duke of Guise that they had seen a Young Chevalier whip in at the back Door before which they watch'd The Duke of Guise not being able togather any thing from this blind Relation sent two of his own Servants to the same place to watch his happy Rival at his coming out But Bassompierre observing that he had Sentinels upon him took the more care of himself which was the Reason that they could inform the Duke nothing but what confirm'd him in his mistake so that after he had made a thousand Reflections upon this Adventure he fix'd upon Bellegarde who was the only Young Knight that could pretend to so much good Fortune On the otherside Bassompierre acquainted Mademoiselle d' Entragues as soon as she was awake of what had happen'd to the end she might be ready with her Answer to the Duke of Guise That Jealous Lover eager after the Discovery of this same hidden Secret went the next Morning to give Bellegard a Visit but he could not be admitted They told him the Marquiss had been troubled all Night with the Toothach and that he would not be seen till the Evening Which confirm'd the Duke of Guise in his Suspitions imagining that Bellegard lay a bed all day to fetch up the Sleep he had lost in the Night From thence he went to Bassompierre and finding him abed desir'd him to rise and put on his Night-Gown that they might have a little Discourse together The Marquiss believing he had been discover'd rose immediately to hear what his Rival had to say to him But all his Alarums ceas'd as soon as he heard the Duke deliver himself in the following manner What would you say Marquiss said He if the Grand Squire should be better belov d then you or all the World beside by Madam d' Entragues I would say reply'd Bassompierre very coldly that cannot be and that neither He nor She have any design one upon another How easily are Lovers deceiv'd reply'd the Duke I would have sworn as well as you that she had been as chast as Diana yet 't is very true that the Grand Squire was with her all Night and that he did not leave her till four a Clock in the morning He was seen to go in and my Valets de Chambre saw him go along fo carelesly and minding so little the Discovery of his happiness that he never so much as took care to hide the Star upon His Cloak During this Discourse the Duke and the Marquiss walk'd together very fast at what time the latter perceiv'd the Cloak which the Duke had taken for Bellegardes
your advice what course I shall now take by way of redress By my Troth Sir I cannot tell reply'd the Duke but let me return to the Arsenal where I will Sup and go to Bed and then as I lye musing in the night I shall think upon some expedient which I will communicate to your Majesty to morrow morning No pursu'd the King I will have you tell me your thoughts presently I must then consider a little reply'd Sully and at the same time turning himself to the Window that lookt into the Court after he had stood drumming a while with his Fingers upon the Board he return'd to the King who ask'd him whither he had thought upon the business and what he ought to do Nothing reply'd the Duke How nothing reply'd the King very much surpriz'd I say nothing at all added Sully If you do nothing at all and thereby shew that you do not value the Prince but rather contemn him no body will assist him no not his dearest friends nor the most zealous of the Officers he has left here and within three months pinch d by necessity and tyr'd with the flouts and scoffs that will be put upon him he will return and implore your Clemency On the other side if you are eager to recall him you will put a value upon him he will be with Money assisted by several persons of your Court and he will find those that will protect him on purpose to create you trouble who would have abandon'd him had they been convinc'd how little you minded his absence But the King whose thoughts were in too great a ferment to relish such judicious advice resolv'd upon what the President Jeannin had given him which as it was more blunt and harsh so it flatter'd his Passion the more and the next morning dispatch'd away the Marquiss of Pralin as well to the Prince as to the Archduke The Marquiss could not overtake the Prince of Conde and therefore repair'd to Marimont to the Archduke of whom he immediately demanded Audience and went with the Ordinary Embassador He lay'd before the Archduke that Henry of Bourbon Prince of Conde making his Wife the occasion of his Pretence to cover his design of raising troubles in France had withdrawn himself into the Territories under his Government and therefore he desir'd him in his Masters name to cause him to be apprehended To which the Archduke reply'd that he thought he had done enough in not receiving the Prince but that he could not refuse him free passage and that it should not be long of him that he did not return into France as one that zealously wish'd the King's particular satisfaction and the Tranquility of the Kingdom 'T is true that the Prince of Conde did not stay in the Low Countries for he pass'd forward to Cologne and had left the Princess his Wife at Breda with the Princess of Orange his Sister who carry'd her afterwards to Brussels whether the Prince her Husband came in a short time after Thither also went the the Archduke to receive the Ladies and pay'd 'em a visit so soon as they were arriv'd The Marquiss of Spinola General of the Spanish Forces who was then in the same City complain d to the Archduke and blam'd him for not allowing the Prince of Conde refuge and so continually persecuted him with his importunities that he oblig'd him to send a Gentleman to the Prince on purpose to invite him to return Spinola also wrote by the same Courrier and causâ—d the Spanish Embassador to write to him also to the same effect 'T is true that the Archduke did nâ—t act with the same thoughts as the Ministers of that Crown for that he wish'd an Accommodation as much as they desir'd Peace But soon after he was no longer Master of the differences for the Catholick King sent his orders wherein he declar'd that 't was his Pleasure to grant his Protection to the Prince of Conde This Declaration so enflam'd his Courage that he made it his business to justifie his departure out of the Kingdom and publish'd some matters of Fact of which the greatest part were suppos d. To the same purpose also he wrote to Pope Clement VII and Cardinal Borghese his Nephew in terms that might make his Letters pass for so many Manifestos Now in regard the King had given no order to Pralin to enter into any Negotiation with his Nephew so soon as he heard that he was return'd to Brussels he sent the Marquiss of Couvres with the Character of his Extraordinary Ambassador who as soon as he arriv'd press'd the Archduke to deliver the Princess of Conde either into the Hands of the Constable her Father or of the Dutchess of Angouleme her Aunt But the Archduke declar d that he would never dispose of her Person but with the consent of her Husband So that Couvrs finding his Negtiation did not take effect bethought himself of carrying away the Princess by force There was some sort of coldness in Affection between her and the Prince whither it were out of a Natural Antipathy or out of vexation to see her self so far remote from the Court of France and the French had taken care to cherish this embitterment to bring about the King's designes The Marquiss of Coeuvres being inform'd of her Inclinations endeavour'd to perswade her to suffer her self to be taken forcibly away to which proposal she could not a long time tell what answer she should give On the other side she was not satisfi'd with the Prince her Husband she saw herself to her great grief under the Tyranny of the Spaniards The Archdukes Court by no means pleas'd her seeing nothing there that came near the Magificence of that of France and besides she most passionately desir d to be with her Father and her Aunt who by their Letters signifi d the same earnestness on their part But on the other side she durst not forsake her Husband to put her self into the hands of a Person who was bound by no tye to her interest and she was equally afraid of falling into the hands of a Incens'd Husband and of giving Obloquy an occasion to blame her Conduct Nevertheless after she had a long time revolv'd these different reflections in her mind the desire of seeing her Family once again and of returning into France prevail'd above all other considerations Coeuvres's design was to carry her away from Brussels in the Night and to get so far upon the Roade while it continu d dark that when her flight was discover'd it should be impossible to overtake ' em But for the bringing this about there was a necessity of taking several precautions which way to climb or break thro' the Walls of the City to have Horses ready upon the Ramparts to have Horses laid in several places with Horsemen to oppose all such as should go about to stop em Now in regard there was a necessity of employing several persons in the execution of â—his
Project it could not be kept so secret â—â—t that the persons concern'd had an inkling of it The first person who had notice of it was the Count of Buquoy Grand Master of the Ordinace in Flanders who carri'd the news to the Archduke and Spinola Immediately a Council was held wherein it was resolv'd that under some fair pretence the Princess should be invited to lodge in the Palace with the Archduke and the Infanta This was propos'd to the Prince of Conde without discovering the mistery to him withall they insinuated into him that in regard there was some unkindness between him and his Wife 't would be the best way to separate a while that he might have time to recover himself from his disgust To which the Prince consented without any scruple upon those assurances that the Archduke and the Infanta gave him not to part with her out of their Custody without his Consent Nor durst the Princess nor Coeuvres oppose it not having any manifest pretence to excuse themselves besides that hey were in hopes of executing their designs before the change of her lodging Nevertheless because they could not adjust all their Measures during the time that the Princess was to stay in the Prince of Orange's Palace therefore 't was thought convenient for the gaining of three or four days more that the Princess her self with whom he faign'd to be in Love should entreat Spinola to give her a Ball at his House the but crafty Genoese who smelt the design excus'd himself neatly However Coeuvres no ways discourag'd by this unlucky accident resolv'd to carry away the Princess upon Saturday night being the 13th of Feb. 1610. because she was to remove into the Palace the next day being Sunday She pretended she was ill for fear her Husband should lye with her which was a thing that very rarely happen'd and hinder from making her Escape The Archduke who was inform'd of every thing by Buquoy gave notice of it by Spinola to the Prince of Conde to whom they had never made any discovery till then for fear he should make a noise to no purpose and it was resolv'd that the Archduke should be requested to order the Prince of Orange's House to be guarded all the Night Conde was so alarum d at what Spinola had told him that not being able to keep the secret after he had taken sufficient care to disappoint the enterprize he brake out into frivolous complaints As for Coeuvres he deny'd every thing because he had as yet done nothing to convict him and because there was nothing more to be done he dispatch'd away a Courrier to the King for new Orders upon this unexpected Change The King perceiving that Artifice had nothing avail'd him resolv'd to make use of Force to get the Princess of Conde out of the hands of the Archduke and to declare War against the most Catholick King To which purpose he sounded James VI. who after the Death of Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the Crowns of England Ireland and Scotland and endeavour'd to oblige him to break with the Spaniards But he being already grown in years was unwilling to engage in a War of that consequence Upon which Hen. IV. made a League with the Duke of Savoy the Venetians and the States of the United Provinces who were most concern'd to humble the Pride of the House of Austria The Death of the Duke of Cleves upon which a difference arose between the Elector of Brandenbourgh and the Duke of Newburgh about the Succession furnish'd the Most Christian King with a specious pretence to take Armes and he began to send his Forces toward the Low Countries but the tragical end of that Prince disappointed all his vast designs For Hen. IV. going in his Coach to the Arsenal with the Dukes of Montbason and Epernon Ravaillac attempted to kill him as he went out of the Louvre but could not execute his design in that place because he found himself posted on that side where the Duke of Epernon sate The King moreover had not order'd his Guards to follow him as he was wont to do so that when his Coach enter'd into the Ironmongers Street and that his Footmen passâ—d through St. Innocents Church-yard by reason of a stop that hinder'd the Coachman from driving on the Ruffian had an opportunity to get upon the fore-wheel and give the King two Stabs with a broad Knife the first between the second and third Rib which was of little consequence the second between the fifth and sixth Rib which peirc'd his Lungs and cutt the veiny Artery near the left Valvule of the Heart which last wound prov'd Mortal Thus this great Monarch ended his days when he was about to have made all Europe Tremble The Intreagues of France under the Reign of Lewis XIII THE Amours of Lewis XIII afford but little matter because that if he cast a particular eye upon any Lady of the Court 't was rather a Pastime then any real Passion Nevertheless there were Intreagues wherein the Ladies bore a part which I shall endeavour to relate with as much conciseness and clearness as the Thing will give me leave The Duke of Buckingham a Favorite of Charles I. King of Great Britain was come to Paris to conduct Madam Henrietta of France whom his Master had marri'd into England but intruth to set up a Faction in the Kingdom which might prevent the King from putting his design against the Hereticks in execution To which purpose he thought it necessary to acquire some familiarity among the Lady's who had most Credit at Court as being perswaded that 't was a difficult thing for persons of their Sex to conceal the greatest secrecies from those who are once so happy as to have touch'd their Hearts The Daughter of the Duke of Montbason who after the death of the Constable de Luynes marry'd in second Wedlock to the Prince of Joyinville and who was then call'd the Duke of Chevreuse was she whom Buckingham deem'd the most proper to second his designs Her Beauty had purchas'd her an absolute power over all the great Lords of the Kingdom She had a most persuasive Eloquence a boundless Ambition and a wanton Humour which made her covet the Conquest of all those whom she thought worthy of particular distinction Buckingham who had a penetrating judgment quickly understood her Character and perceiv'd that the Grand Prior natural Son to Henry IV. and the Count of Chalais were the most assiduous to pay her homage and the two persons likewise for whom she had the greatest value but that she treated 'em with so much equality that they could not discover which way her heart most enclin'd Buckingham having insinuated himself into their confidence offer d 'em to make the Dutchess explain her self and tho a man would have thought a Confident so lovely as the Duke a very improper person to fulfill the Trust which they had repos'd in him yet they never suspected any thing because that being a
Stranger and one that was but to make a short stay in France they did not believe he would engage in an Intreague with Madam de Chevreuse The Duke of Orleans the King's Brother was then at Limours and the Dutchess at Dampierre that lye not above ten Leagues a sunder The Grand Prior and Chalais who were the Duke of Orleans's principal Favorites carry'd Buckingham to Limours from whence they went every Afternoon to Diampierre During Buckingham's stay there he invented every day some new Courtly feast to divertise the Dutchess to which he always invited the two Lovers for fear they should grow jealouss In the Evening he had the honour to converse in private with the Dutchess by the means of Madam de Vernet her good friend whom he had engag'd in his Interests by his liberality Now when he had receiv'd such sufficient proofs of the Dutchess of Chevreuses Compliance that he could no longer doubt but that she lov d him in good earnest he told her that to conceal their correspondece from his Rivals there was a necessity of engaging em in a Conspiracy against Cardinal Richlieu who was at that time Chief Minister and perswade 'em that tho they were alone together yet they never spoke of any thing but of State Affairs The Grand Prior and Chalais easily fell into this Snare and whereas they saw to their great vexation that the Duke of Orleans their Master had no share in the Government they immediately rellsh'd the proposal which was made 'em to perswade the Prince to declare himself Head of the Faction that they would set up upon the assurance which Buckingham gave em of the King of Great Britain's Protection This Intreague could not be carri'd so secretly but that Cardinal Richlieu had notice of it However he would not presently fly out against the Dutchess not being well assur'd that she was in the Plot So that he only procur'd the Banishment of Madam de Vernet This menace which one would have thought should have made the Conspirators afraid of a more severe punishment did not make 'em give over their clandestin Practises The Marshal d' Ornano Monsieur's Governour headed 'em afraid if his Master should marry Mademoiselle de Montpensier as the King desir'd least she who was a notable Lady should get the upper-hand of the Duke and put him out of his favour Therefore the principal aim of the Malecontents was to break off this Match and perswade the Duke of Orleans to marry Mademoiselle de Bourbon the Prince of Conde s Sister and by that match to unite those two Houses in a strict Alliance or to put him upon looking out for some forraign Princess from whom he might have great Assistance and a Powerful Protection As for Mademoiselle de Montpensier they design'd to marry her to the Count of Soissons thereby to tye the House of Guise to that of Bourbon Cardinal Richlieu who had every day advice of this Negatiation that he might find out the Bottom of it went to take the Air for three days at Bassompierre â—s House who was the Count of Chalais's Father-in-Law and had the knack of flattering the Count so ticklingly that he fetch'd the whole plot out of his very Soul Some days after the Marshal d' Ornano was arrested at Fontain Bleau and carri'd to the Castle of Vincennes they also secur'd the Duke of Vendosm and the Grand Prior his Brother at Blois But it cost them nothing but their being put in a world of bodily fear for the real Punishment fell up Chalais who lost his Head Madam de Chevreuse who foresaw the Tempest betimes secur'd her life and liberty by Flight and retir'd into Lorrain from whence she went to Brussells There were other Intreagues at Court after the death of Mademoiselle the Duke of Orleans first Wife For this same Prince being fallen in love with Maria de Gonzaga the Duke of Montoua's Daughter had a design to marry her and the King himself no way seem'd to dislike the Match But the Queen Mother whose aim it was to marry Monsieur to the Princess of Florence after she had made use in vain of all her perswasions and all her authority to make him consent to the Match had recourse to violence and at Columniers caus'd that Princess to be seiz'd together with the Dutchess Dowager of Longueville Monsieur being touch d to the quick with this ill-usage of a person so dear to him withdrew into Lorrain where nevertheless he prov'd unfaithful and being charm'd with the person of the Princess Margaret the Dukes Sister to the burying in Oblivion of his first Affections he marri d her without his Majesties consent The King incens'd at this match sent a Powerful Army into Lorrain under the Conduct of the Marquiss of St. Chaumont There upon the Princess Margaret seeing that the security of her Country depended upon her Liberty departed the City by four a Clock in the morning in mans Apparel well mounted and attended only by a Gentleman whose name was Dause who had serv'd Madam de Remiremont and two other Ladies and after they had rode thirteen Leagues without drawing bit and hid themselves in a Wood to avoid some Swedish Troops which they descri'd at a distance she arriv'd very much tyr d at Thimville into which place she had much ado to get admittance Presently she gave Monsieur who was retir'd into the Low Countries advice of her arrival who immediately sent to her de Fontaines Chalandray de Rames de Laveauport the Duke d' Elboeuf and Puis Laurens afterwards he went to meet her as far as Marche en famine understanding she was to take that Roade from Namur and carri d her to Brussells where the Magistrates came to kiss her hands and by the Infanta she was conducted to the Queen Mother who as well as a good part of the Grandees of the Kingdom were constrain'd to seek for Sanctuary in that City against the Persecutions of Cardinal Richlieu Now in regard the greatest part of the Court of France was at Brussells I do not believe it will be any deviation from my Subject to give some account of the Gallantries of the French Princes and Ladies that were retir'd thither Monsieur whose amorous humour could not lie idle while he waited the arrival of the Princess Margaret pai'd his assiduities to the Countess of Rennebourgh but she being so austerely vertuous that she was commonly stil'd the Savage he went to refresh himself with the Company of a Spanish Lady call'd Dona Blanca whose humour was altogether as morose Madam de Chevreuse lai'd all her Snares to entrap Archduke Leopold the Emperors Brother to whom the Catholick King had given the Government of the Low Countries and the Duke d' Elboeuf made addresses to Madam de Grincalberque but all these Amours were only transitory Gallantries there was no body but the Duke of Guise that embark'd himself in Intreagues of any long continuance and such indeed as prov d
such notable Tryals of her skill she thought it impossible for that same Prime Minister to deny her any thing and therefore she propounded to him the restoration of Madam de Chastetau-Neuf but in regard he could not consent to it without prejudice to his own particular interests he absolutely refus'd to gratifie her which occasion'd a Rupture so that afterwards there was never any sincere correspondence or reconciliation between ' em Chasteau-Neuf had been for some time already at Monrouge where he happen'd to arrive the same day that the Dutchess return'd to Paris by another Roade And perhaps if he had not stopt there but had come directly to Court without capitulating with the Queen he had oblig'd her by that frankness to have stuck close to him But being desirous to follow the example of Madam de Sensay who refus'd to return to Paris till she was resettl'd in her Employment he gave the Queen time to understand his temper without desiring his nearer approach But his case was not the same with that of Madam de Sensay who had no body to oppose her but a person for whom the Queen had no kindness whereas Chastau-Neuf besides that Monsieur the Prince's whole Family oppos'd him gave an occasion of jealousie to the Prime Minister and had no other way but by Addresses and by degrees to gain what the Lady of Honour obtain'd upon her first motion The Duke of Beaufort also lost himself by the same error for he thought the Queen so prepossess'd with an affection to him that he imagin'd he might be able to ruin Mazarin by shewing himself somewhat cold to that same Princess But that behaviour of his alter'd all the measures that had been taken for his advancement He had been already in nomination for a Cardinals Cap but when it was seen that he shew'd so little acknowledgment orders were sent away privately to Rome to desist from any farther sollicitation in his behalf Neither did the Duke of Vendome his Father carry himself with more prudence for he scrupl'd to accept of the Office of High-Admiral without the Anchorage not considering that it became him first of all at any rate to have worm'd himself into the Employment and then he might easily afterwards have extended his Priviledges He was so much at variance with himself what course to take that he made his addresses sometimes to the Cardinal and acknowledg'd himself beholding to him for his Preferment the next moment he sought an opportunity to get the Marshal d' Etrees to speak to de la Riviere and conjure him to bring about his designs and no sooner was he out of his sight but he endeavour d by indirect ways to engage Monsieur the Prince to serve him In short there was hardly an hour past over his head but he chang'd both his sentiments and his Party The Duke of Beaufort therefore seeing his measures broken by the removal of Chasteau-Neuf resolv'd to rid himself of the Cardinal and subordain'd certain persons to kill him as he went to the Palace Royal where the Queen then lay or else as he return'd But the Cardinal having an inkling of what was contriving against him immediatly went to the Palace Royal tho he knew the Queen was not there and sent for all his friends The Duke of Beaufort who narrowly watch'd him took notice of the swarm he had got about him and rightly guest from thence that his project had taken air which oblig'd him to defer the execution of it till the next day when he might have a better opportunity as he believ'd because the Cardinal was to go that day to Maisons and consequently to pass by the Hostle de Vendome However he was still disappointed for the Cardinal meeting the Duke of Orleance by the way the Duke took him into his Coach and the respect which they bore to the King's Uncle hinder'd the Conspirators from making any attempt In the Mean time the Queen being inform'd of the Duke of Beaufort's designs caus d him to be arrested and sent him away Prisoner to the Castle of Vincennes The Dutchess imagining that Monsieur the Prince had been the principle cause of the Duke of Beaufort's imprisonment and of Chastâ—au-Neufs misfortune resolv'd to be reveng'd Now tho Ladies are apt to flatter themselves in the opinion of their Beauty yet her Mirror had already several times inform'd her that her Charmes half worn away stood in need of some younger person to strengthen her party nor was she constrainâ—d to look out farther then her own Family The Daughter of the Countess of Vertus whom the Duke of Monbason her Father had married was as we have said already the most lovely Woman in France besides she had a secret despite against Monsieur the Prince's Sister who having marri'd the Duke of Longueville had depriv'd her of a Lover and therefore it was no hard matter for the Dutchess of Cheuvreux to win her into a Confederacy with her The Duke of Guise also who since his return had declar'd for that fair Dutchess engag'd all the Lorrain Princes to embrace his Party to which they were already well enclin'd out of respect to the Duke of Cheuvreux who was of the same Family These two Ladies having contracted a strict friendship resolv'd to satisfie their revenge by attacking the reputation of Madam de Longueviâ—â—e To that purpose they publisht the Letters which that Princess had written to the Duke of Beaufort They also counterfeited others which as they said had been written by Madam de Longueville to Coligni The Princess of Conde therefore understanding that the Dutchess of Monbason had spread abroad this report displaid her resentment and engag'd all her Friends to assist her in doing her self justice This quarrel divided the whole Court and made the Queen afraid least it should revive the ancient feud between the two Houses of Bourbon and Guise These two parties were equally matched because the Duke of Lorrain who had marri'd into the House of Guise had declar'd for Madam de Monbason and so this difference might be attended with pernicious consequences And tho the Queen were concern'd to hinder the Duke of Orleance from uniting too closely with the Prince of Conde for fear least their authority should prove prejudicial to hers yet in regard there was more danger in suffering 'em to push things on to the last extremity she laboured to reconcile the Ladies To which purpose she engag'd the Princess of Conde and the Dutchess of Longueville to accept of the satisfaction which Madam de Monbason was ready to give ' em Thereupon the Dutchess was wrought to declare in the Queen's presence to the two Princesses that she had no share in spreading the reports and that she utterly disown'd ' em On the other side the two Princesses as it had been agreed upon before declar'd that they were willing to believe her because Madam de Monbason said it It was also convenanted by the same accommodation that the
Liberty However the Duke was desirous to have her company by all manner of ways nor had she any pretence to avoid this dangerous voyage but only that she staid to perswade her Brother to quit the Court in a fury and prepare himself for a Civil War The Prince of Conti aim'd at nothing certain nevertheless he folow'd his Sisters sentiments not knowing what they were and was desirous of a War as being that which would give him an opportunity to quit his Breviary for which he had no kindness The Duke of Nemours also most earnestly advis'd it tho his sentiments proceeded not so much from his Ambition as from his jealousie of Mounsieur the Prince For he was fallen most violently in love with the Dutchess of Chatillon who had been a long time before intreagu'd with the Prince of Conde and in regard he could not break off their familiarity but by separating 'em forever he knew no other way to succed but by a War and that was the only motive which induc'd him to desire it The Conduct of the Court and the Prince's behaviour soon furnish'd both sides with occasion of mistrust and both parties prepar'd a like for a Rupture The Prince of Conde sent the Marquiss of Silleri into Flanders under pretence of disingaging Madam de Logueville and Marshal Turenne from the Treaties they had made with the Spaniards to procure his Liberty but in truth he had orders to take measures with the Count of Fuensalida Governour of the Low Countries and to sound him before hand what assistance the Prince might expect if he were constrain'd to a War The Count return'd his answer to the proposal according to the usual custom of the Spaniards and promising much more then could reasonably be expected from him left nothing omitted to engage the Prince to take Arms. The Prince also by means of Vinueil negotiated with Mademoiselle de Pons to engage the Duke of Guise in his party obliging himself when he treated with Spain to procure his liberty which he did effectually Moreover upon notice of a intended design to arrest him he withdrew to St. Maur and by the Duke of Rochefoucaut gave notice to the Duke of Orleance of the occasion of his withdrawing out of the way He refus'd to speak in private with Marshal Gramont who came in the King's name to demand the cause of his withdrawing and to invite him to return to Paris with a promise of all security But the Prince return'd him an answer in the hearing of all the company that were present That thâ— Cardinal Mazarin were remov'd from the Court his Spirit and his Maxims raign'd there still and therefore there could be no safety in that place for his person The Prince of Conti also and Madam de Longueville repaird to St. Maur as soon as the Prince arriv'd there and for the first days there was a Court no less numerous nor less crouded with persons of Quality then the Kings with all divertisements serviceable to Politics as Balls Comedies Play and Hunting and the welcome entertainment drew an iâ—finite number of fickle people that always offer their Service at the beginning of parties dividing themselves and which either betray or abandon 'em according to their fears or their interests Thus Mounsieur the Prince believing he was in a condition to support himself at Paâ—is against the Court repair'd thither and sent Madam the Princess the Duke of Enguien and Madam de Longueville to Montrond with a design to pass soon after into Gâ—yenne where the whole Province was prepar d to receive him But when he arriv'd in the Capital City of the Kingdom he found that the Cabal of Slingers were absolutely against him in hopes that the Court would protect 'em in their opposition to him The Coadjutor who was the head of 'em openly declar'd himself his Enemy and never went to the Palace without a great number of armed Men at his heels which oblig'd the Prince to do the same nay one day the two parties were ready to have drawn upon one anoher in the great Hall The Prince therefore fearing least the Slingers should be too strong for him at Paris passed into Guyenne where fortune was as little favourable to him the Count de Harcourt having always the advantage over him On the other side the Duke of Nemours who commanded the Army that came out of Flanders and the Duke of Beaufort who led the Duke of Orleance's Troops being ready to joyn near the River Loire corresponded so ill together that the Prince of Conde thought it necessary to take the command of both together to prevent the unlucky consequences that might attend the misunderstandings of the Chieftains To that purpose he at length departed leaving the Count of Marsin in Bourdeaux to keep that City with the whole Province under his obedience and to hinder his enemies from taking any advantage of the differences between the Prince of Conti and Madam de Longueville For the Prince of Conti could not endure she should have any Lover and display'd those transports of his jealousie which no way became a Brother At length the Prince of Conde arriv'd in the Army with a small train after he had escap'd many daâ—gers beat Marshal d' Hoquincourt and had some advantage over Marshal Turenne but tho fortune was favourable to him in both those enterprises however he was desirous of Peace and was willing to enter into a Negotiation with the Court. To which purpose he sent away Gourville with an Instrument drawn up in the presence of the Dutchess of Chatillon and the Dukes of Nemours and Rochefoucaut Presently the greatest part of the Propositions made by the Prince were granted nor had the Treaty been broken off but upon the pretentions of the Duke of Bouillon who desir d that the Dutchy of Albret might be taken from the Prince and settl d upon him in lieu of what had been promis'd him for the loss of Sedan The Dutchess of Ghatillon seeing the Negotiation broken off would needs undertake the accommodation her self and perswaded the Prince to give his consent For she most passionately desir'd Peace out of a design to despite Madam de Longueville whose interest it was to hinder a Pacification that she might not be oblig'd to return to her Husband The Emulation which Beauty and Courtship frequently causes among Ladies had occasion'd an extraordinary feud between the two Dutchesses and they had a long time conceal'd their animosity but at length it broke out with a vengence on both sides Nor did Madam de Chatillon confine her Victory to the obligation she had laid upon Nemours to breake of all familiarity with Madam de Longueville upon circumstances no less entrenching upon her Honour then publickly known she would also deprive him of the knowledge of Affairs and have the Conduct and Interests of the Prince solely at her disposal The Duke of Nemours who was deeply engag'd with her approv'd this design and thought that
being able to govern and manage Madam de Chatillon's Behaviour toward the Prince she would infuse into him those sentiments that He should inspire into Her and by that means that he should over-rule the Prince by that power which he had over Madam de Chatillen But tho' the Dutchess appeard at Court with more then ordinary splendour the Negotiation came to nothing she being the only Person that prov'd a gainer by it while the Prince bestow'd upon her the Lordship of Morlon in recompence of the pains she had taken The Prince of Conde's Army being repuls'd by the King 's was constrain'd to retreat into St. Anthonies Subburbs where the Marshal Turenne fell upon it and where a great number of Valliant Men fell on both sides and among the rest the Duke of Chatillon and indeed all the Princess Forces had been defeated had not the Parisians opend St. Anthonies-Gate and suffer'd 'em to march through the City Nevertheless the cares of the War did not hinder the Generals from making Love For the Duke of Nemours understanding that the Duke of Beaufort had an Intreague with a Woman of Quality whose name we know not endeavour'd to deprive him of that Conquest and his endeavours prov'd successful the Lady appointing to meet him at a certain place assign'd in the night time But as he was going thither he found a Door open where some body becken'd to him to come in Up went he into the first apartment and there found the Wife of an Advocate handsome enough and nothing at all squemish tho' she perceiv'd the mistake of her Chamber-maid who had introduc'd the Duke of Nemours instead of another Advocate who was her Mistresses Gallant However whether it were that the Woman 's easie Condescention disgusted the Duke or that his imagination was full of the Person that he sought for he prov'd such another Person as Petronius represents Polyenus to be in Company of Circe He did all that he could to reinliven his languishing Vigour and spent so much time in reinforcing his wasted Ammunition that he mist his opportunity of the other meeting However being desirous to make his excuse to the disappointed Lady he went to her and engag'd her to meet him the next day in the Labyrinth belonging to the Physick Garden in the Suburbs of St. Victor Now it happen'd that the Duke of Beaufort going t ither the same day and the same hour heard through a thick Hedge the voice of these two Lovers With that he fell a listning and understood enough to convince him that the Duke of Nemours with whom he was but too much embroyl'd already had made his Mistress unfaithful to him Thereupon the Duke of Beaufort challeng'd the Duke of Nemours who accepted the Challenge and tho Brothers-in-Law they met in the Horse-Market The Duke of Nemours discharg d his Pistol first with more fury then good aim and having mist his Blow the Duke of Beaufort discharg'd his so well to the purpose in his adversaries Head that he lay d him weltring at his feet The death of this Duke having deliver'd the Prince from a Rival his affection for Madam de Chatillon began to grow cold and being over-rul'd by the Spaniards he pass'd into Flanders On the other side the Dutchess strove to comfort her self up for the loss that her disloyalty had brought upon her with the Abbot Toquet who fell passionatly in love with her at the Conferences they had together about the Peace this Abbot being entrusted by Cardinal Mazarin with the management of his interests 1653. The Duke of Guise being releas'd from the Castle of Segovia in pursuance of the Treaty which the Prince of Conde had made with the Spaniards prov'd not so generous as to take his Benefactors side but return'd to Paris more in love with Mademoiselle de Pons then he was before his imprisonment but he met not in her with the same sentiments for himself Her inclinations were altogether for Malicorne and in regard she made it her business to find out all the ways imaginable to be in his company without giving the Duke of Guise any cause of suspicion she engag'd the Prince to take his Rival into his service faigning that she was highly obligd to the Gentlemans Father and that he had assisted her with an extraordinary affection during the Dukes absence and that she might have the more easie opportunities to enjoy Malicorne she desir'd the credulous Prince never to visit her but in the Evening alleadging that their intreague had made a great noise and therefore 't was requisite they should manage their familiarity with so much the more discretion by which means she had her full liberty to enjoy her Favourite in the Afternoons Nor did these scruples serve to any other end then to encrease the Duke of Guise's love who being resolv'd to accomplish his Marriage with Madam de Pons without minding his former engagements propos'd to her the spending some months in Guyenne there to purchase a little House where she might publish the Banes of Matrimony with more privacy while he on the other side retir'd into his County of Eu with the same design Mademoiselle de Pons having accepted this proposal he provided for her a magnificent Equipage and accompani'd her as far as Estampes Malicorne having notice which Roade she took road privately before and staid for her upon the Bank of the River Loire where she took him into her Coach and drove away for Blois But crossing through that City upon the Bridge they perceiv'd the Duke of Orleance who retir'd thither after the majority of the King Mademoiselle de Pons unwilling to be known kept on her Mask tho she were oblig'd to have pull'd it off out of respect to a Prince of the Blood The Duke of Orleance no less surpriz'd at her rudeness then the magnificence of her Equipage sent a Gentleman after her as far as Amboise with orders to enquire the names of the persons that were in the Coach which as it was no difficult thing to learn so the Duke was fully inform'd the same Evening Now the Duke had a secret Grudge against the Duke of Guise and was glad of the opportunity to let the whole Court understand that the Duke was the Cully to carry on his Mistresses Intreague To that purpose he wrote to all his Friends what he had seen and the news was soon spread abroad Thereupon the Duke of Guise's kindred consulted together which way to make him sensible of his Mistresses infidelity so that he might be fully convinc'd but no body would undertake this affair because they fearâ—d the transports of the Dukes fury and knew it was a difficult thing to infuse into him the belief of any thing to the prejudice of a person who as he was fully perswaded was never guilty of any miscariage of that nature However the Duke of Cheuvreuse was pitch'd upon as being the most proper person of any other to act that part by reason
what you were would do you a great deal of good 'T is requisite to put you in mind of it for you look as if you had quite and clean forgot it All the World knows Madam that when Monsieur Scarron talk'd of Marriage all his friends laugh'd at him They told him that for such a Decrepit Creature as he was to Marry was to list himself in the Family of Acteon and that because they should not reproach him with any thing of that nature he made choice of a cracke Vessel By good Fortune Scarron lit upon your self he marry'd ye Publickly which made him say very wittily that they could not lay it in his dish that his weakness was the cause of his Wives Wantonness and no doubt but he was in the Right As he was a man of Wit and Sence be left yee to your own Conduct and all the World knows how you behav'd yourself Should the Good Man return from the other world how heartily would he laugh to behold your Metamorphosis And as he was a Man of a good humour I make no question but he would bring such an Action against the King as would puzzle the Parliament who could not but do him Justice and sentence you to quit Royal Honours and reassume your old Titles of Mistress and Gooddy such an one Adieu Beldam take my advice and remember what you were I give you wholsome Counsell Madam de Maintenon was not much puzzled to know from whence the Letter came so sfoon as she had read it She burnt it in cold Blood as she did all the rest of the same nature which she receiv'd without making the least complaint to the King and for others that were so full of grating particulars she shew d 'em to her Monarch to make him sport and those sort of Confidences tho' indeed they were but Trifles never fail d of success In a word Madam de Maintenon has manag'd her business so well that she triumphs over all those that envy'd her The King has a friendship a value an esteem for her and should the Monarch dye before her she has an apartment in St. Lewise's House at St. Cyr where she is to reside as long as she lives and to be maintain d with all the Persons that belong to her Traine by the Revenues belonging to the Foundation of that House and to enjoy all the Honours due to a Foundress Care is also taken to canonize her before hand for notwithstanding all the Inventions of Obloquy she has met with Panegyrists who have made it out that tho' Scarron who marry'd her at Sixteen Years of Age made choice of her to solace and refresh his Eye-sight and to discourse with her when he had no other Company rather then for any Carnal Society yet the indisposition of her Husband was no injury to her Virtue They have own'd that those Persons who fell in Love with her were not the Richest or of the best Quality in the Kingdom yet that she has merited a universal Esteem among all Men for the prudence of her Conduct and that she ought to have this Justice done her that she observ'd a fair Conjugal Amity without practising the Principal Actions that belong to it As for Madam de la Valiere and Madam de Montespan they have as much reason to be satisfy'd as Madam de Maintenon It may be said that when they were Favourites the King idoliz'd 'em and tho' he grew weary of 'em at length he never forgot that they had been his Mistresses Both the one and the other have been always lookt upon with distinction and the Children which the King had by 'em have been advanc'd to Dignities and Matches the most Illustrous in the Kingdom The Count of Vermandoise the Son of la Valiere was made High Admiral oâ— France and Mademoiseâ—â—e de Blois his Sister was marry'd to the Prince of Conti last deceas'd The Prince of Conde who was retir'd to Chantilli at that time and who by that means approv'd not that match in his heart was constrain'd to undergo the trouble and vexation to see the Title of High and Potent Lord which was always allowed him left out in the Contract of Marriage which he was to sign Colbert presented him the Contract but he refused to set his hand and went with his Complaints to the King but the King after a rough manner bid him sign it so that he was forc'd to do it tho' enrag'd to the Soul at the contempt that was put upon him which was not the only Affront which had been put upon that Prince after this Retirement Mademoiselle de Tours the daughter of Madam de Montespan and the Count of Tholouze dy'd before they were Marry'd but Maidemoiselle de Nantes and Bloise their Sisters were as advantagiously bestow'd as Madam the Princess of Conti the first to the Duke of Bourbon and the other to the Duke of Chartres Lastly the Duke of Maine M. de Montespan's eldest Son Duke of Aumale Prince of Dombes Count d' Eu Peer of France Collonel General of the Swisses and Grisons Governour of the Province of Languedoc Collonel of a Regiment of Foot Knight of the Kings Orders and Officer General of his Armes Married Mademoiselle de Charolois the third Daughter of the Prince of Conde that now is and the Nuptials were Solemniz'd upon the 9th of March 'T is not to be express d what Respect the whole Court is oblig'd to give to the Kings Natural Children even the Princes of the Blood are constrain'd to do the same which Posterity will hardly believe One day that the Prince of Conde was discoursing with some Courtiers the Duke of Maine who was then very Young and some other Noblemen s Children of the same age made such a noise that they interrupted their discourse which was very serious so that the Prince was constrain d to bid the Children be quiet Which the Duke of Maine hearing made answer that he thought his Highness had not been afraid of noise he that had made so much in the world Immediately the Prince went and repeated these words to the King with the same gayety to outward appearance as if he had been to have repeated some witty Expression or genteel Act of the Duke of Burgundy Nay the Prince finding it was a Course which of necessity it behov'd him to take carryed his deference a little farther for when he went to the Count of Vermandois to let him know how much he was pleas'd with the Marriage of M. de Blois his Sister to the Prince of Conti he durst not presume to take an Elbow Chair that was presented him but sat him down upon a Plain Chair because the Count made use of such another Nevertheless all these deferences cannot hinder the whole Court from making private Comments and Censures upon these odd kind of mixtures which is the reason that many are turn'd out of favour In a word they who have bestow'd the highest applauses upon the
found himself near a Lady who was ready to be stifl'd in the croud he took care of her and put her into the hands of one of his Gentlemen who threw Water in her Face and after he had fetch'd her again from the swoon into which she was fallen carry'd her home to his own house Some few days after the Duke calling the Lady to mind ask'd his Gentleman what was become of her and understood that she was the Wife of Raoulet d'Auteville who had been Treasurer of France upon the recommendation of Philip Duke of Burgundy With that he remember'd that he had been the occasion of displacing him from his employment for several misdeameanors and believ'd that the little service he had done his Wife would not countervail to extinguish that aversion which without question she had for him Nevertheless in these contrarieties it is that Love takes delight to shew his capricious humours as the Duke soon after found by experience For one day that he was at Mass in St. Pauls Church he there observ'd the fame Lady who as she pass'd by saluted him with an obliging smile The Duke was too much a Courtier to be ignorant what that meant and he was too great a Lover of adventures to fall of the opportunity of making the best of ' em Thereupon he sent a Page to delite Madam d'Auteville to meet him in the Evening in the Garden of the Palais des Touruelles where he should be glad to speak with her and the Lady accepting the Assignation fail'd not to meet him at the time appointed And then it was that in her melting Breast the Duke soon met with sentiments far opposite to those of that same hatred with which he thought her prepossess'd against him and engag'd her without much trouble to come to him to his Palace the next Morning Nor did she fail of being punctual to her hour and being introduc'd into the Princes Chamber by a back pair of stairs she gave him no cause to complain of her cruelty This visit was attended by several others by means of which the Duke of Orleans understood that she was very intimate with the Duchess of Burgundy and that she had understood by her discourses that 't was none of her fault if he were not belov'd by her The Duke open'd his Ears to this Proposal For besides that the Princess had charms sufficient to inflame his amorous desires she might prove advantageous to him in the rearing of his Fortune by drawing from her Lips the secrets of the Duke her Husband who was declar'd Regent of the Kingdom during the King's distemper and with whom he thought he had a right to dispute the Government of the Realm He therefore left Madam de Auteville to manage the intreague who carry'd it on with so much address that in a short time she accomplish'd his desires year 1406 This Intreague lasted several Years and was carry'd with that privacy that no body had the least inkling of it but at length it was discover'd through the imprudence of the Duke himself For he had hung up in his Cabinet the Portraitures of all his Mistresses and he was wont to say that all those whose pictures were there to be seen had never been cruel to him The Duke of Burgundy likewise had often heard him say the same thing tho' he never minded it at first But one day coming into that fatal Cabinet he there beheld his Wife's picture and then calling to mind the Dukes unlucky rallery it gave him no small disturbance Thereupon he resov'd to be satisfy'd in his suspitions and at last discover'd that the Duke had frequent meetings with his Wife by the means of Madam d' Autevil1e whom she had made her confident but then the jealousie of Love joyning Forces with the jealousie of hatred he thought it behov'd him to be reveng'd upon a Prince who was doubly his Rival To this purpose he discover'd his design to d' Auteville who having a share in the affront was easily induc'd to have a part in the revenge and promis'd to serve the Duke according to his intentions Next Morning therefore the prâ—fligate undertaker corrupted several Ruffians needing only the temptation of Money and among others William and Thomas Courtois and John de la Mothe who promis'd him upon their words to second his pernicious design to the utmost of their power He also gain'd one of the King 's Valet's de Chambre who was sent to tell the Duke of Orleans at that time gone to the Palais de Tournelles to visit the Queen it being St. Cecilia's day in the Evening that the King desir'd to speake with him at the Hostel de St. Paul Immediately the Duke got a Horseback attended only by some of his Lacqueys without any weapons and one that carry'd a Flambeau before him But when he came to the gate Barbette before the house of Marshal d' Eurex out comes d' Auteville from a Tavern where he waited the Dukes coming with about fifteen or twenty of his accomplices and flew upon him with his drawn sword and having cut off his Bridle hand threw him off his Horse and deliver'd him to the rest of his Confederates who stab'd him in several places When they had done they set fire to a house adjoyning on purpose to amuse the People and made their escapes through by Lanes and Alleys The Duke was carry'd into the Marshal de Fires house where he expir'd and thence to the Benedictin's Convent The Parliament took cognisance of this Murder and order'd a Councellor to take the Informations He presently issu'd forth a Warrant against the squire of the Duke of Burgundy's Kitchin who was charg'd by the witnesses and in regard he never stir'd out of the Hostel d' Artois where the Duke lodg'd and whence they could not fetch him out by force without his Masters permission the Councellor who had took the Information went to demand him of the Duke at the Hostel de Nesle where the Duke of Berry lay and where the Council was kept Louis de Anjon King of Sierly being then present when the Councellor made his compliment to the Duke of Burgundy took notice that he turn'd pale and that a sudden disturbance seiz'd upon his mind Upon which he drew him aside and having made him confess that the Duke of Orleans had been assasinated by his order he advis'd him to retire The Duke took his advice and departing the Hostel de Nesle without any noise went home took horse and never stop'd till he came to Dâ—jon However he could not escape the punishment that Heaven had prepar'd for him The Dauphin resolv'd to revenge the Death of the Duke of Orleans year 1419 and contended for the regency during his Fathers sickness On the otherside the Duke of Burgundy enter'd into a League with the King of England and France was in a strange combustion Persons of high quality interpos'd to accommodate the difference and the Duke was
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
that the Bride wanted two or three Months of being of Age to engage her Estates and that for a supply of that defect as to what regarded the Civil executions they were as it behov'd 'em to obtain a Sentence This neglect was afterwards laid to their charge but they excus'd themselves by saying that they foresaw the difficulty but that they did not mind it because that in Marriages contracted in France the King's Presence was a Salvo for the defects of all Conditions as the Bishops Presence made good all Ecclesiastical Contracts The Countess of Angoulênâ—e was so much the more incens'd at these precipitated Nuptials because she had so much the less time to cross 'em and she made extraordinary efforts upon her self to curh her Passion But when she thought she had reason sufficient to exchange her Love for Hatred she made choice of the Duke of Alençon the First Prince of the Blood to be the instrument of her Revenge believing him fit enough to second her designs because he was particularly concern'd in the Affair Mademoiselle de Bourbon having been promis'd him before Monpensier sought her in Marriage So that in point of Honour with which the Court of France was at that time highly prepossess'd he was to look upon Mompensier as one that had injur'd him in the most sensible part by marrying his affianc'd Lady before he had ask'd whether he persisted in his design to espouse her Thô these Reasons upon which the Countess built her hopes had a foundation solid enough yet they produc'd not that effect which she expected For besides that the Duke of Alençon was not a person to engage in a Quarrel with Mompensier he was overjoy'd at the Match which others thought it behov'd him to be offended at In a word after he had been designed to Mademoiselle de Bourbon while she was yet in her Cradle he had been in love with Mademoiselle de Angouleme the Countess's Daughter thó he durst not discover his Passion for fear of provoking the Princes of Bourbon who were extreamly nice in the punctilio's of Honour and all were very stout But the obstacle being remov'd he thought of seeking Mademoiselle d' Angouleme in marriage when her Mother came and offer'd her to him He accepted the proffer with joy and promis'd whatever she would have him to undertake to the prejudice of Monpensier foreseeing that otherwise the Countess would never have made use of all the Authority which Nature and Law had given her over her Daughter to perswade her to a Match against which she had always testify'd a reluctancy But after the Nuptials were over the Duke of Alençon did not think it so proper to adventure his Person to content his Mother-in-law and by good luck which he ne'er expected he was never sollicited to accomplsh his promise For the Countess who had not well sounded her Thoughts when she exacted that condition was not long before she perceiv'd that she had still a kindness for Mompensier and that she was deceiv'd in taking the rancour under which it lay conceal'd for the quenching of her Passion Her inclination was not exempt from the destiny common to violent things that redouble their efforts proportionably to the resistance which they meet with seeing that she lov'd Mompensier so much the more vehemently by how much the less she saw her self in a condition to be belov'd So that she observ'd no bounds in reference to the Favours which lay in her power to procure him and the first thing that she demanded for him of her Son so soon as he came to the Crown was the Constables Sword The new King altogether young and without experience made some scruple at it and excus'd himself by reason of the danger of committing all the Forces of the Kingdom into the hands of a Prince who would soon be able to overturn it if his Ambition were answerable to his Birth and Deserts But the importunities of the Countess and the ascendant she had over her Son prevail'd above his Reason And that which was most extravagant in this conjuncture was that the King suffer'd himself to be over-rul'd when his Mother told him that if he intended to merit not only the esteem but the admiration of his new Subjects it was of great importance to him to let 'em see that he had neither the Pusillanimity nor the want of Courage of his four Predecessors that durst not trust the Sword in the hands of the Princes of the Blood for fear they should afterwards stand in awe of ' em Monpensier was no sooner Constable but he repented his being rais'd to that Dignity His Wife was brought to bed of a Daughter and the King did him the Honour to go to Chantilly and be Godfather to his Child He was receiv'd by five hundred Gentlemen holding by Fealty of the House of Bourbon clad in blew Velvet with Gold Chains about their Necks consisting of there rows and rarely well hors'd But this superfluity was far exceeded by the Luxury of Feasting Tournaments Balls and Masquerades insomuch that the King return'd home stimulated with jealousie as if the Constable had pretended to dispute the point of Magnificence with him This his Majesties displeasure broke forth in his march to Valenciennes where the Duke of Alençon most earnestly desir'd his Mother-in-law to procure the Command of the Vanguard for him threat'ning to leave the Army if he did not obtain it for that being the First Prince of the Blood he could no longer obey a second without prejudice to his Quality and redring himself contemptible to the French of whom he might be one day Master before the Constable His reason was easily answer'd but he was otherwise so unfortunate that he might well deserve to have his real discontents appeas'd by a shadow of Honour that was not to last above four or five hours His Wife who was the most witty Woman of her Age could not find in her heart to love him as well for his ill Qualities both of Body and Mind as for that she was constrain'd to marry him after she had been so ambitious as to pretend to the Prince of Spain This same disagreement between Man and Wife with which the Countess of Angoulême was well acquainted moy'd her so much the more because she had been the occasion of it Therefore to make amends for the mischief she had done as much as lay within her Power she begg'd of the King to let his Brother-in-law lead the Vanguard which pretension of the Countess was grounded upon two Reasons One because the Constable would not be much concern'd at it the King not being resolv'd to give battel and the Other for that the Duke of Alençon would have no more then the name of Chieftain all Orders being to be given out by the Marshal de Chatillon who serv'd under him with the Title of Lieutenant-General But she was deceiv'd in the first of her conjectures For the Constable was as much concern'd that
the War The presence of the beloved object having rows'd his Affection he apply'd himself afresh to the Lady and gave her such publick proofs of his tenderness that the Princess his Wife who could not be ignorant of it sickn'd of jealousie and Di'd The Regent intent upon all occasions that might conduce to confirm her Authority look't upon this conjuncture as one of the most favourable that could have befallen her She imagin'd that as the Chatillon's had engag'd the Prince in Heresy by the Marriage of their Neice she might also bring him back to the Communion of the Church by giving him for a second Wife a Lady that had the Honour to be her kinswoman whose Charms would put a stop to his inconstancy and draw from his Lips the secrets of the Calvinists To this purpose she commanded the Lady to leave nothing omitted upon that presupposition to omit nothing that might contribute to detain the Prince in her Fetters But to venture an indifferent virtue with a Lover who made use of the smallest advantages in Love as in War to carry things to extremity was to expose it to too many hazards While the Lady feign'd an Affection for the Prince she became inamour'd in good earnest and to her misfortune she was not the only person at Court that found her Heart insensibly engag'd Margaret de Lustrac the Widow of the Marshal de St. Andrè was neither of a temper nor inclination to spend the remainder of her Life in Widowhood nevertheless she was engag'd to it in some measure by signing the Articles of the Marriage of her only Daughter with the Eldest Son of the Duke of Guise seeing it was chiefly concluded consideration of the great Estate that she possess'd and for that the Marshal her Husband had been preserv'd from inevitable ruin However she was no sooner a Widow but she yielded to the usual temptation of persons of her Quality so that she laid a design to marry again and break off the Match between her Daughter and the Prince of Joinville For which that she might have a plausible pretence and withal to cover what was irregular in her intentions she feign'd to seek out a more Honourable alliance for her Daughter and cast her Eyes upon the Marquiss of Conti the Eldest Son of the Prince of Conde with an intent to perswade the less discerning sort of People that if she marry'd the Prince 't was only to facilitate the union of their Children by her Marriage But she could not have address'd her self more unluckily considering how things stood with the Prince at that time For thô he had not had a kindness for Madam de Limueil he would have preferr'd a Country Girl before the remains of the Marshal de St Andrè However he did not explain his thoughts to the persons that propounded his Marriage with the Widow as the only means to secure to his Son the Marriage of St. Andrè's Heiress he only repli'd that the way did not seem to him to be so infallible because the Marquess not being above nine Years of Age and for that both the Nuptials could not be solemniz'd at the same time the Marshaless would be as her liberty when she was become a Princess to break the Articles between her Daughter and the Marquess with the same ease as she had broken her Covenants with the Prince of Joinville The Marshaless inform'd of this obstacle and taking no other advice but that of her own passion offer'd the Prince a deed of gift of the manner of Valeri in Gatinois and all the magnificent moveables with which the Marshal of St. Andrè had furnish'd it 'T was thought that by this peice of unpararallel'd liberality she thought to have fix'd that levity of which she was suspected to be guilty by disabling her self to refuse her Daughter to the Son of a Prince to whom she would have given beforehand the best part of her Estate and to have supplanted her Rivaless by the force of her Acts of kindness since she could not do it by the power of her Charms The present was accepted without producing however the effect which the Marshalless expected from it whither it were too great to be refus'd by a Prince whose birth was nevertheless too spendidly exalted to engage him by the acceptance of it or whither the Prince blam'd in his own thoughts the prodigality of the Widow at the same time that he made a benefit of it Mademoiselle de Limueil made reflections remote from Truth upon an accident so rarely happening She suppos'd the Prince less amorous or less concerned then he was and imagin'd that since he had accepted the signiory of Valleri he would have marry'd the Marshalless The suspipition of which encreas'd to that degree that not having an Estate sufficient to equal the liberality of her Rivalless she took a fancy to surpass it by granting the Prince the dearest Jewel she had in the World And her big Belly that soon attended the fault the had committed made it so publick that she was forc'd to withdraw from the Court The Queen caus'd her to be conducted by a Valet de Chambre whose name was Gentil to the Convent of Franciscans in the City of Auxonne This banishment of M. de Limueil was not the only punishment of her incontinency For the Prince equally touch'd with disdain as well of a Widow who had aspir'd to an Alliance with him as of a Young Lady that sought to gain him by an over passionate submission neglected both the one and the other to marry Francese of Orleance the Duke of Longuevilles Sister a haughty Princess and of an austere Virtue Such a difference he put between the dispositions of those Women which he desir'd for his Wives and those which he sought for his Mistresses Mademoiselle de Limueil after the was brought to Bed endeavour'd to repair the loss of her high hopes by marrying Geoffrey de Causac Lord of Tremon who had been a long time an humble servant of hers but had been neglected by her ever since her Intreague with the Prince of Condè Nor was Mademoiselle de Rohan better treated by the Duke of Nemours she had granted him the same favours upon a promise of Marriage in the Reign of Henry II. But the Prince to avoid the performance of his word went to serve in Piedmont against the Duke of Savoy nor did he return into France till the beginning of the Reign of Charles the IX at which time he threw himself into the Cabal of the Guises and so frequently visited the Dukes Wife that he could no longer remain insensible of her Charms Nevertheless he durst not discover his passion to her such was the awe that her Virtue had upon him However in regard it is as difficult a thing to hide Love as to conceal Fire M de Rohan was inform'd of his infidelity and resolving revenge she su'd him upon his promise He pleaded her profession of the pretended
whether I have added or diminish'd in any thing choosing rather to omit some Circumstances then to repeat all her Follies For such is the real name that ought to be given to her jealousies and her Extravagant Amorous furies which began with Bonnivet and have continu'd ever since Who could ever have suspected the Daughter of one of the greatest and wisest King 's upon the Earth to have been guilty of so much unworthiness Nevertheless of a Queen she is become a Dutchess and of the Lawful Wife of a King of France a Passionate Lover of one of her meanest Officers But tho' she observes no measures in satisfying her inordinate desires she thinks to dazle the Eyes of the world by prophaneing the most August Mistery of our Religion Three times a Week she approaches the Holy Table with Lipps as much adulterated as her Heart with a Countenance daub'd with Black and Red and her Neck lay'd bare down to her Shouldâ—rs Her Dotage upon Pomeni was attributed to some Charm because she always wore between her Skin and her Shift a Blew Silk Purse hanging in a string from her Neck wherein was a Silver Box upon which several unknown Characters were Engrav'd She opend it in the Presence of some her Friends who saw her own Picture at one end and the Tinker's at the other She told them with Tears in her Eyes that she was never to open it but at such certain Times and to keep it till her death Nor is this the first time that extraordinary things of which we can give no true Reason have been ascrib'd to Supernatural Causes The same thing is reported of the Dutchess of Valentinois that she was only beholding to Magick for the great Ascendant which she had over Henry II. the Queen of Navarrs Father No body knows it better then this Lascivious Woman They who read these Heroick Actions of Hers for she will never want Historians will admire her obstinacy in Vice which neither Age nor the abatement of her Charmes nor the Affronts which she receiv'd could ever vanquish They will agree that so vertuous a Life ought to be enregister'd in the Temple of Paphos to serve as a Model to those who desire to enrol themselves in the Famous Corporation of the Daughters of Cyprus 'T is true that some there were who thinking she had the Purse and soul of a Queen Dedicated Books to her and in their Panegyries ascrib'd those Virtues to her which she never had But they had as good have let 'em alone for long Tradition far more like to last from Father to Son for many Ages will give 'em the lye and convince the world not only of their sordid flattery but their vile Imposture besides the reproach that they are like to undergo from those that shall read their Writings after their Decease But which was worse they did but labour in vain in this Life as being all of 'em frustrated of their great Hopes and Expectations for that never any body boast of her Liberality but all Men complain'd of her Ingratitude Her most favour'd Paramours were never enrich d with her presents and the Prisons are full of those that she has Ruind She has been sometimes seen to have been Prodigal of her Almes but never willingly paid her Debts she had always so little respect for Religion that she never was at a Sermon but she slept at Vespers but she talk'd all the while never at Mass without a Paramour by her side She gives away to my cost the Tenths of her Rents and Pensions to the next Monasteries but she detaines the Wages of her Servants and the price of the Goods which People trust her with for the support of her House-keeping She minds nothing but outward shew and Vanity but in her heart she has not the least Sence either of Honour or Piety I thought to have finish'd this Manifesto with a Description of her Inclinations but Bajomon stops me and enforces me to give him a dash of my Pencil This fellow the greatest sot that ever appear'd at Court was introduc d by Madam Danglure instructed by Madam Roland and Le Maire compleated the Polishing of him This Man she had made her Idol tho' He had been cuft by de Lone the Son of a Procter of Bourdeaux and she had taken care of his fortune to prevent his ending his days in an Hospital I shall not enter any farther into the particulars of their Amours there being nothing in 'em to be observ'd but what is base and below the honour of a Queen It behoves me now to draw the Curtain out of a remainder of value for her and so end this Story that I may not be tedious to the Reader I shall only pray to God to touch their hearts and shed down upon em his effectual Grace without which they can never hope to be recoverd from that blindness which now obscures their understandings Tho' we may well judge by this Manifesto that the King could not be refus'd the Divorce which he demanded yet in regard they are very slow at Rome in the dispatch of Affairs therefore the King to oblige the Countess of Beaufort to awaite the success of that Negotiation with more Patience he erected the Signioriy which bore that Name in a Dukedome and Peerage Sometime after this the new Dutchess became a fourth time quick with Child which encreas'd the King's Love for her and his Impatience to enjoy her under the Justifications of the Law For which reason he wrote very earnestly to Silleri not to omit any thing that might contribute to a quick dispatch of the Affair whe rewith he was intrusted year 1598 Tho' the King had utterly ruin'd the Party of the Leaguers yet the Duke of Mercoeur would not make his Accomodation but throwing himself into the Arms of the Spaniards he headed a Powerful Party in Bretaign where he propos'd to make himself Soveraign but most of his strong holds being reduc d he found there was no way for him to escape but by imploring the Kings Clemency Therefore to obtain his Pardon he had recourse to the Dutchess Beaufort who offer'd him her Protection provided he would give his Daughter to the Young Duke of Vendome her Eldest Son Thereupon the Duke of Mercoeur who expected a higher match for his Daughter sent Mary of Luxemburgh his Wife to Court with orders to offer His Majesty full power to dispose of his Daughter to what Prince he pleas'd in hopes by that Artifice to elude the Pretensions of the Dutchess but she was too cunning to fall into that Snare and prevail d with the King not to give eare to Madam de Mercoeur till the Marriage was concluded Which done she made the Dukes Accomodation who came to kiss the Kingâ—s Hands at Anger 's where the Cardinal de Joyeuse perform'd the Ceremony of Betrothing the Young Couple with great Pomp and Magnificence So soon as the Dutchess had so lay'd her design that she was in
to come and repose himself at her House in his Return from Hunting The King who had heard much talk of Mademoiselle d' Entragues's Beauty willingly fell into the Snare which was laid for his Liberty and accepted the Marchionesse's Offer He found the Eldest of her Daughters to be a Thousand times handsomer then she was represented and therefore not being able to quit her so soon he remain'd for some days at Malherbe with those that were his chiefest Considents During his stay the two Young Mademoiselle's Sate at his Table and lay near his Apartment This little Court remov'd afterwards to Hallier and Madam d' Entragues to Chenaut whether the King went to Visit her every day that he might have the pleasing Opportunity to discourse his new Mistress After the Marchioness was return'd to Paris the King went to Orleans where he arriv'd upon St. John's Eve There he met the Marshal de la Chastre's Lady with her two Daughters but tho thy were very lovely they could not stop him any longer then two days He took post for Paris and alitt at the Hostel de Gondy that he might be so much the nearer to Mademoiselle de Entragues who lodg'd at the Hostel de Lyon The King often sent his Compliments to her by the Count de Ludâ— but the Father and her Brother who had not so much Complacency for the King's Affection as the Mother told his Agent very surlily that they took amiss his bringing messages to their House that dishonour'd their Family and desir'd him to forbear coming anymore Nor did the Marquiss think it sufficient to have quarrel'd with the Count he order'd his Horses to be put in the Coach and carry'd away his Daughters to Marcoussis The King being inform'd of it rode post thither some few days after faining to take that Rode in his way to Blois now in regard his journey to Blois was only a pretence to cover his journey to Marcoussis the King staid their but a very few days and return d Post to Paris He alitt at the President Verdun's where he call'd for a bed but he was no sooner retir'd to his Chamber but Bourigueux who lay in his Chamber rose and committed a thousand extravagances for the heat of the Sun had lain upon his head all day as he rode with his Majesty and had turn'd his Brains The King surpriz d at his ravings would have lockt him up in his Chamber but not finding himself strong enough he call d for help and after they had got the madman out of the Room he went to Bed retaining la Roquelaure with him all night Now in regard the King had no attendants at Paris he din'd at the Presidents and sup'd with some Prince or other Lord of the Court as the fancy led him never giving 'em notice of his coming to avoid expences But his Ministers fearing least a fancy should take him to marry Mademoiselle de Entragues who was no less ambitious then the Dutchess of Beaufort perswaded him to mind only his Interest and the good of the Kingdom in the choice of a Wife To that purpose they propos'd to him Marie de Medicis the Grand Dukes Daughter and he consented that they should demand her in Marriage giving Silleri Commission to mannage the business with the Pope During this Negotiation they endeavour'd to bring him off from Medamoiselle de Entragues who disputed her Ground with him Inch by Inch. Nor had he obtain d any other then slight favours hitherto whither he could not find an opportunity to compleat his Conquest or whither she thought to make him the more eager and inflame him the more by affected resistance to find his affection employment They perswaded him to spend one night at Zamet with Mademoiselle de Glandee whose vertue was not so morose as that of Madam de Entragues Bâ—t fortune would not let him long quietly enjoy â—he pleasure which they had procur'd him For he was no sooner laid in his Bed but he heard the clattering of Swords upon the Stairs He presently call'd and Bassompirre went to him whom he ask d the reason of that noise and understood that Bellegarade and the Prince of Joynville afterwards call'd Duke of Cheureuse had quarrell'd about some pretences and discourses which the latter pretended that Bellegarde had had with his Majesty about Mademoiselle de Entragues and him That they had drawn their Swords that the Prince of Jonyville had receiv'd a wound in his Buttocks and that the Vidam Dumans was dangerously wounded in going about to part ' em Upon that the King rose in his night Gown and taking his Sword in his hand hasten'd down Stairs preceded by Bassompierre who carri'd a light before him But he met with no body but Praslin who had shut the doors of the Houfe the two duellers being retir'd The King was extremely offended and sent the same night for the first President to come to him the next morning together with the Parlament Accordingly that Illustrious Body attended the King the next morning at Zamet House where they receivd orders to take the Quarrel into examination and to do Justice Flessevin and de Turin Counsellours of the great Chamber were appointed to draw up the Informations and took the Depositions of Cramail Bazaut Chasseran and Bassompierre But the Dutchess of Guise and the Princess her Daughter being informd of these Proceedings made use of all their Credit to put a stop to em and obtain d a Supersedeas from the King during which time the Constable made up the accommodation at Constans Sometime after the King return d to Blois fro whence he pass'd on to Chenonceaux to give Queen Louise a visit and there he saw Mademoiselle de Bourdaisiere Maid of Honour to that Princess who found some work for his Heart Madâ—â—â—â—â—â—lle de Entragues having notice fo all these Intreagues and fearing least the King should escape her at length resolv'd to be less severe The King frequently visited her at Malherbe where he obtain d the full of his desires and lodg'd her in the Horâ— d' Aâ—chand When he return'd to Paris towardâ— the end of Autumn she became big with Child and went to lye in at Monceaux whither the King carry d her himself protesting that he lov d her so well as to Marry her But she hurt her self by an unlucky accident so that a dead Child being torn from her Body she lay a long time in a very sad condition But at length she recoverd her health through the care which the King took of her hardly ever leaving her till he saw the effects of the remedies which were given her When she was in a condition to go abroad she understood there was a Treaty going on at Rome for the Marriage of the King with Marie de Medecis which put her into such a violent Rage that forgetting all her obligations to the King and all the marks of friendship which she had rcceiv'd from him she treated him with
his Heroick Vertues his Birth and Soveraign Dignity had rais'd him above all other Men. The good King who suffer'd himself to be easily over-rul d by persons that offer'd to him the Incense of flattery return'd Madam Villars a thousand thanks and promis'd her the acknowledgment of so great a piece of Service So soon as she was gone he sent the Count de Lude to Madam de Vernucil with orders to upbraid her with her Infidelity and to tell her in his name that he never intended to see her more She was extreamly surprâ—z'd at this Compliment yet in the midst of her inward disorders shew d no sign of any outward discomposure She answerd with a kind of indifferency that as she had done nothing to offend the King she could not divine the reason for incurring his displeasure only she hop'd that Heaven would do her justice by bringing the mistery to light and revenging her upon those who had infus'd into his Majesty a bad opinon of her conduct and so saying she withdrew into her Cabinet to hide the confusion of her thoughts Some days after Bellegarde having discover'd the prejudice which Madam de Villars had done the Marchioness of Vernueil bent all his thoughts which way to salve the business not so much out of any value for that Lady or the Prince of Joyinville for whom he had no kindness but for the sake of his Sisters interest and thus he went about it He knew that the Duke of Guise had a Secretary that counterfeited all manner of Characters perfectly well and therefore he agreed with the Prince of Joyinville that he should acknowledge he had made use of that mans Art to counterfeit Madam de Vernueils hand by concert with Madam de Villars who mortally hated the Marchioness The King's Mistress having notice of this design sent to beseech his Majesty that she might be permitted to justifie her self which he scrupl'd at first to do as not imagining which way she could be innocent Nevertheless he gave her a visit at what time the Marchioness express'd her self so movingly and gave him those plausible reasons for the proof of her Loyalty that he suffer'd himself to be deluded by outward appearances He sent the Prince of Joyinville to serve against the Turks in Hungary banish d Madam de Villars into the Country where he confin'd her to one of her own Mannours and sent the Secretary to Prison This is that which many times befalls people that will be officiously busying themselves to make discoveries to their Masters when they never desire it Madam de Villars was separated from a Lover whom she tenderly Lov d and shamefully banish'd from the Court at a time that she thought to have tryumph'd over her Rivaless During these Broyls the Queens hatred of the Marchioness of Vernucil publickly brake out for in regard she thought she had been utterly lost in the Kings Affection she left nothing omitted to compleat her Ruin nor could they ever from that time forward be reconcil'd again The Marchioness did the Queen all the ill Offices she could devise and the Queen who was inform'd of it spair'd not in all places to manifest the Marks of her Resentment which divided the whole Court. On the Otherside the King tyr'd out with these Dissentions began to pay his Visits again to Mademoiselle de Bourdaistere whith whom he had been formerly in Love but he was soon a weary of her and therefore marry d her to the Count d' Estampes After that he took to Jaqueline de Bueil Countess of Moret who had been bred up in the Princess of Conde s House 1602. The Marchioness of Vernueil being inform'd of all these Intreagues was so terribly incens'd that the suffer'd herself to be perswaded into a Treaty with Spain and a Conspiracy against the King with the Count of Anvergne her Brother by the Mother's side Which Negotiation could not be carry'd so secret but that the King had knowledge of it nevertheless he would not presently make use of the Rigour of Justice He offer d the Count of Anvergne his Pardon provided he would come to Court and acknowledge his Crime But the Count refus'd to confide in his Clemency which was the reason that the King order'd him to be Apprehended D Eâ—re Murat and Norestan who had the Kings Warrant stopt him at Clermont in Anvergne under pretence of shewing him a Review of the Duke of Vendomes Reigment and there Seiz'd him A certain Lay that Lov'd him was so afflicted for him that she made use of all her Artifice and Cunning to have procur'd his Escape as they carry d' him by water to Paris but her designs took no Effect The Marquiss d' Entragues was clapt into the Conciergiere and Madam de Vernueil was arested by the Chavalier Daguet in Audicourt House in St. Pauls Street were she lodg'd and was kept under Guard These three Persons were also Impeach'd and the Proofs being found sufficient Madam de Vernueil was Condemn'd to be strongly guarded to the Abby of Beaumont les Tours there to spend the rest of her days and her Father and Brother to have their Heads cut off which Sentence was afterwards chang'd into perpetual Imprisonment During the Disgrace of the Marchioness of Vernueil Hen. IV. had a greater kindness for the Queen and liv'd very lovingly with her â— Mademoiselle de Guise also who was become his Favorite took advantage of this favourable Conjuncture to procure an Establishment of her Fortune and wrought with His Majesty to consent to her Marriage with Francis of Bourbon Prince of Conti. And soon after the King who could meet with no body at Court that was worthy of his Affections renew'd his Friendship with the Marchioness of Vernâ—â—l whom he Visited with that Privacy that the Queen had no knowledge of it but so soon as she discoverd the new Familiarity she carry'd her Râ—â—â—tment so high that she forbad all the Lady's that should offer to visit the Marchioness to come to her Court The King to asswage her Transports forbore Visiting Madam de Vernueil for some time and in the mean time to imploy his Amorous Heart he Courted Catherine de Lorrain the Duke of Maines Daughter and Wife to Charles Duke of Nevers a Princess of great Virtue who had a very great Honour for His Person but would by no means comply with his Passion The King that he might detain her at Court took for his Pretence the Christning of the Dauphin to whom the Dutchess of Montoua and Nevers were Cousin Germans Nor could the Dutchess of Nevers in point of Decency refuse to be present at the Ceremony But the more the King sought opportunity 's to discourse her in Private the more she took care to avoy'd 'em tho' sometimes her precautions prov d fruitless by reason of that respect which she was oblig'd to bear to a Lover of his Quality The King however thought he might bring about his design if he did but remove
folded up in such a manner that the Cross appear'd outermost Presently he clap'd himself down upon it for fear a Testimony so clear beyond all contradicton should betray his Secret nor would he be perswaded to rise tho' the Duke Importunately press'd him to walk on till one of his Valets to whom he had made a sign had carry d it out of the Room when his Rivals back was turn'd In the mean time he made a shew of being very much troubled and storm'd with a good Grace against the inconstancy of Mademoiselle d' Entragues and when the Cloak was out of danger he rose up and walk'd on with the Duke as long as he stay d. So soon as the Duke was gone Bassompierre gave notice to Madam d' Entragues of the Dukes mistake and that same Young Wanton the more to confirm him in it treated Bellegarde before his Face as if they had been the most Intimate Persons in the World The next Morning the Duke of Guise wag d War with the Grand Squire who unwilling to dissabuse him return'd him Ambiguous Answers Bellegarde gave an account of all that Discourse to Madam d' Entragues who approv'd his Conduct and desir'd him to continue it by which means all the Kings and the Dukes Suspicious fell upon the Grand-Squire Thereupon they inform'd Madam d' Entragues of her Daughter's Familiarity with him which was the reason that she watch d her more narrowly One Morning as she drew the Curtain to Spit she observ d that Mademoiselle's Bed who lay in the Room was thrown open and that the Bird was Flown she presently suspected the Truth and rising went softly into the Wardrobe where seeing the Door belonging to the Private Staires open she call'd out at what time her Daughter hearing her Voice rose with all speed from Bassompierre and went to her Madam d' Entragues after she had given her Daughter two or three Wherets o' th' Ear in the Transports of her Passion caus'd the Door of the Privy Staires to be broke open because Bassompierre had bolted it within side that he might have leisure to dress himself When 't was open up she ran in great hast three Stories high but she was strangely surpriz d to find no body there but much more to see the Randevouze-Chamber furnish'd with Zamet's best Furniture and trick'd up with Silver Sconces and Candlesticks Thus ended this Intercourse But Love which is Ingenious provided other ways for those two Lovers to meet one another at Mademoiselle Dazi's whom they made their Confident Nevertheless this hurly-burly totally extidguish'd all the King s Suspitions of the Duke of Guise's having an Intreague with the Marchioness of Vernueil There was some Discourse of Marrying Mademoiselle d' Entragues to the Count d' Achè in Anvergne But that Match was broken off upon examination of the Articles after which the Marchioness of Vernueil and her Sister went to pass away the fair Season at the Marchioness of Conflans's near Charenton about whose House the Duke of Guise and Bassompierre walk'd their Rounds every Night But at last Bassompierre broke off altogether with Mademoiselle d' Entragues aspiring to a more Advantageous Alliance and beg'd leave of the King to marry Mademoiselle de Montmorency and to treat with the Duke of Bouillon for his Employment of first Gentleman of his Chamber Nor did the King believe it only enough to grant him what he ask'd but consented also in favour of the Match that the Constable who was out of Favour should return to Court The next morning at the King 's rising he was admitted to kiss his Hands had a Gracious Reception and in the afternoon the King went to visit the Dutchess of Angolesme where Mademoiselle de Montmorancy Lodg'd and where he saw Madam d' Essars with whom he presently embarqu'd and had two Daughters by her who betook themselves to Religious lives the Eldest being made Abbess of Fonteleraut But after the death of her Husband she privately marri'd Lewis Cardinal of Guise the Brother of Charles Duke of Guise The Cardinal had obtain'd a dispensation from the Pope for holding two Benefices notwithstanding his marriage but after his death the Duke seiz'd upon the Contract and the Dispensation which was the reason that Mademoiselle de Essars was never accounted any other then his Concubine However she had three Children by that Conjunction the Eldest who dy'd Bishop of Condom the Marquiss of Romorantin and a Daughter marri'd to the Marquiss of Rhodes But notwithstanding the affronts that were put upon her under the next Raign she marri'd the Marquiss du Hallier afterwards Marshal de l' Hopital Her Marriage with the Cardinal de Guise and the Dispensation after they had happen'd into the custody of several at length fell into the Hands of Mademoiselle de Guise who dyd in 1608. The Marchioness of Romorantin understanding that she was drawing toward her end caus'd her Confessor to lay it home to her Conscience and make her sensible that it would be a piece of injustice to detain those Writings that might be serviceable to reestablish the low Estate of her Children and preserve their claim of Succession to the House of Guise Upon which the dying Princess was over-rul'd and sent the requested Papers in a Box by an unknown hand to Madam de Romorantin Who immediately went to Court and throwing herself at the King's Feet besought his Protection To whom that Great Prince whose profound wisdom appear d in his meanest Actions made answer that she must address her self to his Parliament whose business it was to take Cognizance of those Differences But to return to Madam de Montmorancy The Duke of Bouillon who was Brother-in-Law to the Constable took it ill that a Match should be treated of and he not be acquainted with it and therefore he resolv'd to cross it One day that the King had been visiting Madam de Montmorancy at the Queens lodgings and was very passionately crying up her Beauty the Duke drew him aside and told him that he wonder'd he had given his consent to the marriage of that Lady with Bassompierre since there were no other matches that were fit for his Nephew the Prince of Conde but either she or the Dutchess of Main and seeing Policy would not admit him to suffer the Head of the League too powerfull already to advance his Credit by an Alliance he was oblig'd to give Madam de Montmorency to the Prince The King heard his advice without making any answer but the next day going to see the Practice of a Ball that was to be danc'd at the Louvre Bellegard cry'd up the Charmes of that Lady to such a degree that the King resolv'd to undertake the Conquest of her himself And in regard that for the better bringing about his Design 't was convenient she should marry a Man for whom she had no kindness he was desirous of being satisfi'd what opinion she had of Bassompierre To this purpose an Opportunity offer'd it self within a
few days for being constrain'd by a fit of the Gout to keep his Bed he was Visited by Madam d' Angouleme and her Niece and while the Count of Grammont discours'd the Dutchess the King entertain'd Mademoiselle de Montmorency and told her that he would love her as his own Daughter and Lodge her in the Louvre during Bassompierres year of waiting and desir'd her to tell him ingenuously whither she were pleas'd with her Match or no for that otherwise he would break it off and marry her to his Nephew the Prince of Conde Mad. de Montmorancy who did not penetrate the King's design freely answer'd him that since it was her Fathers will she should think her self very happy with the Marquiss Henry IV. faign'd to be extremely glad of it but resolv'd within himself to find her out another Husband The next morning betimes he sent for Bassompierre and after he had caress'd him after an extraordinary manner told him that he had a full intention to marry him The Marquis ignorant of what he aim'd at made answer that had it not been for the Constables Gout his Nuptials had been already consummated That 's not my meaning reply'd the King my design is to marry ye with Mademoiselle de Aumale and in consideration of that marriage to revive the Dutchy of Aumale in her Person Bassompierre interrupting him ask'd his Majesty whether 't was his pleasure that he should have two Wives 'T is requisite reply'd the King that I should speak to thee as a friend I am in Love my self with Mademoiselle de Montmorancy If thou marriest her and she love thee I shall hate thee and if she have an affection for me then wilt thou be my Enemy 'T is better to avoid an occasion that may break our friendship I have a kindness for thee and I should feel a terrible combat within my self should I be constrain'd to remove my favour from thee I am resolv'd to marry that Lady to my Nephew the Prince of Conde She will be the Consolation of my old Age and I will give my Nephew who is young and loves hunting better then Ladies a hunder'd thousand Franks a year for his pastime without desiring any thing more from her that I design for his Wife but an innocent affection Bassompierre who saw well that he should but augment the King's Passion by reluctancy resolv'd to yeild him up chearfully a Blessing which he could not preserve to himself whither he would or no. 'T is a long time Sir said he that I have wisht for an opportunity to let your Majesty see my entire devotion to your Majesties Service and now I have met with one that answers my desires since the sacrifice which I offer to your Majesty is the greatest that Man can be capable of receiving I renounce at the same time for the love I bear your Majesty a splendid Alliance and a Lady altogether lovely for whom I have an affection the fervency and vehemence of which I am not able to express Yet I offer up all these advantages without any trouble to my self or any repining in the least and I wish that this intreague may bring as much joy to your Majesty as the loss of my hopes affliction to my self should I surrender 'em to any other then my Master a Master whose Vertues I no less admire then I reverence his high Extraction These words so mollifi'd the King that he melted into tears embrac'd Bassompierre and promis'd him to take care of his Fortune he also talk d to him of marrying Mademoiselle de Aumale but Bassompierre besought him to be contented with taking from him the person that he lov'd without imposing upon him a person that he could not affect In the Afternoon the King sitting up in his bed to play at Hazard with Bassompierre and some other Courtiers and Madam d'Angouleme together with her Neice coming to give him a visit he caus d the Dutchess to come between the Wall and the Bedside where he discours'd her for some time in private All that while Madam de Montmorency who knew nothing of the alteration of the King's mind talk'd to the Marquiss till the King beckning her to come to him inform'd her of his intentions and then went on with his discourse to the Dutchess while her Neice retiring shrugg'd up her shoulders to let Bassompierre understand the astonishment she was in But tho that Action of Madam de Montmorency discover'd nothing to Bassompierre but what he understood before he could not avoid the assaults of an inward anguish receiving that confirmation of his misfortune He gave over play and went out of the King's Chamber feigning that his Nose bled His Servants brought him his Hat and his Cloak to the Stairs and Betinghen put up his Money which he had left at random upon the Table As for the dispairing Lover he put himself into the Duke of Epernons Coach which he found next at hand not being able to get to his own and caus'd the Coachman to drive him home where be continu'd lockt up up for two or three days together without suffering any Strangers to come at him When he return'd to Court the Prince of Condè who had made a formal demand of Madam de Montmorency desir'd his company in the first visit that he pay'd his Mistress But tho the Marquiss were somewhat recover'd from his affliction and to find some pastime for his love had renew'd his intreague with Madam d' Entragues whom he had met at Madam de Senteny's yet could he not resolve unless by the King 's express command to submit to a compliance that would assur'dly put his heart upon the most severe Tryal that ever a Lover was expos d to The Cermonies of Affiiancing were perform d in the Gallery of the Louvre where the King was pleas'd out of an unlucky wantonness to lean upon Bassompierre's Shouldiers on purpose to make him stay with the affianc'd couple so long as the Ceremony lasted But the unfortunate Lover could notwithstand so many assaults His dispair upon the sight of that fatal Ceremony threw him into a Fever which had like to have cost him his life When he was recover'd Fortune that took delight in persecuting him rais d him a new Adventure which tho of less consequence yet put him to a great deal of trouble Camillo Simoni Esquire to the Queen lodg'd in a little Street right against the Door of the Mint and next door to Madam d'Entragues House and coming home one Evening he found a young man a bed with his Landlady for whom he had a kindness Presently he call'd up the people of the House who gave his Rival several cuts with their Swords and thrust him out of dâ—ors in his Shirt He was so dangerously wounded that after he had gone about fifty Paces he sunk down under Madam d' Entragues windows expecting every moment to breath his last At the same time a Gentleman who had some knowledge of Bassompierre
the Fidelity of her good Friend Maâ—â—moisâ—lle d' Enclos who thought it a stain to her Honour to have above one Lover at a time and tho she were not so lovely as Marâ—â—n de Lorme yet she had a much wit plai'd so delicately upon the Lute and was so sincere that many prefer'd her before her friend These happy talents induc d the Marquiss of Villarceaux who had always a good Relish and a true Judgment to league himself strictly with her Upon which the Marchioness grew so jealous that she never heard her name mention d but she fell into a passion This occasion'd a pleasant Story She had by the Marquiss a pretty young Lad to her Son who began to learn Latin and one day it came into her head to ask his Master whither the Boy were likely to be a Schollar The Master to satisfie her curiosity bid him decline Ninus in his Mothers hearing The Boy began Ninus Nini Nino and at length he came to Ninum But then the Mother knitting her brows told the Master he was an Impudent Fellow to teach her Son the name of such a Punk 'T was in vain for the poor man to protest that he never thought of Ninon and that he never knew her the Mother in her fury would hear of none of his excuses but drove him out of the Rome with great indignation and disdain Whether this be true or no I know not but I had the story from the Abbot of Bois-Robert Toward the end of Lewis the Thirteenth's Raign there appear d a certain Prince by the name of Zagachirst who said he was one of the Kings of Ethiopia he had an excellent Talent at Courtship and made a world of Conquests in Paris Madam Saulnier was so violently in love with him that she gave him all she could wrap and rend out of her House-keeping Which was a very great accommodation to that Prince whose Subjects were not very exact in supplying him with Bills of Exchange Monsieur Saulnier who was a Counseller in Parliament could not brook the duration of this Intreague which dishonour'd him and was a very great disturbance to his Affairs he put in an Information against him for debaushing his Wife and obtain'd a Capias utlegatum against Zagachrist who was carrid Prisoner to the Chastelet The Lieutenant Criminal Tardieu drew up the Inditment against him and when he askt him any question observ'd all the Decorum that was due to the Majesty of his Character the Party accus'd being always sitting and cover'd while the Judge stood up and with his hat off However the Abyssiman Monarch dy'd in Prison nor did his Subjects ever send any splendid Embassy to demand his Carkass since they could not have his Person Intreagues of the Court of France under the Raign of Lewis the XIV till the Death of Cardinal Mazarin year 1643 IN regard the present King was but five years of Age when he came to the Crown the Regency was granted to Ann of Austria his Mother and the Lieutenancy General of the Kingdom to Gaston of Orleance his Uncle The Queen made choice of Cardinal Mazarin for her Prime Minister as having manag'd several successful Negotiations for her in Italy and fit for the Employment But the Duke of Beaufert in whom the Queen put a great Confidence while she was the Object of Richlieu's Persecutions lookt upon her choice with an envious eye because he was in hopes of governing the Queen during the Regency or perhaps for other reasons which his enemies attributed to him The Queen who endeavour'd to prevent division did all she could to soder disunited minds and to oblige the Grandees of the Kingdom to live in friendly manner with the Cardinal For there were then no less then three Factions at Courâ— Monsieurs who was govern'd by the Abbot 〈…〉 Riviere that of the Princes of the House of Bourbon which comprehended Lewis Prince of Conde the Prince of Conti and the Duke of Longueville who but a little before had married their Sister Mademoiselle de Bourbon The third was compos'd of the House of Vendosme and the Lorrain Princes who were alii d to the Duke of Vendosme the Duke d' Elbeauf being his Brother-in-Law The Ladies govern'd these Caballs the Prince of Conde being engag'd with Madam de Coligni afterwards Dutchess of Chastillon Sister to the Marquiss of Bouteville which had hinder'd the Prince from chastizing the presumption of Coligni her Husband for making his addresses to Madam de Longueville Coligni who was proper and goodly had expell'd the Duke of Beaufort from her Heart and she had rudely broken off with him tho she had written very tender Letters to him but a little before The Duke therefore to make himself amends for the infidelity of Madam de Longueville intreagu'd himself with the Dutchess of Mombason Daughter of the Countess of Vertus who might well be thought the greatest Beauty of France and sacrific'd to her the Letters of the Dutchess of Longueville This was the posture of the Court of France when all the Exiles were recall'd The Duke of Epernon return'd out of England the Counts of Montresor Fonterailles and Aubijous being assur'd of the Duke of Orleance's protection began to shew themselves publickly Mesdames de Senelay and Hautefort were restored to their places and the Duke of Guise who had quitted Brussells came to pay his vows to Madam de Monbason The Dutchess of Cheuvreuse who was one of the Gang at the same time appear'd at the Louvre but was coldly receiv'd by the Queen and commanded to withdraw to Dampierre not that she had any real design to banish her but she would have her be beholding to the Cardinal for her being restor'd into Favour that she might be oblig d to live amicably with him In short he went to see her the next day and gave her five and twenty thousand Crowns and made her great offers of his Service Immediately the Dutchess put him upon the proof of his sincerity by demanding two very important things of him The one that he should satisfie the Duke of Vendome for his pretentions to the Government of Bretagne in reference to which he had as yet been only fed with words and the next was that the Duke of Epernon should be restor d to his Emploment of Collonel of Foot and his Government of Guinne The Cardinal carri'd himself in both very obligingly and offer'd the Duke of Vendome the Admiralty in lieu of his Government The Duke of Epernon was restor'd to all his Honours and nothing was omitted to get the Government of Guienne out of the Count de Harcourt's hands Madam de Cheuvreuse after she had obtain'd these two Favours demanded a third which the Cardinal at first was very unwilling to grant but at length he gave his consent This was that he would confer the Government of Havre de Grace upon the Prince of Marsillac whom she had a desire to engage effectually in her Interests After two
Marshal's Secretary which was the reason that the Master was accus'd to be the Author But the Duke d' Elbeauf having notice of the quarrel made up the business and reconciled ' em However the Duke of Guise being desirous to free himself from the competition of all his Revals begg'd leave of the Queen that he might Court his Mistress upon the account of Matrimony which having obtain d he sent to her Chamber her Dyet ready drest from his own House and order'd his own Officers to attend her which created an extraordinary jealousie among his Competitours 1645. But because the Duke of Guise could not marry Madam de Pons till he had dissolv'd his Marriage with the Countess of Bossu he resolv'd to go to Rome to Prosecute the Divorce before the Tribunal of the Ruota The Action also was already commenc'd and his Mother sent two Gentlemen thither to farther it But when she understood her Son's Affection for Madam de Pons she sent to her Agent to desist At length the Duke himself departed and after he had escap'd the dangers of the Sea arriv'd safely at Florence where he oblig'd the Grand Duke to write in his behalf to Innocent X. then newly advanc'd to the Pontificate When he arriv'd at Rome he was kindly receiv'd by the Pope who also at his request granted the Cardinals Cap to Mazarins Brother For the Duke was in hopes that such a Piece of Service would have engag'd the Prime Minister to have favour'd his Design but he was so far from it that the French Embassador had Order to cross and frustrate his Proceedings After the Departure of the Prince Mademoiselle de Pons not being satisfy d with her usage at Court retir'd to the Convent of Chassemidi where her Lovers Officers waited upon her every day in the House belonging to the Convent whether she went at the Hours of Dinner and Supper through a long Gallery which joyn'd the seperate Apartment and the Convent together On the other side the Duke being inform'd of her Persecutions lent an Ear to a Proposal that Touti made him to put himself into Naples and command the Army of the Rebels He wrote therefore to the Cardinal to give him notice of this Proposal and having obtain'd leave he Embarqu'd in a Shallop and passing through the midst of the Spanish Fleet got safe into Naples where he met with great difficulties to be surmounted For before his Arrival the sole Authority was in the hands of Jennaro who was no more then a Sword-Cutler at first but he was constrain'd at last to give way to the Duke So soon as the Duke had the Power in his Hands he forbid any more Plundring of Houses which Jenuaro suffer'd every day to enrich himself Upon which that Brute of a Commander conceiv d so great an Enmity against the Duke that he would never after pardon him but joyning with the Magistrate most popular among the Revolters and no less vex d then himself to miss his share of the Plunder they both together fram'd several contrivances against the Dukes Life Besides he had neither Provision nor Amunition in the City nor money to buy any for that the Captain of the Rebels till then had mentain'd his Men by the Plunder of the Houses only so that the Duke was constrain'd to supply all his Exigencies by his own Credit For he receiv'd no Succor from France because the Cardinal imagin'd as it was true enough that the Duke had a design to make himself King of Naples that he might set a Crown upon the Head of Mademoiselle de Pons The Kings Fleet that came to an Anchor before the Haven of the City serv'd to no other purpose but to debase his Reputation among the people because they brought neither Men nor Ammunition Yet for all these dissasters nothing abated the Dukes Courage nor lessend his Affection for his Mistress For after he had driven the Spaniards from their Principal Posts and taken diverse considerable Prisoners he thought he might then act like a King so that he sent a Procuration to the Marquiss of Brancas his Kinsman to marry Mademoiselle de Pons in his name The Marquiss inform'd the Cardinal of all this who to assure himself of the Dukes Fidelity thought it convenient to shut up Mademoiselle de Pons in a Convent whether she was sent by the Queen's Order But the Lady having notice of the design against her Liberty resolv'd to fly with two of her Lovers to whom she had imparted the reason of the Alarums and who had promis'd both to facilitate her flight and to bear her company Thereupon she stole out of the Convent leaving behind her the two Maids that were wont to attend her but she got no farther then St. Clou. For the two Lovers not being able to agree among themselves who should have the greatest share in her advis'd her to return to the Convent All this while they had been so long contending one with another till it was Night and the Nunns were retir'd to their Cells nevertheless her Maids having notice of her return caus'd the Gates of the Convent to be open'd pretending their was a Courrier arriv'd from the Duke of Guise that was to speak with their Mistress By which means she got into the House where he was accustom'd to eat and so return d to her Apartment without any discovery being made of her absence However the Queen who had some inkling of her Escape had sent whlle she was at St. Clou to the Convent an Exempt of the Guards of the Body to know whether she were there or no and to speak with her Upon which one of her Maids that most resembl'd her in tallness and shape came to the Grate of the speaking-place with her face wrapt in her Handkerchif feigning to have the â—oothach The Exempt brought back word again to the Queen that he had spoken to a certain Person that was like her but could not say it ' twast Mademoiselle de Pons because he could not see her Face The Queen therefore sent the next day the Dutchesses of Eguillon and Lyancourt with Orders to carry her to the Convent of Nunns of the Visitation of the Holy Virgin in St. Anthonies Street which they did with so much severity that they would neither suffer her to take her Maids along with her nor to speak with any body Of all which she inform d the Duke of Guise by a Letter who wrought with so much vehemence back again to the Queen and the Cardinal that for fear of exasperating his dispaire and forcing him to treat with the Spaniards they set Mademoiselle de Pons at liberty and gave her leave to retire to Angloises upon St. Victor's Mote where she was visited by all her Friends The same Year there fell out another Accident which had like to have reviv'd the ancient feuds between the Houses of Bourbon and Lorrain The Marquiss of Chabet a Favourite of Monsieur the Prince had marry'd the
Heiress of the House of Rohan without the consent of the Dutchess of Rohan her Mother who to be reveng'd of her set up a Brother of whom as she said she lay in privately at Paris the 18 of December 1630 upon her return from Paris in the presence only of two Women and her Apothecary She pretended also that she had caus'd him to be Baptiz'd under Counterfeit Names because her Husband was then at variance with the Court that she had nam'd him Tancrede and that she had caus'd him to be bred up by a Lady of her acquaintance call'd Mademoiselle Millet That the Duke of Rhoan returning to Paris in 1634 saw this Son of his several times with great satisfaction That the Spaniards having taken Corbie in 1636. and the Parisians having taken the Alarum she sent away Tancrede into Normandy to the Father of Temon her Steward to secure his Person till she could take him along with her out of France That this Son was stolen away by people unknown the 2d of February 1638. That seven Years after she discover'd that Tancrede had been stollen away by the order of Mademoiselle de Rohan and carri'd to Leyden in Holland where his Pension was paid to a Merchant by his Sister However it were the Dutchess of Rohan sent for this Son whether real or supposed to Paris and the Duke of Guise at the Request of M. de Pons who was a particular friend of the Dutchesses went to meet him took him into his Coach carry'd him to his House and declar'd himself his Protector while Monsieur the Prince with great heat supported Chabet's Interest but Tancrede was kill d in the Civil Wars and so put an end to that Controversie The Duke of Guise understanding what effect his Letters had produc'd resolv'd to make one fair push for it to open the Passages and make way for Provisions to come to the City To which purpose he went and laid Siege to a little Island within a League of Naples and within a few hours reduced the Spaniards that were in the Fort to Capitulate Now in regard the place was not to be deliver'd till the next day the Duke was forc'd to stay there all Night and in that time Gennaro together with the chief Magistrate of the People and the rest of the Dukes Enemies sign'd the Treaty which they had made with the Spaniards and deliver'd the Principal Posts of tne City into their hands So that when the Duke would have return'd he found the Gates shut and an Enemy fireing upon him He sought then to make his Escape with some Squadrons that stook to him but all the Passes were so well guarded that he was forc'd to yeild himself a Prisoner Don John of Austria who at that time commanded the Spanish Army in the Kingdom of Naples after he had kept him some for time in the Castle of Puzzuolo sent him to Segovià in Spain where he remain'd some years and ran a great hazard of his Life becuse he had not been own'd by France During his Imprisonment Mademoiselle de Pons became unfaithful to him for having at a Ball at Chauron the Presidents Wife 's House beheld Malicorne the Chavalier de Hautefort's Brother who seated himself at her Feet to discourse of Love she took an Affection to him and forgot all that the Duke of Guise had done for her However this Passion was thwarted by Malicorm's Family who did all they could to break off this Engagement but all their Obstacles serv'd only to unite 'em more closely together nor could the return of the Duke of Guise oblige 'em to a separation But before we speak of the Revolutions that happen'd the next Year 't is requisite we should say something of the rest of the Queen's Maids of Honour Mademoiselle de Chemeraut had marry'd La Basiniere Treasurer of the Privy Purse and Mademoiselle de St. Louis was wedded to the Marquiss of Flavacour Mademoiselle de St. Megrin after she had harken'd a while to the Marquiss of St. Meme the Monsieur 's first Esquire broke off with him to engage herself with the Marquiss de Broutte Collonel of the Regiment of Navarr whom she took for her Husband when the Civil Wars were at an end Mademoiselle de Nevillan made choice of the Duke of Novailles who at the conclusion of the Troubles made her his Wife So that there was only Mademoiselle de Guerchi that could not meet with a Husband She had quitted the Commander de Jaret wholly to give her self up to Jeannin of Castille the King's Treasurer and she carry'd herself with so little reserv'dness that the Queen expell'd her the Court. However the Duke of Vitry engag d with her for all that and treated her with as much respect as if she had been a Lucretia tho' she had had four or five Children by several Fathers More then that she grew with Child a sixth time and the Duke being desirous to preserve her Reputation which he would not believe to be quite so much lost as it was nothing would serve his turn but that she must come before her Time 'T was in vain to cry she should be overjoy'd to have such a Pledge of their Friendship he was absolutely resolv'd she should destroy the fruit of their Amours and sent her a Midwife whose name was Constantine who would needs deliver her by force but she dy'd in the Operation and Constantine was hang d. The Duke of Vitry was a long time a comfortless bemoaner of her death and preserv'd the Memory of her so charily that he afterwards engag d himself with a common Harlot because the Strumpet resembl'd her And that Woman being enrich'd by his Liberality marry'd afterwards the Marquiss of Goudron a younger Brother to the House of Gamache 1649. The Duke of Beaufort having made his Escape out of the Castle of Vincennes enter'd into a new League with the Princes of the House of Lorrain the Parliament and the People who had taken Arms upon the Imprisonment of the President Blanc-Menil and Broussel a Councellor in the same Body which enforc'd the Queen to besiege Paris Monsieur the Prince who then adhear'd to her Interests commanded the King's Army and constrain'd the Mutineers to Capitulate But the pretentions of the Prince whose extraordinary service had augmented his Reputation were so great that Mazarin fearing least he should grow too Powerful resolv'd together with the Queen to arrest not only him but the Prince of Conti his Brother and the Duke of Longueville his Brother-in-Law The Marquiss of Miossans had the Warrant and did this business with so much address that in recompence of his service he obtain'd a Marshâ—l of France's Battoon and was afterwards call'd Marshal d' Albret The three Princes were carry'd to the Castle of Vincennes Guarded by the Marquiss of Barr thence remov d to the Castle or Marcousins and from thence to Havre de Grace The Princess of Conde and the Dutchess of Longueville not being able to
obtain their Husbands Liberty put themselves into Bourdeaux and caus'd an Insurrection over all Guyenne which enforc'd the Queen to march thither with all her Officers to reduce that Province under her Obedience And when the Court return'd from that Expedition Monsieur who had suffer'd himself to be gain'd by the Cardinals Enemies who were then call'd Slingers solicited so powerfully for the Liberty of the Princes that they were constrain'd to grant him their Release and the Cardinal himself was forc'd to depart the Kingdom When the Queen saw the Princes at Liberty she endeavour'd to regain the Prince of Conde and by the meditation of the Princess Palatin offer'd him the Government of Guyonne for himself and that of Province for the Prince of Conti provided he would not oppose the Cardinals return and that he would break off the Marriage of his Brother with Mademoiselle de Cheuvreuse which was one of the Conditions upon which the Slingers had interested themselves in obtaining his Liberty This negotiation was kept very private and tho the Slingers press'd very earnestly for the Consumation of the Marriage the Dutchess of Longueville and the Duke of Rochefoucaut left nothing omitted to cross it for fear the Prince of Conti should escape their hands and joyn with the Dutchess of Cheuvreuse and Gondi Coadjutor of Paris Monsieur the Prince was overjoy'd that those two Persons assisted him in his designes without any necessity of putting himself to the trouble which made him endeavour to augment the jealousies which the Slingers had conceiv'd of his Sister and the Duke of Rochefoucaut However they forbore not to send to Rome in order to obtain a dispensation upon the account of Consanguinity and the Prince of Conti waited impatiently for it because the Person of Mademoiselle de Cheuvreuse particularly pleas'd him and for that he would have been glad to have quitted the Cause of the Church which they had forc'd him to embrace against his will However he conceal'd his last thoughts from his friends with all the Artifice he was capable of and chiefly from Madam de Longueville as being desirous she should believe that he acted only upon the score of Love In the midst of these perplexities he privately requested the President Viole who was to draw up the Articles of the Marriage to yield to all the points that should be contested and to surmount all difficulties During this Negotiation the Queen took the Seals from Chateau-Neuf and gave 'em to Matthew Mole first President of the Parliament which encreas'd the distrusts of Madam de Cheuvreuse about the Marriage which she so-earnestly labour'd for because it was upon the Credit of that Minister that she had grounded all her hopes of procuring to Monsieur the Prince the Establishment for which she had engag'd her self and which was to have been ratifi'd at the same time that the Marriage was solemniz'd The only thing that chear'd her up was the Prince of Contis extraordinary Passion for her He paid her a thousand obsequious visits which he conceal'd from his friends and more especially from his Sister and had very long and private Conferences with L'aygues and Marmontieres of which contrary to his custome he never gave an account to any body In short his conduct appear'd so extraordinary that the President Nemond the Prince or Conde's particular creature thought himself oblig'd to give him notice of his Brothers design and told him that he was going about to marry the Dutchess of Cheuvreuse without either dispensation or letting any body know it that he hid himself from all his friends to treat with L'aygues and that if he did not speedily put a stop to it he would see the Prince of Conti taken from him by the Datchess of Cheuvreuse and the Marriage consummated at a time when people thought he had most reason to prevent it This fair warning settl d his wavering thoughts so that without any farther consultation away he went to the Prince of Coâ—ti and began his discourse with joking upon the vehemency of his Love but he concluded it with talking of Mademoiselle de Cheuveruse the Coadjutor Nourmoutier and Commartin whatever he thought most prevalent to disgust a Lover or a Husband Nor did he meet with any great difficulty in bringing about his design whether it were that the Prince of Conti thought he spoke truth or that he durst not make any shew of misdoubting it He thankt him therefore for his wholesome advice and took a resolution never to think of the Dutchess more he also blam'd the Dukes of Longuoville and Rochefoucaui for not informing him sooner of what the World said of her From that time forward they sought to break off the match without imbitterment on either side but the Interests were too great and the Circumstances too hard to be digested for any body to think they could produce any other effect then an absolute reviving and reinflaming the old Grudges which the Duthcess of Cheuvreuse and the Slingers bare the Prince of Conde whom they suspected to haye had a share in the Rupture However the President Viole was order'd to visit the Dutchess of Cheuvreuse to disingage the Prince of Conde and Conti with some sort of Decorúm and good Manners from the promises they had made and broken in reference to the Marriage The next day after both the one and the other were to pay her a little visit but whither it were that they could not put that force upon themselves as to wait upon a person to whom they knew their company would be altogether unwellcome or that the two Brothers who fell out every day upon the most trivial occasions could not agree about the manner of paying this visit neither they nor the President Viole perform'd the intended Ceremony So that the affair broke off on their side without observing any measures or any way endeavouring to justifie what they had done As for Mademoiselle de Cheuvreuse she was so affected at this same alteration of the Princes humour that she threw her self into a Carmalite Nunnery where she took the habbit upon her soon after But the breaking off this Marriage which it was thought would have reunited the Prince and the Queen together wrought a contrary effect For the Queen imagin'd by dividing the Prince of Conde and Madam de Cheuvreuse to have united the Slingers to the Cardinals interests and that things would have been in the same condition as they were when the three Princes were arrested But several different Interests spurr'd on the Prince of Conde to break off with the Court he found himself no longer safe with the Queen and was afraid of relapsing into a second Confinement Madam de Longueville knew that the Cardinal had irreconcileably embroyl'd her with her Husband and that after those impressions of her conduct which the Cardinal had imprinted in her Husbands thoughts she could not repair to him in his Government of Normandy without the hazard of her Life or
in good part the occasion of most of the misfortunes of his Life This Prince being the youngest Brother of his Family was design'd for the Church and was promoted to the Archbishoprick of Rheims but after his Brothers death he quitted his Benefices and courted Anna de Gonzaga Sister to the Princess Marie of whom we have already made mention Cardinal Richlieu finding this Alliance to be contrary to the good of the State made use of the King's authority to prevent it and order'd the Princess to be shut up in a Convent The Duke of Guise enrag d to see his Passion cross'd departed the Kingdom and withdrew to Cologne whither his Mistress having made her escape follow'd him in Mans Apparel but he oblig'd her to return and went to Brussells where he met with the rest of the Exiles Now in regard there was no good Company there to his mind he spent the greatest part of the Afternoons with the Dutchess of Chevreuse his Kinswoman who fearing least his assiduities should create a jealousie in the Archduke endeavour d to engage him other where and brought him acquainted with the Countess of Bossu She was a young Widow of a sweet and blithe humour and the Dutchess's great friend It was so order'd that she should be of the Dukes side in a match at Cards and she put her self to forward that he coulde not choose but return her an answer 'T is true that for fear she should make a wrong judgment of his Conduct she presently spoke to him about marriage and the Duke declar'd to her that he desir'd nothing so much as to share destinies with her but in such terms as sufficiently shew'd that he only sought to divertise himself during his Exile But tho the Countess had sounded his drift yet she made as if she hade never perceiv'd it hoping the more easily to engage him by her faigned Ingenuity One day she carry'd him to a very stately House of her's about a League from Brussells and treated him with all the divertisements that were proper for the Season which was the most pleasant in all the whole year for which the Duke could not choose but testifie his acknowledgment to her and talk to her of love as he was us d to do The Countess told him that if he were so amorous as he would seem to make her believe he should shew himself more eanestly desirous of their Marriage The Duke swore to her that there was nothing that he more Passinonately wish'd for then to spend the rest of his life with so amaible a person as she was and that it was her fault if she did not put it to the Tryal The Countess taking him at his word reply'd that she should soon see whither his Protestations were sincere since she had both a Notary and a Priest in the House to marry ' em The Duke was surpriz'd at this discourse but made as if he had not been so and thought he might take his liberty without running any hazard while he made the Dutchess the Cully of her own cunning seeing that a Marriage of that nature wanting the formalities prescrib'd by the Canon and without the Kings consent was voyd in Law The Dutchess therefore seeing the Duke ready to do what she desir'd sent for Manfele Almoner to the Army who gave 'em the Nuptial Benediction and dispens'd with asking the Baines as if he had the same authority with the Bishop of Malines Thus the Duke stay'd all that night with his new Spouse to whom he shew'd so much kindness and affection that she was extreamly satisfi'd with the happy success of her designs The next day he return'd back after he had desir'd the â—hew Dutchess that she would keep their Marriage private till he got the consent of the Court and his own Relations But notwithstanding all the care they took to conceal this Adventure from publick knowledge it reach'd the Ears of the Duke d' Elboeuf and the Dutchess of Chevreuse who both upbraided him with it as a piece of the foulest Treachery imaginable The respect he ahd for Laides curb'd him from flying out against the Dutchess but the Duke d' Elbouf and he had such high words together that they had drawn their Swords if the Archduke had no pacifi'd ' em The Duke of Guise finding he could not revenge himself by his Sword sought out for otherways to plague the two persons that had affronted him and thought he could not find a better than to bring the Countess home to his House and treat her there publickly as his Wife This was the course he took and from that time he liv'd with her very lovingly so long as she remain'd at Brussels But we must now return to France with the Duke of Orleance who having obtain'd of the King to approve his Marriage went to waite vpon him at St. Germains together with Madam 1640 While the King was busily employ'd in reducing the Huguenots of his Kingdom and defending his Allies against the enterprizes fo the House of Austria he was govern'd altogether by his Favorites never minding the Conversation of Ladies The Marquiss de Paradas succeeded the Constable de Luynes and the Duke of S. Sâ—nogi succeeded him After that Duke was thrown out of favour Cadinal Richlieu Iâ— obtain'd the sole ascendant over his Majesty without any Companion either in his favour or in the Ministry But after the Peace had given the King a little liberty to converse among the Ladies 't was soon perceiv'd that he cast a more particular eye upon Mademorselle de Fayeâ—ro tho that same application was wholly Platonick for he bounded his desires within the limits of Conversation never caring to have any particular pastime with her and never spoke to her but publickly in the Queen's Chamber This Love however as innocent as it was created a jealousie in the Gardinal and it seem'd to him so much the more dangerous and prejudicial to his favour because Madam de la Fayette was in a strict union with the Queen and for that the Marchioness of Senesay a Lady of Honour and the Queen's Creature was the Confident entrust d with the Secret The Cardinal therefore us'd all his endeavours to break that Union and at length obtain d an order from the King to banish those two Ladies which was carry'd to 'em by Cavigny Secretary of State and within a little while after the Marquiss of St. Ange Master of the Queens Household underwent the same desgrace Which very much incens'd the Queen against the Cardinal but in regard he was assur'd of the King has Master freindship he took little notice of it Mademoiselle d' Hautefort soon suceeded in the room of Madam de lu Fayette and the Cardinal suffer'd that growing Passion without any jealousie because that Lady had neither judgment nor with to carry on Intreagues equal to the Kings first Mistress But when he discover'd that she was solely guided by the Counsels of Mademoiselle de Chennerault