days afterwards Madam de Maintenon sent for Mdemoiselle de to her Chamber who was the Fair Lady that she design'd for the King and no King a Lady at the same time tenderly belov'd by our Great Monarch So soon as King James saw her he was Charm'd with her Beauty and all the desires of that poor Prince that lay as it were in a Swoon reviv'd at the sight of so Fair an Object and his Fancy was heated after such a manner that he had much adoe to Recover himself from an Agitation so extraordinary But the Fair Lady who could not brook with patience the feeble Caresses of that Prince always contriv'd some excuse or other that she might not meet His Majesty for as she said one day to the Dutchess of Nemours I know not the meaning of Madam de Maintenon to go about thus to Engage me to a Complyance with King James One might think as this Lady orders her Affairs that the Race of Men were at an end My dear Minion reply'd the Dutchess with a smile the Marchioness of Maintenon has her Ends and you must submit to her This Answer afforded nothing of Consolation to our Charming Lady who being at her Wits end to see her self obliged to Entertain a Familiar Commerce with a Lover already come to his Spectacles who had more need of Repose and Ease then of the usual Agitations of Venus resolved to feign her self sick that she might rid her self from the frequent Visits of the King of the Bass and her project took For the King being Enamour'd only by Accident soon laid asleep his Rapid motions in their proper places However Madam Maintenon who thought her self in some measure Revenged for the Inconstancy of her Lover and the Queen's interloping was not a little glad that K. James's Amour had made some noise at the Court and tho the Consequences were such as she expected and desired however she would not seem to be disatisfy'd The Queen who understood that 't was the Marchioness of Maintenon who had laid that Snare for her Husband only made here self Sport with it which nettl'd the Marchioness not a little But the Queen who is infinitely Witty and Politick withal under stood so well how to manage both the Marchioness and our Monarch that she has all along to outward appearance preserv'd her Friendship with those Illustrious Persons All this while the Curate of Saint Martin whom his Modesty had kept silent tho' he thought ne're a whit the less imagin'd the time of his Absence too long and therefore so soon as the noise of the Queen's being With-child was quietly over he went to St. Germains under pretence of paying his Devoirs to King James whom he had not seen since his Return out of Ireland The Queen return'd him her Thanks and in regard the King was not then at Paris our two Lovers made the Best of his Lucky Absence by giving each other a thousand Proofs of their Affection Our Princess made known to her Gallant her great Joy for being big With-child a second time in hopes that this last Infant would utterly overthrow all the Designs of the wretched Huguenots who triumph'd over her Misfortune Ah my Dear continu'd the Princess kissing her Ecclesiastical Adonis had King James undertaken an Affair of that Importance as to beget a Child the Poor Man would have been at a Loss You cannot imagine how uncapable that Prince is to beget his Like So that the Marchioness of Maintenon mistook in her Politicks to choose out a Mistress for a Man that can hardly make Water alas poor Woman she thought to make me jealous but she took a wrong Course I knew too well my Husband's Merits and that there is ne're a Girl i' the Town if she be any thing handsome that will be baffl'd by such a doating Gallant But Madam reply'd the Curate I believe that Lady's Design was to fret and disquiet your Majesty because she knows that our King has a great Esteem and Honour for you and usually the Mistresses of Kings are jealous of their Rivalesses 'T is a strange thing reply'd the Queen that a Woman of her Age should not be satiated with Love yet you cannot imagin perhaps how amorous this Antiquated Bigotess is After she has turn'd about her Rosary an hour or two the good Lady goes to caress the King with a thousand Grimaces which no way suit with a Woman of her Character In short she loves Pleasure better then her Life and when she cannot please her self she produces others Younger and more Beautiful This is the Genius of the Abbess of St. Cyr notwithstanding all her Devotion In truth Madam I never took that Lady to be so given to the World or so addicted to Pleasure However she ought to consider that she is in her wain and that 't is time for her to leave off Ah! Monsieur reply'd the Princess she has been always a Wanton A Friend of mine told me since I came to Paris that when Scarron marry'd her every body told the Poor Man but of Charity that he was going to ally himself to the Family of Acteon To which the Growthead Aesop reply'd that he laugh'd at wearing Horns since he was not the only Man i' the World that did so and that he only took that Fair Damsel to please his Eyes But the Arrival of the Count of Lau. sun who surpriz'd the Queen caus'd 'em to alter their Conversation for now they talk'd of nothing but the Affairs of Ireland and the loss of Limerick Ah! my dear Cousin cry'd the afflicted Princess what think ye of my Misfortune I must confess Madam reply'd the Count rubbing his Forehead I am extreamly troubl'd for all these Misfortunes There is nothing vexes a General more then to be foil'd in his Enterprizes I wish I had never been in Ireland for my Honour's sake The Count of Tyrconnel and I did all that could be expected from stout Soldiers But 't is in vain to toil when Fortune is against us You have given me a sad Protraiture of our Condition my dear Cousin but I had thought that a great Soldier like your self had always reserv'd some Hope nevertheless I see that The Queen could not conclude the rest because a Torrent of Tears that fell from her Eyes would not suffer her to proceed Which the Count beholding and sorry to see her so terribly afflict her self he took her in his Arms to comfort her Swearing that he would try the to'ther Bout and doe his Utmost to restore her Majesty to her Throne After the Queen had dry'd up her Tears looking upon the Count with a tender Eye My dear Cousin said she how much am I oblig'd to your Kindness for interesting your self so much in my Concerns 'T was you that sav'd me out of the Hands of my Enemies as well as the Prince of Wales my little Son Now that I am big With-Child again I have still more need of your Assistance to the
end it may be publish'd to the World that this Great Belly of mine is no Fable as they who bereav'd me of my Crown believ'd and gave out O Heaven that know'st the Injustice done me prosecute my Revenge and thou Saint Vaubons who hast given Life to the Infant which I bear be thou for ever on my side Prove but thou faithful to me and I will burn upon thy Altar the largest Tapers I can buy for Money The Count de Lausun who had heard that the Queen was VVith-child Madam said he to her with a Smile I find that you have not been idle in my Absence and that Love has been your Friend Oh Cousin reply'd the Queen with a languishing Aire deride not an Unfortunate Princess that breathes nothing but Grief this Production is only the Effect of my Prayers to St. Vaubons Had yee no humane Assistance Madam said the Count proceeding still in his Jesting Humour None at all answer'd the Queen Then most certainly reply'd the Count St. Vaubons must be a Hermophrodite to get Children alone by her self You do not take the Blessings of Heaven in a right sense reply'd the Queen Let us find some other Discourse How did yee like the Irish Ladies are they as handsom as they are at London How many Mistresses had you during your stay in that Country Faith Madam I was so taken up with the VVar that I had no leisure to discern the VVhite from the Brown besides that I should never court the Irish Ladies they are so little obliging that they will never make any great Conquests Then you have been Visiting 'em Cousin reply'd the Queen laughing yet you would make me believe you never minded ' em I know that Mars and Venus have a great Sympathy together For which reason it is that Ovid shews us those two Deities surpriz'd in an Amorous Familiarity and fetter'd in small Chains that Vulcan had Forg'd to cure himself of his jealous Suspicions The Count would have gone on with his Pleasantries in answer to the Queen when King James arriv'd So that after some few Complements the King and the Count went together to the Fauxburgh St. Antoin to conferr with the Reverend Father La Chaise At what time the Holy Father gave King James a Writing the Contents of which were as follows Francis by the Grace of God and the Holy Apostolick See Archbishop of Paris Duke and Peer of France Commander of the King's Orders Protector of the Sorbonne and Superiour of that of Navarr with the Assistance of our Venerable Brethren Deans Canons of the Metropolitan Church and the Pious Council of Lewis the Great our Incomparable Monarch most humbly supplicateth the King and Queen of Great Britain James II. and Mary d' Este his Illustrious Consort to consent to the means which we have found out in our Holy Assembly speedily to restore Their Majesties to their Throne which is to publish a Declaration to their English Subjects therein desiring 'em not to join with King William with Promise to obtain all their Privileges and to give full Liberty to the English Religion to send back all the Foreign Soldiers so soon as he shall be restor'd to his Throne to let 'em see also that their manner of dispossessing him was unjust by justifying his Conduct desiring also the Lords of the Kingdom to come to Paris to be present at the Delivery of the Queen for the Dissipating of all false Reports that ran about upon the Death of his Son the Prince of Wales and that the Queen's time expir'd the 15th of May assuring those that should come into France all the Liberty they could desire The King and Queen return'd their Hearty Thanks to the Archbishop and all the Holy Society for the Good Counsel they had given Prayers were also appointed to be made in all the Churches for the Blessing of Heaven upon all King James's Enterprizes and Te Deum was sung before-hand there being no Question but that Victory would favour him Some days after all this devout Hurly-burly the Court remov'd to Marli to divertise themselves where the Count Lausun always Courtly according to his Custom gave the most magnificent Regale that ever was seen Balls and Comedies were not omitted for the Ladies to spend their time with pleasure and delight The next day the Count carry'd the Queen together with the Princesses of Conti d' Espiney and Soissons to an Opera where the Queen who is a passionate Lover of Musick was charm'd with a young Damsel's Voice who sung the last Airs of Baptist The Countess of Rourre who was one of those that went to Marli was one of the first that return'd that she might have more time to tast the Sweets of her Engagement with the Prince of Turenne At that time it was that he was so weak as to Sign a little Note with his Blood to that same Charming Countess wherein he promis'd to love her as long as he liv'd and never to change On the other side Madam de Rourre appear'd so charm'd with his Promise that she flung her self about his Neck and tenderly embrac'd him telling him withal That she would be as faithful to him as her Strength would permit For you know my Dear continu'd the Cunning Coquet that Women such as I am are subject to strange Temptations Nevertheless I assure yee I will separate my self from the World to the end I may give my self up wholly to you This was then the Opinion of the Fair Countess who at the same time presented her Illustrious Gallant with her Picture in a little Box and several other Toys as Pledges of her Love The Prince also Sign'd another Note with his blood that she should never see the Picture again till the Hour of his Death which fell out to be as he said for he was Slain at the Battel of Steenkirk By this time the Queen being deliver'd infus'd a general Joy into all the Court for the Birth of a second Child Our Pious Monarch had desir'd the Dutchess of Orleans his Sister-in-Law to be God-mother But by Misfortune that Princess who had a great Desire to have been at the Queen's Labour came too late tho' she set forth from St. Clou with all speed that might be However every Body congratulated King James for his good Fortune and several Ladies of Great Quality always stay'd in the Queen's Chamber by Lewis the Great 's Order who tenderly lov'd the Princess and took delight in thinking that by his Tillage she had produc'd so fair a Crop And indeed this Infant was compos'd of several Essences which in time will give it a most Admirable Odour in the World and be a means to perpetuate his Memory Monsieur the Archbishop made frequent Visits to the Queen during her Lying-in particularly to give her his Benediction and make her some other Presents of things necessary for the Support of Life Telling her withall to divertise her That he had order'd to be carry'd
airy Blessings Thus it was that Monsieur the Archbishop flatter'd his Passion in caressing the Queen who assur'd him on her part That she would be faithful to him as long as she liv'd and that she could never love any other but himself for Reasons that her Majesty could not express All these tender Protestations being at an end the Archbishop took his leave of the Queen and went with his Official to meet the Bishop of Meaux at the House of one of the Presidents who liv'd at Lisle Notredam After he had discours'd of Publick Affairs and of the Decrees which our Monarch had issu'd forth the two Prelates went to recreate themselves at Conflans about a small League from Paris where they drank so much of the Archbishop's good Wine that it warm'd the devout Friends of Bacchus to that degree as to tell what Favours they had receiv'd from their Mistresses which put them upon relating several pleasant Stories that held 'em a long time The Bishop of Meaux drank the Queen's Health smiling upon the Archbishop who pledg'd the Company very courteously telling 'em withal That nothing was more acceptable to him then to hear 'em talk of that Princess in whom he had observ'd an Extraordinary Merit and that Fortune was not just to abandon her Cause What you say is true Sir said the President but we are not alway rewarded according to our Deserts wherefore your Artists paint that Deity Blind Upon that the Bishop of Meaux could not forbear desiring his Friends to drink a good Health to the Archbishop's Inclinations naming no Body But in regard the Conquests that Love makes can be no more conceal'd then Fire it self every Body knew that Fair Ladies took up the greatest part of that Illustrious Prelate's time The President laughing at the same time said that Madam de Bourneville had a great Share in the Joy that appear'd in the Bishop of Meaux's Countenance Nor did that Prelate much gainsay it quite the contrary with a Courtly Aire he confess'd that he was as sensible of the Charms of handsome Ladies as another Man and that his Character could not mortifie his Passions and that the Prohibitions of the Church forbidding Matrimony and the touching any Woman did but corroborate the Propensity of Men to that Sex Every Body applauded the Bishop's Opinion which was maintain'd for Truth by several Glasses of Wine which they drank off and then threw over their Shoulders in honour of the Ladies Never was so much Incense offer'd to Bacchus and Venus as that Day which seem'd to be one of their Festivals After this Debauch was at an end which lasted a day or two the Pious Fathers of the Roman Catholick Church return'd to Paris more serious then ever King James whom the bad Condition of his Affairs had cast into a deep Melancholly and who knew not how to imploy himself to dissipate his Trouble and to divert the mournful Idea's that crouded his Thoughts for the Loss of his Crown spent his time in a thousand Trifles Amongst the rest he very frequently went to see his Son the Little Prince of Wales to dandle him and hear his Prittle-prattle which was very Extra-ordinary considering his Years Mademoiselle de Bordage a French Woman who was plac'd about him to teach him the Language and to govern him in the Absence of his Tutor always made a faithful Relation of the hopeful Parts of the Young Prince which made the King often laugh at her manner of Expressing her self But as it is impossible to avoid loving handsome Persons nor to let 'em understand as much King James resolv'd to make a Tryal of his Skill maugre his unwillingness to do it For the Poor Prince had so ill succeeded in his Amours as well as in every thing else that he durst not attempt the making of tender and amorous Declarations Nevertheless the Posture of his Affairs requir'd it to the end he might dispell the Troubles of his Mind as we have said already One day this solitary Prince said sighing to Madam Bordage That he was the most unfortunate of Men in all his Undertakings and that he never prosper'd in any thing which reduc'd him sometimes to that Despair that Death it self would have been welcome to him And indeed the King had no great Reason to take any Pleasure in this Life for every Body look'd upon him with Contempt since his Fatal Fall Mrs. Bordage seem'd to be compassionately mov'd with the King 's bemoaning his Affliction to her so that she endeavour'd to comfort him up the best she could VVherein King James observ'd a great deal of good Nature and thank'd her for her being so much concern'd in his Troubles His Majesty spent some time in Acknowledgment which grw up to Love and which he kept secret in his Heart without speaking a Word for above six Months But in regard that Passion cannot last long without bursting forth the King who was troubl'd with concealing it longer resolv'd to speak of it to her that had given it Birth and Growth but stil in dubious and far-fetch'd Expressions only to sound the Ladies Intentions The Fair Lady who thought the King was talking to her of some Advantageous Match shew'd her self nothing Squeamish in her Answers Which confirm'd our Amorous Prince in his Hopes For which reason he urg'd her one day to tell him Whether she could tenderly Love an Honest Gentleman who should think himself happy to please her Sir said she I know not what to say you puzzle me with your Proposal for I would willingly see the Person you propound You know Sir continu'd she that we must have a Sight of the Objects before we fix our Love that we may have some Foundation for our Passion 'T is very certain Madam reply'd King James but true Lovers are still afraid of being favourably heard and therefore they are not so forward to declare themselves at first If this Person you speak of Sir be a Person of Merit for any thing else you need not fear his being belov'd That Conceit of Madam Bordage's made the King laugh who reply'd I find Madam that you love handsome Young Men that have a great Deal of Wit Yes Sir answer'd she I have always had a Kindness for deserving Gentlemen The King perceiving this Lady would never love a Person who had so little to recommend him as he had she ath'd up his Complements without saying any more leaving the rest to Fortune tho' there is no great likelyhood that she will ever be kind to that miserable Prince The Curate of St. Martin who had not seen his divine Queen in some time went to the Convent of Mercy to visit one of his Kinswomen with a design to meet the Queen there who frequently went to visit the Princesses of Soissons both Prisoners in that place But so soon as the Curate saw her Majesty he chang'd Colour and seem'd to be abash'd which the Company well observ'd tho' they thought him only dash'd
THE COURT OF St. GERMAIN's OR THE Secret History OF The Late King JAMES and Queen MARY From Their First Arrival in France to this Time From the French Original LONDON Printed in the Year MDCXCV THE COURT OF St. GERMAINS THEIR Britannic Majesties had no sooner quitted London and dispossessed themselves of Three Kingdoms but â—â—ey were received at Paris by all the â—â—ourt Where the French King to â—â—ssen their Sorrows endeavoured by 〈◊〉 the most engaging ways in the World 〈◊〉 asswage their Grief which their seâ—â—ration from Enthronement might ocâ—â—sion and to that effect after he had â—â—ven K. James and the Queen his Conâ—â—rt all the Demonstrations of Brotherly Friendship accompany'd with an Extraordinary Generosity 't was His Majesties Pleasure to make 'em partakers of all the Pleasures and most Charming Pastimes of his Court. Among the rest our Monarch propos'd to the Q. now fled to him for Succour the Divertisements of Amorous Courtship and other Recreations as the most acceptable means to allay the Anguish of her Troubles Nor did the Queen who had always an inclination leaning that way make any great Resistance which extreamly pleased the King who was not altogether insensible of a growing Kindness for her and who had given her certain proofs of it since her arrival in France Some time after their Abode at St. Germains which is the place of their Residence the King ordered the Archbishop of Paris and the Bishop of Meaux to visit their Majesties and to infuse into 'em that Patience which was necessary for good Catholicks And that Illustrious Prelate employed a World of Eloquence to make it out to the King and Queen from Examples in History that they were not the only Princes who had lost their Crowns and that it was a glorious thing to suffer the Crosses and Afflictions of this Life with Constancy and without Murmuring Which done he took his leave deeply smitt'n with the Merits of that Princess who had made appear so much Solidity in all her Discourse and convinced him that the Court of France was not the only place that monopolized all that was worthy of Esteem and Love It may be therefore said That from that very Day the Queen knew how to manage her Conquest and preserve it And in regard she is an Italian as being the Duke of Modena's Daughter and nearly related to the Pope she carry'd her self with a great deal of Address and Artifice Nor would the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits be silent upon such an occasion as this every one would go to pay their Respects to their Majesties more especially the Fathers La Chaise and Bourdalou made it a considerable part of their business as they that took great delight to report their Observations to the King And indeed the frequent Visits of our Monarch the Dauphin and all the Ladies caused the Queen to forget a good part of her Sorrows The Princes of Conti and Espinoi propounded to her Hunting Matches with the Dutchess of Orleans who prefers Hunting before all other Sports in the World as being frequently at the Head of the Hounds Apparell'd like the rest of the Huntsmen At St. Clou's it was where first they tasted those Country Pleasures which were attended with a Ball and a magnificent Banquet the Violins and Hautboys playing all the Night The Fair Ladies who were the Ornament of that Festival appear'd in all their Splendor More particularly the Countess de Rourre display'd all her Excellencies in that Charming Assembly and in regard she is none of the most Accomplish'd Beauties she made the best of her pleasant Humour much more amiable than her Features The Danphin who has more than ordinary kindness for her never left her and gave her to understand by many pretty Amorous Intimations how much he Lov'd her but the Princess of Lislebonne and the Marchioness of Segnalay who had a watchful Eye upon 'em ever and anon would needs be interrupting the Monsieurs tender and passionate Expressions which very much disgusted Madam de Rourre insomuch that she made her Complaint to the Princess of Conti who is the Duphin's Confident telling her That she was very Unfortunate to be so narrowly observed even to the slightest of her Actions which caused the Princess to Laugh who in that merry fit went immediately and made the King acquainted with the Countess's Grievances The King made himself sport with it and because they thought the Dauphin far remote from any Violent Engagement they forbore to watch him so narrowly wherein the Court was deceived for they found by the sequel that the young Prince was as sensible of Love as other Men which we shall indeavour to shew in the following Relations Let us return to the Queen whom our Arcbishop had not the power to forsake without speaking of that Love which reign'd so predominantly in his Heart But in regard that Prelates have not the Liberty which others have to express their Amorous Thougths the Archbishop was contented with enjoying the Presence of her who had wounded his Heart Only Sighs and Languishing Looks were the Faithful Interpreters of his Passion while he still observed those measures that suited best with his Character But the Queen who is expert in the Affair of Gallantry soon Divin'd the meaning of his mute Language as having an Inclination sufficiently prone to embrace the Sanctify'd Love of Men of the Church which encloses within it unknown Mysteries She had not forgot the sweet Hours she had past away with her dear Nuncio Dada whom the Pope had sent into England to manage his Interests For which reason it was that she gladly and joyfully admitted Monsieur the Archbishop's Visits and went oftner in her Coach to hear Mass and Vespers in the Convent of the Austin-Fryars attended by her Confident the Marchioness of P s. Love and Devotion were in her inseparable through a Secret Union which usually happens in Italy where the Churches are the places of meeting for the carrying on of Love Intrigues The Respect our Prelate had for a Princess so haughty and so handsome restrain'd him from telling her what he felt for her sake But when he bethought himself that a Person of his Character had been belov'd those Idea's fortify'd her Hopes and rendered him more undaunted in his Enterprize On the other side the change of her Fortune and the Passion which a certain English Lord has for that Charming Princess and her Courtly manner of answering his Caresses perswaded the Archbishop that he had not long to sigh in vain So that at last the happy Minute arrived and the Archbishop made known his Tender Sentiments to his Divine Queen One Day that King James was at Marly with the Duke of Vendosme Grand Prior of France the Count of St. Maure and several Lords of the Court the Archbishop whom the Qu. had made acquainted with it in the Morning giving him withal to understand with a Graceful Aire That she should be glad of his Company in the
Afternoon being all alone at St. Germain's our Archbishop I say upon these Encouragements let her see by a profound Obeysance and a low Bow that his Heart was brim-full of Joy and that he would not fail to make the best of his Opportunity To which purpose he ordered his Lacqueys to change their Liveries and being himself muffled up in a Scarlet Cloak that he might in some measure disguise himself and deceive the People who will always be pratling especially at Paris he entered the Castle and meeting the Marchioness of P s who was in the Anti-Chamber with one of the Queens Maids of Honour he gave her a Smile as he gently push'd open the Door of the Cabinet where our Princess sate Reading the Amours of Henry IV. very much wondâ—ing at his Inconstancy and the number of his Mistresses which made her Laugh when she began to consider how little reason Ladies had to rely upon the Passion and Affections of Men. Monsieur the Archbishop after he had Saluted the Queen opened his Heart and gave her to understand some part of his pains To which the Princess beholding him with a tender Look made answer That she would see what might be done to render him less unhappy Our Prelate seemed to be ravished with the Charms of her soft Expressions and presently throwing himself at her Feet embrac'd her knees and kissing her hands a thousand times protested to her that he never was so deeply in Love in his Life before Then they laid their Heads together to consider which way they might fee one another without being discovered by the Court But it was a difficult matter to deceive the Hundred-Ey'd Argus's which our Monarch has prying about in all parts to the end that nothing may escape him that is transacted in the City At length the Queen told her new Lover after she had pondered a while That it would be the best way for him to disguise himself sometimes like a Musick Master for that she being a passionate Lover of Musick neither the King her Husband nor any body else would take any notice of him or else like a Bookseller that brought her Novels and Histories to read This proposal was well approved but the Question was How to carry the Business neatly To which purpose every thing was just concluded upon when a Gentleman brought the Queen Letters from the Countess of Tyrconnel who had been one of her Maids of Honour and whom the King had Marry'd to his Deputy of Ireland The Queen was overjoy'd to hear Tydings from her dear Friend who had serv'd her in several perilous occasions no less sorry that she had her not then with her to assist her in the present Intrigue being well assured That that same Lady would have been a great help to her as being one that perfectly knew how to counterfeit Devotion and talked of nothing else but the Holy Fathers of the Church and of their Sufferings King James being returned from Marly took great delight in giving the Queen an Account of the Pastime he had taken in that little Journey and how kindly he had been entertain'd by the Duke of Vendosme and the Count of St. Maure The good Prince related every Passage with the greatest Candor and Freedom in the World never dreaming of the Amorous Commerce of his tender Consort who every way endeavoured to fulfil the King her Husband's Prophesie For one Morning that K. James then only Duke of York and a Widower was walking in the Long-Gallery next to St. James's Park with some others of the Nobility it so fell out that he met with an Astrologer in that place The Duke of York perceiving a great Throng of People-gathered together and curious to know the reason of the noise they made went up directly to the Crowd with his Company and asked What the matter was At what time a Gentleman told him That they had got among 'em a Famous Astrologer who saw in the Face of any man what would befal him in his Life time This created in the Duke a desire to know his own Destiny so that he commanded the Wizard to attend him after Dinner which the Old South-sayer did He excused himself however as long as he could alledging the danger of telling Princes and Princesses their Fortunes for that being exposed to the Capricio's of Fortune as well as other Men the Truth was not many times to be spoken But the unwillingness of the Astrologer encreasing the Duke of York's desire he prest the Artist so much the more earnestly and giving him his Hand told him withal That whatever the Planets had appointed for him he would take it in good part Then the Astrologer looking stedfastly in the Duke's Face uttered this Oracle That if there were any Truth in the Stars he would be in danger of Acteon 's Fate whenever he should chance to see a Diana Naked in the Bath Upon which all the Nobility that were present fell a Laughing and a long time after in their Merriments made Sport with the Astrologer and his Prediction Some Years after this when the thing was in a manner forgot the D. of York went to the Bath either for his Health or for his Pleasure and there never dreaming of the Prophesie by an Accident beheld a Lovely Young Lady and of great Quality Naked in one of the Baths who Chid him for not withdrawing from the place considering the Condition she was in So that the satisfaction which the Duke had in staring upon a Beautiful and Charming Lady in the State of Innocence concurr'd to make out the truth of an Unlucky Prediction Let us now leave K. James II. to blazon his new Coat of Arms and let us endeavour to shew how it was enlarg'd and beautify'd by the number of his Dear Consorts Favourites Monsieur the Arcbishop having upon a St. John's Day cast several passionate Looks upon the Queen in the Church which were observ'd by the Dauphin and the Duke of Vendosm his Minion those two Noble Personages so soon as Sermon was done went to walk in the Louvre Laughing all the while at the Prelates Amours A very fine Business cry'd the Dauphin You see the Ecclesiasticks are subject to the same Temptations as we are our selves I remember I have heard it said at Court that the Abbot of Bois Robert shared with Cardinal Mazarine who was a Man of a wonderful Devotion the Favours of the Beautiful Marion de l'Orme By my Faith reply'd the Duke smiling since you assure me 't is so I 'll try to be our Archbishop's Rival We are good Friends enough to have one Mistress between us Go on said the Dauphin to the Duke clapping him upon the Shoulder go and push on your Good Fortune if the Conquest pleases you This Discourse would have lasted longer but the vast number of People that meet in the Louvre caused our two Sparks to take Coach again and drive from thence to the Princess of Turennes whom they found
her Victor So true it is that all our Designs against Love are but of a short continuance When a Heart becomes sensible once of the Charms of that Passion it always follows the Propensity that beck us it along The Queen has promis'd her self a thousand times that she would never be in Love any more the Pains and Vexations of which Passion surpass all the Joys which that same Bandy-legg'd Deity infuses into us But to what purpose all our vain Reflexions Here is our Illustrious Penitent more tender than ever half Swooning away in the Arms of her Lover and acknowledging no other Felicity but that of Amoreous satisfaction But Monsieur the Curate who held his Divine Queen fast lockt in his Arms and Kiss d her tenderly all the while was at his Wits end when Mrs. Labady calling through the Key-hole of the Door which was fastened within side told her Majesty That the Dutchess of Chartres and Maine were alighted from their Coach at St. Germains with an intent to Visit her immediately The two Lovrs who had not a little towsed and rumpled one another with their Amorous Caresses put themselves to rights as well as they could And that being done the Curate whip'd away down a Back pair of Stairs and went home while-the Queen went to take a Walk with the Dutchesses in the Galleries of the Lonvre which are full of Paintings describing the Battles of Alexander and Darius done by M. le Brun. The Queen said He was an Excellent Artist for that sort of Painting but that he was not so good for Drawing a Face 'T is true Madam reply'd the Dutchess of Main that M. Migniart paints more naturally and to the Life then M. le Brun who is only for History Thus our Princesses were disputing the Business together when the Dauphin St. Maure and the Princesses of Conti and Listebonne Arrived So soon as the Princess of Conti beheld the Queen at a distance she fell a Laughing and Whispering the Dauphin in the Ear Yonder said she is the Duke of Vendosme 's Amiable Mistress Oh my dear Sisttr reply'd the Monsieur looking upon her with a Waggish Eye our Prior has too dainty a Palate to be satisfy'd with so common a Dish The Princess who was that Day in a Good Humour and resolved to be merry was going to speak more of her mind when the Queen and the Dutchesses came to salutâ— her and they talk'd of nothing buâ— Paintings and Portraitures At the same time the Count of St. Maure proposed their going altogether to M. Migniart's where they should see Accomplish'd Beauties and among the rest the Portraiture of a Daughter of one of the Advocates of the Council which was the Loveliest Face that ever he beheld The Dauphin approv'd the Design so that all the Ladies took Coach immediately M. Mignart told the Company he would shew 'em his first Room which was full of the Pictures of all the Lords in the Kingdom There is one said the Queen I know very well which happened to be Lausun's and which was done so well to the Life that it wanted only to speak After they had a long time viewed all those Pieces the Count of St. Maure desired the Painter to shew 'em the Portraitures of the Ladies which M. Migniart did accordingly At what time the Count drawing near the Dauphin shew'd him the Picture of the Fair Goujon saying to him with a passionate Air Sir the Original of this Copy deserves the Affection of some Gallant Person Monsieur found the Portraiture a thousand times Hand somer than the Count had described it but return'd him no other Answer than only this Do you believe said he that there are any persons so Beautiful in the World and that this Damsel is so Charming as the Painter has Drawn her Monsieur Migniart who over-heard him made Answer to the Dauphin that he had not flatter'd her in his Painting but that the Picture was like her not she like the Picture Which last words made the Dauphin more carefully examine the Lovely Lineaments of that peerless Minioness which put him into a deep Study But the Queen and the Princesses who had much ado to brook the Commendations that were bestow'd upon that Beautiful Portraiture out of meer Jealousie and Despite told the Dauphin That she had a Froward Wild Look which made the Lords fall a Laughing who plainly saw the contrary More especially the Princess of Conti Sir said she to the Dauphin smiling in time you will fall in Love with Women for you look veny wistly upon ' em Provided they wexe like your self Madam reply d the Monsieur I could willingly consent to be in Love After this Illustrious Company had left the Painter every one retir'd to their own Habitations except the Dauphin who followed the Princess of Conti his Confident Home where he spent the remainder of the Day in telling a Hundred Stories of the Court And the Duke of Vendome and the Count of St. Maure who also met him there had their share of the merriment The next Day our Monarch who had not seen the Queen for some time having been taken up with the Great devotion which Madam de Maintenon infuses into him by vertue of the Holy Water with which she besprinkles the Bolster of his Bed every Morning and a great Rosary which she makes him always wear about his Arm this Prince I say with his Pater Noster's went to Visit his Mistress who receiv'd him very Civily as she was wont to do After some serious Discourse the King drew near his Princess to Caress her and the first thing his majesty did was to embrace her tenderly and kiss her several times but the Queen who spy'd his Rosary about his Wrist ask'd him Why he carry'd his Pater Noster's so familiarly Oh Madam cryd the King there is an extraordinary Vertue in this Wood. Yes Sir reply'd the Queen there is no question of it But do you know the Effects of this Rosary in the most Amorous Minutes It cools the most inflam'd Passion and terrifies the Heart with those sâ—ings of Conscience that many times proves deadly 'T is very true reply'd the King pulling off his Rosary I have found my self good for nothing ever since I wore it But 't is the Advice of my Confessor and Madam de Maintenon who have assured me that by saying my Ave Maries several times a Day to the Holy Virgin with this Rosary no misfortune shall befal either my Person or my Kingdom You know Madam continu'd the King that Lewis XIII Rsigned his Crown to the protection of that Holy Patroness Oh Sir said the Queen with a mournful utterance talk no more of resigning Crowns the very remembrance of it kills me I would pray to St. Stephen and St. Lewis too a thousand times oftner than I do if they would but restore me to that which I have lost In the mean time I find that the Saints are as great Cheats as Men and that
there is no relying upon any thing in this World Why Madam reply 〈◊〉 the King in a kind of Astonishment did your Saint ever make you any promise Aâ— others do said the Queen who assure us oâ— their succour in our Distresses However Madam reply'd the King the Saintâ— have a great power and we rarely loose thâ— Effects of that Devotion which we pay ' em Some indeed there are Sir said she that when 't is for their Interest hearken to us in pursuance of their designs Our Monarch who perceiv'd that a Devout Conversation did but render his Fair Maistress insensible of the Pleasures of Love chang'd his Discourse and told her with a passionate Air That one Kiss tenderly imprinted by her fair Lips would restore Life to the Dead The Queen who united Love and Devotion together made Answer to the King after a Languishing manner That were it not for the sweet Minutes that a person Enamour'd tasts it would not be worth the while to live one Day 'T is true Charming Princess said the King that is the most sensible part Alas Sir reply'd the Queen half in a Swoon harp no more upon that string for I feel my self teady to faint The King who perceived the Queen in a Swooning Fit that caus'd her to throw her self upon the Bed was preparing to assist her but the Company coming in prevented his Seduâ—ity The Queen being come to her self admitted the Visit of Monsieur the Archbishop who found her a little heated tho she had made use of her Fan to cool her self for the Vapours of her imagination heightened by the presence of our Great Prince were not so easily laid The Venerable Apostle therefore when the King was gone began an Amorous Consolation vowing and protesting to her whatever Love could inspire into him On the other side the Queen a thousand times assur'd him with her usual Address that she lovd him better than her self which satisfy'd the Prelate who pretended that all the Affection of a Woman was due to him since Nature had bequeathed him the choicest of her Gifts Their Discourse was intermix'd for that between whiles they talkd of the Affairs of England and of King James's Return who was then going into Ireland but was to return into France in a short time by the Advice of Tyrconne and Lausun Here said the Queen is a Letter from the Lord Killmallock which gives me an account of the Death of the Sieur de St. Ruth a French Officer and very Valiant who was slain in the heat of the Fight In truth Madam said our Protector of the Surbonne the loss of such a Worthy Officer as the Sieur de St. Ruth is a very great loss to France 'T is very â—rue reply'd the Queen but these are the fruits of War I long to see the Count of â—a sun for I have a World of things to say â—o him Madam reply'd Monsieur the Archbishop I have heard you speak of the E. of Tyrconnel and I have heard he is an Irish Man Yes my Dear reply'd the Queen and of mean Extraction to boot He same into England young where he was a Lacquey for ten years together and afterwards met with a Catholick Master who preferred him to the Duke of York in the nature of one of his Gentlemen During which time he did his Lord so many good Services that he loved him so well as to favour him with his good Will and to entrust him with some part of his Secrets so that at last King â—ames thought good to make him Deputy of â—reland in recompence of his Fidelity Such â—as the Eash of Tyronnel 's Fortune which was not a little to be admired 't is true said the Archbishop that people of mean Extraction rise to the highest degrees of Honour all things are governed by Luck and Chance But I think I have heard say â—hat formerly his Wife had been a very handsome Woman I 'll assure you Sir reply'd â—he Queen I always took her to be one of the most amiable persons i' the World First she had a great deal of Wit she was well-shap'd her Conversation sweet und merry her Complexion incomparable with large grey Eyes and very passionate and then she deserved the Affection of an Honest Gentleman for the sake of her Devotion which was extraordinary in a Woman bred as she was in the pleasures of the World The King of France was not insensible of her Charms continu'd the Queen smiling I know in good part that the King fell in Love with her and the King my Husband would have been dabling finding her worthy of his Affection which made me Marry her to Tyrconnel sooner than I would have done on purpose to break off that Familiarity which did not a little trouble me But since that we have been very good Friends and if Heaven had prospered our designs we had been inseparable But no more of this mournful Recital it would carry me too far With all my heart answered our Metropolitan Pontiff embracing her tenderly telling her withal that King James had no true reason to Love any Woman i' the World to the prejudice of such an Amiable Princess as her self Ah! My Dear replyed the Queen smiling Men natureally love change tho they can give no reason for it If the Dutchess of G n would have listned to my dear Husband she had been one of his Mistresses but she had more Vertue The Queen would have pursu'd the History of King James's Amours but that she was prevented by the Dutchesses of Orleance and Bourbon who came to ask her Whither she would go to the Chappel Royal of vincennes to hear the Abbot Boileau who was then a Famous Preacher She consented and the Archbishop carried the Ladies in his Coach to the Chappel and then went Home to give Orders to his Official M. Cheron against the next day touching the Surbonne But our Princess who was prepossessed with the Merits of the Curate of St. Martin did not think the Abbot Boileau so Eloquent as he was reputed to be tho the Dutchesses of Orleance and Bourbon told her several times that they never had heard so brave nor so learned a Man For my part replyed the Queen I look upon him to be too popular and that he has not Fire enough in his Expressions I know not that Madam answered the Dutchess of Orleans but he is admired by all the World Oh Madam said the Queen had this famous Preacher no more than your Approbation it were enough to render him happy The Queen pronounced those words with something of an Air of Derision which no ways pleased the Dutchess whâ— some Days after told the King that thâ— Queen was so proud that it was no wonder she was Dethroned But the King who had a Kindness for the Queen madâ— it his Business to reconcile the Dutchess and her together so that ever since they have been very good Friends The Dauphin who still visited the Princess of
Turenne privately by the cunning management of her Squire Mâ— du Mont who found a way to introduce the Monsieur at a back pair oâ— Stairs without any notice taken of him and who has since managed all his Amorous Intrigues with that dexterity thaâ— the Court has been kept in sgnorance This Squire advised the Dauphin neveâ— to visit the Princess till about Ten aâ— Clock at Night when her Husband would be at play at the Dutchess of Nemours which Monsieur who loves secresiy in Love carefully observed to do remembring the Custom of one oâ— the Dukes and Peers of France lately Dead who hired a House in the streeâ— Grenelle the backside of which joyned close to a Palace where lived a very pretty Woman for whose sake that he might privately enjoy her he broke a door out of one House into the other by which means they met as often as they pleased and no Body the wiser Madam de Turenne who passionately Loved the Dauphin staid for him one Evening in her Chamber with great impatience At length when the Dauphin came he found her somewhat melancholy of which when the Monsieur asked her the reason somewhat surlily she made answer That 't was her Misfortune to have an Amorous Delicacy quite opposite to the Humour and Genius of her Lover The Dauphin whom the sport of Hunting renders a little Rustic and who reserves no great politeness for Ladies answered her somewhat rudely as he rose up from her That Women by their little Tricks made Love Capricious Upon which the Princess understanding the humour of her Gallant ran to embrace him saying to him at the same time Ah my dear Prince you have not wherewithal to satisfie a Tender Lover which words pronounced with an extraordinary passion made the Dauphin fall a Laughing who told her that she knew that best Upon that the Princess of Turenne perceiving she should never be able to alter the Dauphin's Clownish Disposition fell a Laughing as well as he And so that Evening was spent in Toying after the Monsieurs manner and Monsieur having uttered some agreeable Expression to the Princess contrary to his Custom she returned him her Thanks after a very Courtly manner But at length the night being far spert the two Lovers parted well satisfied the one with the other The Prince of Turenne who had been playing till it was late at Madam de Nemours being by that time returned was desirous to go to Bed but finding it extreamly tumbled asked his Wife the reason of it who was at her Wits end for not having caused it to be made again before her Husband came Home So that the disorder she was in confirmed the Princes Suspicions so much the more but being come to her self again she told him She had been very much troubled with the Headach and that she had lain down several times to alleviate her pain 'T is very well Madam reply'd the Prinee with a discontented Look and now you are Cur'd I am sick The Disconsolate Lady not knowing what else in the World to do endeavoured by all the most tender Caresses imaginable to recover the Prinee into a good Humour who for his part little minded his Wifes Gallantries as being engaged at least in Intrigues so far distinct and not having any kindness for Mademoiselle de Ventadour whom he had Married for the Interest of his Family only as being the greatest Heiress in the Kingdom For these Reasons he treated his Wife but very roughly as not having any Tenderness for her being wholly taken up with the Countess de Rourre who had lost her Husband in the Battel of Flerus That Lovely Woman had the knack always to obtain an infinite number of Admirers And all the Sparks of Venus that beheld her burn'd with a desire to be fettered in her Chains We have said of the Princess of Turenne that she Lov'd with a certain Delicacy and Curiosity which consisted in a thousand little Punctilios On the other side the Countess de Rourre little car'd whether a Man Lov'd her or no so she could divertise her self and provided her Lovers sent her Magnificent Presents she left them the Liberty to change as often as they pleased reserving also the same liberty to her self And therefore it may be said That this Lady was a professed Coquet But notwithstanding this same Coquettry the Dauphin allow'd her a share of his Favours as well as the Princess of Turenne and many others But this not being to my purpose I shall say no more of it but only thus much That her Carriage being none of the Modestest nor so Discreet as it should be vexed the very Soul of the Count her Husband who would frequently Curse the fatal Day that had jâ—yn'd him to that sickle Wagtail The Dauphin who after the Death of her Husband had given the Countess du Rourre a very fair House near St. Honore's Gate went frequently to visit her and diligently waited on her as one of the most Amiable of his Mistresses On the other side that Charming Lady made use of all her Artifices her Amorous Dalliances and Tender Caresses to preserve a Heart which had no great Inclination to Love as being more affected with sporting in the Woods than between the Sheets 'T is the Nature of Coquetts to force their Humour to a Complyance with that of their Lovers For by that means they always keep a good Correspondence with them So that the Dauphin who had not those winning satisfactions that season the Ragoo's of Love could not forbear the having an infinite Tenderness for that Lady One Day that she was in her Cabinet and that she was sensible of a more then usual tenderness her Illustrious Lover came in to whom she said not a word At what time Monsieur admiring at the silence of his Incomparable Minioness demanded the reason and at the same time gave her a tender Kiss Ah! My dear Prince reply'd she with a sign I was mustering up all my Good Luck and that great Idea deprived me of my Speech Madam answer'd the Monsieur that defect is hereditary to your Ladyship because you are half a Norman My dear Prince said the Countess you take me one way and I mean another For my meaning was that I was so Charm'd with being never so little belov'd by so great a Prince that at that very moment I had lost the ordinary use of my Tongue I understand ye Madam reply'd the Prince with a smile but by those words never so little you seem to mistrust that I am not wholly at your Service This is an injustice done to my sincere Love and the real Affection I have for ye Upon that the Countess rose from her Seat and went to embrace her dear Lover who is extreamly pleas'd when a Woman that has a Kindness for him prevents him with some little Addresses I know not what they did more but believe that in all probability Lover was not satisfy'd with only bare Expressions
However it were our Queen in Tribulation who could not long endure the Absence of Monsieur the Curate sent for him by one of her Gentlemen under pretence that her little Prince of Wales was sick and that she was extreamly afflicted for fear of losing a dear Child upon whose Life all her Hopes depended Now the Curate either out of Respect or for some other Reasons durst not so frequently visit his Princess so that the Priest was over joy'd to find himself sent for To which purpose he called to his Remembrance all the pleasures he had tasted in the Enjoyment of so Adorable a person and the good Fortune which he hop'd to reap from his good Service All these great Ideas made the Lover to go up into his Chamber where he rubb'd himself from Head to Foot with Essence of Jassemine scour'd his Hands with Past of Almonds to make 'em feel smooth and powder'd his Hair more than he was wont to do and after he had thus trickt and spruced himself up he went to visit the Queen about Six a Clock in the Evening For at that Hour she sent him word she should be alone because her Court would be at the Opera or at other Divertisements of the Carneval Season Monsieur the Curate found his Charming Mistress and the little Prince's Nurse bemoaning the Illustrious Infant and scar'd at the thoughts of his Death Oh said the Afflicted Princess must I loose the only Blessing that is left me in this World St. Winifred accept my Offerings and hear my Vows and sanctifie the Prayers which I make to thee Divine Queen of Heaven During this Ejaculation the Queen cast an Eye upon her Gallant then upon his Knees that he might participate in the Devotion of the Frincess who at the same time took him by the Hand and led him into her Chamber There she ask'd him his Advice about the sick Prince and what he thought of his Distemper To which the Curate answered after he had put her in hpes that if he should happen to Die it was a Loss that might be repair'd since her Majesties Youth could not want Heirs to her Husbands Throne Those words re-cheard the Queens Heart who seem'd to be quite cast down and at the same time giving the Curate an Amorous Grasp by the Hand she pull'd him to her and made him write upon her Altar the Prophetic Terms he had made use of to let her understand the Fertility of her Arable Ground After which she thank'd him very civily telling him withal that if all Men did but resemble him in Piety and Natural strength Soldiers would not be so scarce in France as they were I assure ye said the Princess I was in a Disconsolate Condition before you came but you have given me as much Comfort as it is possible for me to receive Persons Sanctify'd to that degree as you are have something extraordinary above other Men. I must confess I find 'em a thousand times more engaging than your Court Minions who boast their fine Complements to the Ladies but have no other Merit but that frivolous Excellency to commend ' em Alas Madam reply'd Monsieur the Curate with a great deal of Humility we poor Abbots know not what Courtship is there is nothing in our Breviaries that tells us how to please Ladies No matter reply'd the Queen with a passionate utterance Nature that acts alone in you is worth all the chicest and most Courtly Manner of forc'd Ability In a word Madam cry'd out the Transported Lover embracing the Knees of his Goddess I may account my self the most fortunate among men since I see my self so highly esteem'd by the most Adorable Queen in the VVorld Let us have no Complaints my Dear reply'd the Princess interrupting him her Eyes all sparkling with Love they are now quite out of season Let us make the best of the pretious minutes that are left us let us loose no time but employ all in confirming to each other the mutual pledges of our Love The words were hardly out of her Mouth when the Marchioness of P s came to give her notice that King James was return'd out of Ireland and come to Paris and that he was gone to the Convent of the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits The Tydings caus'd the Sanctify'd Gallant forthwith to Decamp who was afraid of nothing so much as to be taken Tardy in an Amorous Familiarity King James who was at his Wits end to see himself so coursly handled by Fortune and hopeless of ever re-ascending his Throne was so cast down that nothing could comfort him So that he was no sooner arriv'd but he ran first of all to the Jesuits to tell the Lamentable story of his Misfortune to Father La Chaise his faithful Friend So soon as the Distressed Prince beheld the Reverend Father he cry'd out in a Lamentable Tone Ah Father I am lost beyond Recovery Ireland is totally reduc'd and my Enemies are Victorious The whole sacred Society of Jesuits did all they could to chear up the poor Prince who wept bitterly and told 'em how King VVilliam had pass'd the Boine and Routed his Army and how he had afterwards made himself Master of Drogheda Dundalk Dublin VVaterford and Duncannon All 's lost continu'd the King sighing every thing opposes my good Fortune and my Stars showre down their most Cruel Influencies uon me Upon this the Reverend Fathers La Chaise and Gerard carry'd King James to the Fauxburg St. Antoine to the end they might dispel some part of his grief and buoy up his Heart with a plentiful Collation Monsieur the Archbishop also no sooner heard of his Arrival but he went to wait upon him making him a thousand Offers of his Service and telling him That his Majesty might make use of his Purse as his own and that he would never forsake him King James return'd his thanks with an extraordinary tendrness to the Protector of the Sorbonne assuring him that whatever kindness he did for him should be return'd him when it lay in his power Those last words caus'd the Archbishop to smile at the easiness of that unfortunate Prince who was the Cully and sport of the World This Opinion which the Archbishop had of the King mov'd him to some pity so that raising his Voice Sir said he be of good Courage we shall find a way to succour your Majesty settle your thoughts a little and chear up your self with us With that they drank about several times King James's Health and to all his Friends that should be instrumental toward his Restoration After which they talk'd no more of Melancholy stories but every one spoke of what was most divertising and most proper to spend the time delightfully and merrily At length King James perceiving it was something late took leave of the Reverend Fathers the Jesuits and the Archbishop carry'd him to St. Germains in his Coach which very much surprized the Queen who could not conceive how they should happen to
to his Country-House upon the Road from Charenton to Conflans several sorts of Liquor fit to be presented to the Table of the Gods Among the rest a certain Brewage which the Archbishop had caus'd to be made at Paris but I know not the Composition 'T is sufficient to let yee understand that the Queen and several other Ladies sometimes took a little too much of this Nectar when they went to visit our Apostolick which caus'd 'em to sleep very contentedly in the Arms of that Illustrious Gallant who frequently lay'd aside his Violet Cassock to put on the Habit of Madam President Bretonvilliers whom he had lov'd above all his Mistresses together But in regard that Time is a Thing that cannot be stopp'd Age had worn away the Allurements of that Fair Lady Which was the Reason that Monsieur the Archbishop had a little neglected her for more Youthful Play-fellows and which were better worth his Trouble The Abbess of Monmatry also had the same Destiny because her Nuns that were in the Spring of their Years far more delightfully charm'd the Venerable Prelate For which reason he had always some particular Benediction to bestow upon those Pious Damsels who devoutly return'd him Thanks out of a Religious Motive of Gratitude The Report that was spread about Paris of the Descent that King William design'd to make into France set all Tongues a talking of nothing so much as of setting forth a Great Fleet for King James For which reason Four hunder'd Vessels were stopp'd to carry Twelve thousand Soldiers as well Horse as Foot in defence of our Unfortunate Prince and this Fleet was to be guarded by Twelve Men of War under the Command of the Duke d' Estrees who had 'em ready fitted out at Toulonne In the mean time King James who arriv'd at the Hogue the 29th of April began to embark his Men but by reason of the Bad Weather which oppos'd his Designs they prov'd abortive to his great Sorrow Which oblig'd him to write a Letter to all the English Soldiers and Seamen wherein he promis'd several Recompences if they would be faithful to him as also to maintain 'em in their Employments with a great Number of Fair Words of the same Nature But no body came to take his part so that the poor Prince unhappy in every thing he undertakes was constrain'd to return with Ignominy to Paris after he had waited a long time at La Hogue for a Wind that would not blow him one King Blast notwithstanding all his Vows and Prayers to St. Barbe who is the Protector of the Seamen when they devoutly recommend themselves to him for Succour I know not whether King James pray'd with a Faith strong enough but certain it is the dogged Saint would by no means hearken to the Cries of his Suppliant at that time This was a terrible Blow to the Court of France and a Heart-breaking to the Pious Society of the Reverend Fathers of the Company of Jesus Every one in particular wish'd a thousand Mischiefs to the Huguenots and their King and the Jesuitical Cabal plung'd in despair to see that Fortune turn'd her Back upon 'em lay'd several Criminal Designs well known to all the World which came to nothing The Queen who was got abroad again appear'd every where with a Pensive Countenance and took no pleasure in any thing She was always at the Convent of Mercy in the Fauxburgh St. Germain with Madam the Princess of Carignan a devout Old Woman that eat up her Saints Images with Kissing 'em and wore out the Lineaments of their Faces with continual rubbing and cleaning ' em But the Queen perceiving the Extraordinary Piety of this Reverend Piece of Antiquity could not long agree with her Humour Those Pleasures to which our Princess was by Nature prone return'd every Moment to her Remembrance maugre all these Misfortunes her Lovers were always welcome to her and her deep Affection caus'd her to forget the Fatality of her Star For which reason it was that when our tenderly enamour'd Princess did not see her dear Curate she would say to her self that he knew not how to make his best Advantage of the most sensible Passion in the World and that of all Pleasures that of being reciprocally belov'd was the sweetest Just at the time when the Queen was in this Trance so favourable to Love it was that Lewis the Great found her in her Cabinet leaning upon the Table with her Eyes half shut and in such a Careless Dress as shew'd that the Amorous Caresses of one of her Gallants would not have been displeasing to her so that our Monarch took his Advantage of the Shepherd's Hour nor did the Queen oppose him but very weakly All she said to him giving him a wishful Look was only this Oh Sir you wound me In which part Madam cry'd the King altogether surpriz'd I should be mightily concern'd if any thing but Good should befall yee by my means 'T is my Heart dear Prince which you have so sensibly touch'd that makes me Sigh I always touch Ladies reply'd his Majesty laughing in the most sensible Parts The Queen was about to speak when she was in a strange Surprize to see Madam de Maintenon come into her Chamber the Door of which by Misfortune was left open But if the Queen were surpriz'd the Marchioness was no less astonish'd to see the King lying upon the Queen's Bed by her side and that in none of the modestest Postures neither which made her start two Steps backward Sancta Maria cry'd our Abbess lifting up her Eyes to Heaven what Sight is this I see Oh Sir Human Frailty always over-rules you and you will never be wise for your Health You know the wrong you do that little strength that is left yee by making Attempts beyond your Power The King who lay still upon the Bed not being able to recover himself from the Surprize he was in to hear the Reproaches of the Marchioness which at the same time discover'd to the Queen his Majesty's inability to undertake the Combates of Love at length answer'd the Marchioness very rudely That she was too bold to reprove him like a Child that he was King and able to govern himself and then looking upon her with a Frown of Contempt Be gone said he you will extreamly oblige me Upon which Madam de Maintenon made a low Curt'sie and retir'd out of the Room The Queen who feign'd her self asleep all this while and as if she had heard nothing before her Rivaless so soon as she was gone I am lost for ever said she to the King this Lady has discover'd our Familiarity and she will ruin my Reputation if she can She dares not reply'd the King she is too great a Politician to prefer the Pleasure of her Revenge before her Fortune in this World rest your self content for that I am Master of my own Will and I will love whom I please In the mean time Sir reply'd the Princess I