he was releas'd in four and twenty hours to rise the greater in his favour Monsieur Fouquet gave him the hearing but observing the man and taking notice of the very mean figure he made he could not perswade himself the King who was a Prince of the nicest judgment and known to be of a fierce and violent temper should suffer himself to be Nos'd at that rate and should so far forget his Character as to bear those Insults from a Subject especially one so despicable as he appear'd however Monsieur Fouquet conceal'd his sentiments and would by no means interrupt him but when he came to relate his Marriage with Madamoiselle de Montpensier how the King had given his consent to it and afterwards recall'd it and the concern that Princess was in at the disappointment and all the consequences of that affair he could not forbear turning to another Prisoner of State that had join'd them just before and making a sign to his Forehead as we do when we would signifie a man is craz'd he gave him to understand that he thought no better of this Gentleman Monsieur De Lausun perceiv'd it but made as if he took no notice of it and went on with other strange passages of his life which did but confirm Monsieur Fouquet in his former opinion But to return to Monsieur Colbert who was now by the disgrace of this Minister become so powerful at Court and had the Kings ear so entirely that he grew uneasy to Monsieur Tellier this latter had been an old Courtier and having done very great services to the State it was but just he should expect some marks of distinction The first method that Colbert took to fix his Reputation was to change the whole form and establish a new exact order in the Chamber of the Finances reforming the number of Offices and suppreâ—â—ing the Under-Treasurers and their Dependencies who were all clapt up in Prison upon pretence of having cheated the King so that those who pretended to have vast Sums due to them were so far from recovering their Debts that they were forc'd to part with all they had to satisfie his extravagant Demands Indeed to say the truth there was very gross abuses practic'd in the Finances and 't was no more than necessary they should be redrest But here were several great persons touch'd by this Affair for these fellows being rich had ally'd themselves to several considerable Houses as the Duke de St. Agnan for one whose eldest Son the Count de Seri was to marry Madamoiselle de Monero the Daughter of one of these Officers with whom he was to have two Millions of Livres This Duke being very much in favour as we have formerly said and Monsieur Colbert apprehending some ill Offices from him who was also a very rising man he appeased him by promising him his eldest Daughter for his Son instead of Madamoiselle de Monero 'T was thought he made this promise against his inclination the Duke being not very rich and he had a prospect of marrying her more advantageously but whatever his thoughts were he durst not have gone back from his word if the Count de Seri had liv'd to accept of it Wherefore to preserve his friendship with the Duke he told him that tho it had pleas'd God to dispose of his Son yet that he had another left and tho he was young that should not hinder their alliance since he had a younger Daughter of a suitable age and he would give him his word she should be reserv'd for him The Duke de St. Agnan who had occasion for money and knew no where to get a greater fortune for his Son easily consented to this offer when they were grown up Monsieur Colbert was as good as his word to him and they were marry'd accordingly The reason which induc'd Monsieur Colbert to be so fond of this alliance was because the Duke de St. Agnan as we mention'd before grew every day more and more in â—avour for the King who was now fallen in love with Madamoiselle de la Valliere one of the Dutchess of Orleans's Maids of Honour a Lady of no extraordinary beauty but one who was more agreeable than those that were infinitely more handsom and had a mind to conceal it from the Queen committed the management of that intrigue to the Duke This young Lady was but of an indifferent Family she was the Daughâ—er of one of the principal Burghers of Tours which tho they pretended to â—ome Nobility 't was only that Henry 3d when he retir'd to Tours in the time of the Civil Wars had enobled her Great Uncle which descended but to his Heirs if he had any and which she could lay no claim to but her Father indeed having got a considerable Post in the Army marry'd a Lady of Qâ—ality which gave his Children some pretences to it However it was she was entertain'd by the Dutchess of Oâ—leans without scrupling her Gentility and before the King had any thoughts of her there was a Gentleman so in love with her that he intended to marry her he was of a very good family near Chartres and Heir to an Estate of twenty thousand Livres a year which was counted an advantageous Match to her his Name was Estourville and was a Lieutenant in the Guards he had but one misfortune which was that his Estate lay so much in the power of his Father that he durst not marry without his consent So he was oblig'd to leave his Mistress for a while to sollicit the old Gentleman upon that account It was gone so far on her side that she desir'd him to make as short a stay from her as was possible and 't was gone so far on his side that he needed no such importunity but he had a Father to deal with that requir'd more time to consider of it than he was aware of for the meanness of her Birth and especially of her Estate were difficulties which were not so soon over with him but took up so much time that when he had reconcil'd things and return'd at last with his Fathers consent he found things were strangely alter'd in his absence for the King had not only appear'd to be in love with his Mistress but she had prevented his Addresses by making a discovery of her passion for him He met with this News for his first welcome to Paris but being loth to believe it from any mouth but her own â—he went to the Palace Royal to wait on her he did not find his access to her so easy as formerly the King having plac'd those about her whose observation made it necessary for her to be cautious who she converst with which she understood so well and withal being full of her new Grandeur that when he sent up his name to her she made strange of it and return'd that she knew no such person Estourville knew how to interpret this answer and tho he made no more doubt of
judg'd by you you are a Soldier and you shall say whether this should be so or no This Gentleman who is quarter'd at my House after having eat and drank what he pleas'd will needs have me let him lye with the Cook now what would he have me to do Or what does he take me for Don't you know me to be a Man of Honour I profess to you tho I came down stairs mighty seriously this story made me laugh and seeing the man had got a great Rabble about the House already I desir'd him to quiet them and I would go and accommodate every thing for him I had much ado to perswade him he telling me I had to do with a Devil that would but laugh at me but bidding him not fear I made him go into his House where we found the Count who had lockt himself in with one of the Kitchen Wenches and would force her to lye with him I call'd to him to open the door and told him my Name but 't was to no purpose at last I was forc'd to tell him that I came by Orders from Mr. de Turenne which he would know better when he saw me I took all this care that he might not suspect me to deceive him and when he heard that he durst not make any farther resistance I told him Monsieur de Turenne knew nothing of what had happen'd yet but he would soon if the uproar continu'd and I would leave it to him to imagine how he would resent such a disorder he who we knew was a sworn enemy to all such irregularities that they said he would needs have a Cook Wench why he might have twenty by to morrow if he was put to such hard shift but to force a Man of Honour to furnish him for his Debauch was a thing no man would take and the best construction the World could put on such an action must be to say he was drunk and that it was an ill extremity to be forc'd to excuse one folly by another I desir'd him to reflect on these things now while he had time for it lest when 't was too late he should come to repent it The Count d' Isle hearing me discourse at this rate grew a little mild however it being the humour of those people that tho they are in an error will never acknowledge it he told me that for my sake he would relinquish his right but that I knew well enough it was his due This discourse was so ridiculous it had like to have renew'd the quarrel if I had not stopt his Host who was just rising up again and having pray'd them both to be peaceable and live quietly since it was but for so short a time I made them shake hands and promise to drink a Glass together the next day His Host who was an honest man told us with all his Heart and he would give us a Breakfast and the Count d' Isle who pretended to stand upon his honour again told us he would consent provided he might treat us again at Night These civilities between them left me no room to question but they were both thoroughly reconcil'd so I e'en went to Bed again and there had never been a word made of it if some body had not foolishly told the story among the Souldiers which made the poor Count be most horribly banter'd in the Army and when he went by they would say There goes our Friend that would have kist the Cookmaid Would it not have madded any body to have been so disappointed And for me they told me that truly I had done very ill to spoil sport in that manner and to prevent me for the future they would have a Law made that I should mind my own affairs and not meddle with them The Count d' Isle saw himself so rally'd with this sort of talk that there being Troops to be detach'd to Catalonia he procur'd an Order from Monsieur de Louvois to be sent thither out of the way The Spaniard was by this time come into the Confederacy and to prevent the ruine of Holland attempted to give us some diversion and in order to that had form'd a design upon Charleroy in which they were assisted by all the Dutch Forces but they fail'd in the attempt which might have led them to consider how unfit a match they were for so powerful an Enemy The Count d' Isle thought by this means to have avoided the raillery of the story we have told but instead of that he carry'd into his own Country a character which perhaps would not have reacht so far had he continu'd where he was In the mean time we were preparing for the War in Germany the Emperor having now effectually declar'd upon us and as Alsatia was like to be the Scene on which the first appearances were to be acted Mr. de Turenne gave orders for the fortifying Saverne and Hagenaw besides Brisac where several new works were made to strengthen the place The Souldiers rejoyc'd at these great preparations and they were in the right of it for they were safe now from being disbanded which otherwise would certainly have follow'd if the Peace had been made with Holland for me I was too old to expect making my fortune by the War and therefore was far enough from pleasing my self at the news but on the contrary was really grievâ—d for the People who had been deliver'd from the calamity of a ruinous Campaign if they had pleas'd to have us'd the Hollanders a little gentler upon the Propositions of Peace but they carry'd it so high with them that contrary to the Genius of that Nation they joyn'd with the Inclination of the Prince of Orange who prest them to the War and was resolv'd to prosecute it whatsoever it cost him having built all his hopes upon the success of it The King who knew very well he had no General so fit to command in Germany as the Viscount de Turenne continu'd him there tho he wanted him elsewhere having great affairs upon his hands For the English who at the beginning of the War was on our side had left us in the lurch the King of England having deserted us and pretended he could not help it on some reasons of State which had oblig'd him to it In the mean time our Coasts were expos'd to the Descents of the Hollanders and we who being all along assisted by the whole Naval Force of England and durst do nothing to them at Sea were not such Fools to stand in their way now In this extremity the King was forc'd to summon the Ban and Arriereban of the Kingdom of whom he sent a Party into Lorrain lest the Duke who the King had long ago devested of his Principality should take this opportunity to recover the Possession Seeing such a bloody War at hand I was sorry I was no younger and whatever obligation I had to the Memory of the Cardinal de Richlieu I reflected a little on
Aubenas but some of the Relations of the person that was executed took it down in the Night upon which he publisht an Order the next day that they who had taken down the Head should without delay carry it back to the same place in 24 hours time which was obeyâ—d and the Head carryâ—d back accordingly I don't know whether all people may be of my mind but I think it is very seldom a Governor has influence enough to make himself obey'd in such a case But if it be ever so it is by some unusual Severity rather than from the Love of the People Yet this I must say of him that if he was fear'd he was also lov'd especially by all those who lov'd dispatch in their business for never had man a greater Vivacity of Spirit which made that Province so much concern'd at his removal and the more since Mr. d' Aguesseaâ— who succeeded him was just in the other extreme I have seen him dictate to three Secretaries at once and yet entertain me at the same time without any interruption It was not for such a man to be long unpreferr'd After he was call'd to Court the King trusted him in affairs of the greatest Intricacy And the Chancellor as great a man as he was did not at all think it below him to take measures from his advice He had indeed the greatest Reputation of all the Councellors of State so that 't was no strange thing that Mr. de St Heran should be so willing to oblige him he being already in a condition to return favours to any man tho his Fortune was nothing yet to what he hop'd it would be and it was for what he expected perhaps rather than any gratitude for what was past that he appear'd so ready to serve the Chancellor or any of his Family for he consider'd that the King having such confidence in them as he really had the only way to advance himself was to gain their Recommendation And yet he was deceiv'd in this point for tho Mr. the Chancellor and the Marquis de Louvois his Son gave him great Testimony of their friendship in some cases they fail'd him in one where he most desir'd it At Monsieur Colbert's death his Ambition prompted him to no less than to succeed him in that place and no question but he was capable enough to have dischargâ—d it but that favour being deny'd him and bestow'd upon another the grief of it broke his heart and kill'd him The Quarrel that happen'd at the Count de la Chapelle's having detain'd me longer there than I intended I had opportunity to be acquainted with all the Country for there was hardly a Gentleman that knew of the affair but came to visit him and offer him their service and amongst them some of all sorts rich and poor and among the latter the Count de Kermeno who was not of that Country as his Name will inform you but who happen'd to be thereabouts drawn not by the Charms of a certain Lady for I should belye her to say she had any but she had been an old acquaintance which to him was in lieu of all other Charms I knew him well enough the Count de la Chapelle had no need to tell me who he was for I had seen him both at the Court and in the Army and he was not one jot more esteem'd at the one than in the other not but that he was a very good Gentleman born but he made the meanest figure that ever was seen He had taken up the Trade of a Soldier which did not become him at all His Brother the Marquis du Garrot had done the like and both had found the means to be very fairly casheer'd after they had run out an Estate of about a Million of Livres Having known all these things before it was the reason I took no great notice of him which the Count de la Chapelle observing askt me when he was gone what that man was since he had never seen him till he came into those parts I told him what I knew in which I can say I neither added nor diminisht any thing from the truth I acquainted him also of the adventure of his Brother of which something was so odd that the like was hardly ever heard The Marquis du Garrot after having spent all his Estate and not knowing what course to take bethought himself of an Expedient by which he pretended to raise at least twelve or fifteen thousand Livres a year for the laying down of about a thousand Crowns in ready Money The Project he had for doing this was to go and publish among the Herb Women and such People in the Market that he would lend them Money at the rate of a penny a day for every Crown which was the usual Interest among those people and desir'd them to acquaint their friends of it for that all the Money he had in the Bank should be at their service and that his Office should be open at such and such constant hours and a true Register should be kept as well of Payment as Receipt Such news as this soon spread about and brought multitudes to his Office and he gave his Money so strangely to every body that came for it that people thought he was be divell'd The Commissary of that quarter hearing of it goes to the place but could not come near for the Crowd till having made way thro the people he comes in and there found the Marquis du Garrot himself who endeavour'd to disguise himself that he might not be known but coming up to him he demands of him what he was a doing the Marquis askt him what he had to do to ask that question adding that if he had a mind to give his Money away to whom he pleas'd he hop'd he might have the liberty to do it without his intruding himself to disturb him The Commissary not us'd to such rough Answers and seeing what a sorry figure he made was a going to carry him to Prison and he not being very willing to go told him who he was hoping his Name would make some amends for his ill Mein but finding he had to do with a fellow that valu'd no body's quality he was oblig'd to muster up all his Titles and tell him he had marry'd Mr. de Courcelle's Daughter Councellor of the Grand Chamber at which the Commissary who stood more in fear of a Councellor than of a Marquis begun to use him more civilly and told him that in respect to his Father-in-law he would not put that affront upon him but that he must lay down his new Trade for it had made too much noise already to be continu'd and admitting no reply made him shut up his Coffer and his Register The Marquis seeing the Commissary in earnest askt him what he must do for all his Money he had given out to which he gave him this answer that having so freely given about his Money to he
appear'd so well satisfy'd for the people of his Country were not troubled with too much Wit and that he was but too happy for a Swiss many a Woman I don't question who had as much occasion for such a well-meaning Husband as she had envy'd her happiness especially when they saw her ride in her Coach with an Equipage and every thing answerable The young Lady that I was like to have marry'd was not here all this while tho she was very well acquainted in the Family and I heard Monsieur and Madam often saying they wondred at it but for my part I did not wonder at it at all for I guest at the reason of it Indeed she hearing that I was not only at the Wedding but that I stay'd still at the House had never set her foot within the door while I staid there if a person of quality of the neighbourhood had not trepannâ—d her thither without letting her know where she was she found the Coach just going in at the Castle gate before she discover'd at what place she was got she appear'd very much dissatisfy'd but the Lady making her the best excuses she could she was oblig'd to go in with her I was never so surpriz'd in my life as when I saw her and being very well acquainted with her humour I presently guest some violence had been offer'd her and my old Wounds were not so well cur'd but that they began to bleed afresh I could not cast my eyes on a person I had so passionately lov'd and whom perhaps I lov'd still as well as ever I did without some disorder in my soul I wisht a thousand times I had been a Swiss that I might not have been so nice and in short I was so near being overcome that had any body but prompted me in the least to the thing I had fallen under the temptation and run into all the past follies again but some body having so little discretion as to speak of that affair before her she rose up and with a scornful countenance giving them a hearty frown turn'd out of the room without speaking a word and went into the Garden which being perceiv'd no body after that offer'd to open their mouths about it and she going away the same day put a stop to the disorder that it procur'd to us both The Wedding being over I return'd to Paris and like those Ladies of pleasure who never lodge three months in a place I took a Lodging now at a Barbers near St. Pauls my Landlord was a little brisk man and fit for any thing but so lewd a Rake that he had not his fellow and so strangely addicted to gaming that he would lose in an hour more than he could get in a month I laid great part of the fault to his Wife who instead of winning him by soft and gentle methods did nothing but scold and rail and make such a noise at him as made him so uneasie at home that he would never be there any more than needs must I knew him first when he was Servant to Dupin who liv'd in the Rue St. Antoine who was of the same Trade and where I had lodg'd at least five or six years at times several persons of quality lodg'd at his House at the same time and while I staid there there happen'd an adventure which had something in it surprizing enough as the Reader will acknowledge if he please to give credit to the relation Dupin is still alive and the people I am going to tell of belong to persons of such quality that their names are not unknown even to strangers and it is easy to know of them whether the story I tell be true or no However I shall blame no bodies incredulity till they have made some enquiry for the thing appear'd so extraordinary that I could hardly believe my own eyes There were two men of quality who were very intimate friends one was the Marquis de Rambouillet eldest Brother to the Dutchess de Montausier and the other was the Marquis de Preci the eldest Son of the Family of Nantouillet one of whom had been Chancellor of the Kingdom and in so great favour in the Reign of one of our Kings that he oblig'd his Master while he governâ—d the State with an absolute authority to get him a Cardinaâ—'s Cap. These two Gentlemen went both into the Army as all people of quality do in France first or last and falling into discourse of the world to come after several discourses by which they discover'd they did not very well understand what they talkt of they made a solemn promise to one another that the first that dy'd of them two should come and bring an account of those things he saw to his friend and having shook hands upon it in testimony that they really intended and resolv'd if it were possible to perform it they fell into other discourse less serious Two or three months past after this without perhaps either of them so much as thinking on this agreement and the time for the opening of the Campaign coming on Monsieur de Rambouillet went away for Flanders but Preci being sick of a Malignant Fever was left behind at D pin â—s where he lodg'd A month or five weeks after about six a clock in the morning something â—â—ung back the Curtains of Monsieur â—reci â—s Bed aâ—l of a sudden and he turning himself to see who it was sees Mâ—nsieur de Rambouillet stand at the Bed side booted and in Buff he would have took him about the Neck to embrace him but the Marquis de Rambouillet retiring two steps told him those Careâ—â—es were now improper that he came to him to discharge his promise made at such a time that he had been kill'd the day before in such and such an Action and that there was nothing more certain than those things which had been told them of the other world therefore he should think of living after another manner than he usâ—d to do that he would be killâ—d also in the first engagement he met with and therefore he had no time to lose I need not say how much this discouâ—se surpriz'd the Marquis de Preci nevertheless he could not believe what he heard but jumpt out of Bed to embrace his friend believing he had done this only to amuse him but he embrac'd nothing but the air and Rambouillet seeing he would not believe him show'd him the place where he was shot which was in the reins and lookt as if it were all bloody and then he vanish'd Preci who was not much disturb'd before was now perfectly confounded and frighted and throwing himself down again upon the Bed he cry'd out at such a rate as put all the house in an uproar I got up among the rest and running up into his Chamber with Dupin to see what the matter was when he told us the story we thought it was only the violence of his Fever which still was upon
Count de Rochefort is so just in a Story which has so much the Air of a Fiction how sincere must we conclude him in his other Relations In effect where lies the Difficulty of believing what he says of Cardinal Richlieu Are not all Ministers of State mysterious or should be so at least and was not that a quality which the Cardinal affected above all things as the Count de Rochefort takes very good notice Is there any thing more natural than what that Minister made Sauve to do or is there any thing more surprizing than the Ambition of that Man who was content to sacrifice his Wife to advance his Fortune All which may serve for instructions for our own Conduct which is one of the greatest advantages we can gain from the reading of any Book I am perswaded too that the Count de Rochefort was not so much induced to write out of vanity to shew he was concern'd in the private Intrigues of State as out of a desire to render other People wiser by his Example And I am the more confirm'd in this opinion when I reflect how often he reproaches himself for making so ill use of Cardinal Richlieu's favour and so severely reprehends his own Follies However should these Memoirs not prove so very profitable I am confident they will be found to be very curious discovering a great many things which are no where else to be met with I believe too they will be found to be very diverting and that none will ever think them tedious But Friendship perhaps may be thought to have a large share in this Discourse and indeed the Author of these Memoirs and my self were such dear Friends that I must confess I have a strange Indulgence for any thing of his yet as I have not been the only person that has read 'em but others have been of my Tast I shall venture to declare 'em once again the most agreeable of their kind There is another thing too I must confess but from that I know not how I shall be absolv'd I publish here these Memoirs against the Last Will and Intention of the Author who upon his Death which happen'd in a month or two after his Retirement order'd me to suppress ' em I cannot imagine for what reason except that being then upon the point of leaving the World he was willing to spare some People whom he had formerly had some differences with and whom he had no great cause to speak well of But this did not appear to me a sufficient reason to deprive the Publick of a Work so curious therefore such as I receiv'd it without either adding or diminishing here 't is at the Readers Service MEMOIRS OF The Count de Rochefort c. BEtween Paris and Estampes on the Right hand of Chastres lies a Castle call'd Olinville which had formerly been one of the Kings Houses but now belongs to the Family of Marillac My Father going once to pay a visit there being related to Monsieur De Marillac took my Mother along with him who was big and above four months and an half gone with Child As they went they call'd at one Monsieur Grigni's a Gentleman of the Neighbourhood where their Coachman having got drunk made bold to overturn the Coach at the very gate of Olinville tho the way was the smoothest and best in the World By this accident my Father instead of the diversion he expected there met with an inexpressible affliction For my Mother who receiv'd some hurt having brought me into the world the next day liv'd but two days after it to the grief of the whole family who had a very great respect for her My Father was in such a passion that had it not been for Monsieur de Marillac he had certainly kill'd the Coachman It was impossible tho to perswade him but that he was guilty of the death of my Mother as casually indeed he was so he had his Process made but after two or three months Imprisonment he was acquitted No body imagining that I could live they took care to have me immediately Baptiz'd Monsieur De Marillac and one Madam D' Arboville who happen'd to be in the house perform'd the Offices for me at the Font. I was call'd Charles Caesar which was my Fathers Name and given me to oblige him They took a Nurse for me there whom my Father sent with me to his Castle which was at the entrance into the Forrest of Orleans and having some business at Paris went himself thither My Father having no more Children and every body believing as I said that I could hardly live they all advis'd him to marry and he who was still young and no hater of the Sex was easily prevail'd on Several young Ladies were propos'd to him of the best Families in Paris but being desirous to see before he engag'd with any he found none that he lik'd whether it was that none of them were really fine Women or that his Fate had reserv'd for him the accident I am now to relate and for me the worst Mother-in-law that ever was in the world However it was that he seem'd so difficult a relation of his who was Curate of one of the best Churches in Paris and had the Character of a very holy man as indeed he was came earnestly to tell him that he had done his business for him in finding a young Lady very well made handsome rich vertuous and of quality in short a Jewel for the age that was so extremely corrupted Tho my Father knew 't was a dangerous thing to take a Woman on the word of a Priest yet the sanctity of this Curate satisfy'd him as knowing that there was no general rule without exception he made him this answer That he knew better than himself what was fit for him that he was extreamly oblig'd to him for his kindness and for the Lady he would make no enquiries of her after the character he had given her The Curate return'd That this Confidence of his was the cause that he had preferr'd him to many of his other relations whose fortunes would have been made by such a Match That the Lady would have an Estate of twenty thousand Livres per annum That she was of the Family De la Force one of the most considerable houses among those of the pretended Reform'd Religion of which she had lately made her abjuration to him that as soon as he had marry'd her he might get the Estate of the Family into his hands of which the succession was vacant and for her Mother he might easily oblige her by his address that his Wife 's changing her Religion should be no prejudice to him It is impossible to say how this discourse charm'd my Father he was impatient to see the Lady and the Curate having show'd her to him at the Convent where she was retreated he return'd so smitten that he could not rest till the affair was concluded However as he was a
him to them all on condition he should pay the Money down at a certain time which was very short But wanting 10000 Crowns to make up the sum he had like to have lost it when Monsieur de Pelletier who had an Office in the same Court lent him the Money so that all obstacles being remov'd he entred upon the place and behav'd himself with so much reputation that he was lookt upon as a Man that had not his fellow for wisdom but all this did not prevent a very odd accident befalling him Being one day riding thro the Town there happen'd some Tumult in the Streets and his Office being a Magistrate obliging him to take notice of it The Grooms of the Kings Horses laid hold of his Bridle and not knowing who he was they carry'd him with them into the Great Stable but the Querrys who knew him well enough made their excuse and made the Grooms ask his Pardon he was so good humour'd that he made no complaint of this violence which if he had might have brought them into a great deal of trouble In the mean time Monsieur de Bouillon having some publick business with him and finding him to be a Man of a prodigious capacity he perswaded him to resign his Office and to come into the Council 'T was by doing this that he began to make himself known to my Master whom I have often heard speak of him very much to his advantage when he appear'd at the Bar he met with all the marks of esteem that use to be given to Persons of his Merit and at last was preferr'd to be Secretary of State as I have mentioned before but it was upon condition nevertheless that he should pay Monsieur Desnoirs 400000 Franks which he sent to him accordingly but he refus'd them expecting that if any sudden Change should happen at Court he might get into his place again So Monsieur de Tellier had his Money again and Monsieur Desnoirs dying quickly after the Cardinal Mazarin with the consent of the Queen Mother gave him this sum excluding the Heirs of Desnoirs this and such like Obligations fixt him in their Interests and he gave good marks of his Ability in the nice occasions which happen'd about that time the Civil War being just then broke out in all which he continu'd firm in the Interest of the Queen Mother and Cardinal Mazarin whom he always look'd upon as his Benefactor After the Cardinal Mazarin's Death he so gain'd upon the young King who had wit enough to distinguish who serv'd him faithfully and who not that the same reasons which oblig'd him to value Monsieur de Tellier oblig'd him at the same time to apprehend Monsieur de Ponquet There had been some difference between these two which made People think that Monsieur de Tellier did contribute underhand to his disgrace but to let the world see how they were mistaken he never so much as sollicited the King or meddled with the process either of which if he had done the other had undoubtedly been lost The King had no prime Minister at all after the Death of Cardinal Mazarin but if any body could pretend to that place it was without doubt Monsieur de Tellier he had two Sons and one Daughter The Daughter is married to the Marquis de Villequier who is now Duke d' Aumont for his Sons he bred up the Eldest who is the Marquis de Louvois to Business and the youngest to the Church and who is now Coadjutor to the Arch-bishoprick of Rhiems under Cardinal Antoine by which means he is certain to be one time or other Duke and Peer of France and the other had the assurance of being Secretary of State after his Father His great Services are so fresh in the memory of all Men that 't is needless to mention them all the great transactions of Europe were form'd in his head and he manages the place at this day with as much reputation as my Master did in his time which is enough for any man to say in his Commendation only I must be allow'd to make this difference between the present time and the days past that my Master was so far from being seconded by a vigorous young King that he had none oppos'd his directions more than him who he endeavour'd to serve most whereas his present Majesty is the first a Horseback to execute those Designs that have been projected in his Cabinet However it was the Services both of the Father and the Son could not be better rewarded than they are now The Father is Chancellor of France the greatest honour that can be conferr'd upon the Gown and who is the leading Man both at Court and on the Bench The Son is Secretary of State chief Minister and in a word the Person on whom the King relies in matters of the greatest moment whether for Peace or War In the mean time I must not forget one Circumstance which proves the gratitude of both the Father and the Son Monsieur Colbert who had the Administration of the Finances being dead about two or three years ago they procur'd his place for the Son of Mr. Pellitier whom we have spoken of as a recompence for the favour they had receiv'd from his Father I have been a little larger than ordinary upon the rise and fortune of the Chancellor and the Marquis de Louvois his Son 't will be acknowledg'd not to be so remote as may be thought being to relate in what follows many great Actions which have past under their Ministry and I ought to give an Idea of those which manag'd the Government to shew that such Master-pieces of Policy could not proceed from any Persons but such as were perfectly verst in the nicest affairs of State But to return to my own Case ever since I refus'd the Negotiation at Brussels I was frown'd upon every where and was so slighted by the Queen and the Minister that I resolv'd to retire The King in the mean time having exil'd Monsieur Desnoirs for having but offer'd to speak in favour of the Queen did not however proceed with the same vigor against Cardinal Mazarin nor Chavigny who had espous'd her Interests 'T is true they did it genteely and instead of proposing it downright to the King to make her Regent they only advis'd him while he was in a condition to do it to settle his Affairs as he pleas'd they should be manag'd after his Death that the Infancy of his Children requir'd this at his hands at least he would have this satisfaction at his Death to know what should become of them whereas if he omitted it they would be expos'd to strange unforeseen Accidents The King could not deny but what they said was highly reasonable but he met with a great many invincible difficulties assoon as ever he went about this settlement he could think of no body to leave the Government of his Children to but the Queen or the D. of Orleans
his Brother but the latter appear'd to him to be of too unsettled and unquiet Spirit and the other too much of a Spaniard so he took the middle of these Extreams and joyn'd them both in the Administration hoping they would temper one another and perform the duty of so great a Charge the better It happen'd to this Contrivance as it does to a State that continues Neuter while its Neighbours are fighting out their Quarrel neither one nor t'other were pleas'd with what the King had done for them and new Plots were set at work on both sides to make him alter his resolution the Courtiers observ'd the Contrivances of both Parties but none knew which would prevail or who should govern the Queen if she should happen to get the Power absolutely into her hands for she carry'd it so fair to all sides that she had every day new favourites the Cardinal Mazarin did his utmost to incline the Scale on his side and to the end that the Queen might be prevail'd on by his zeal to her Service he improv'd every moment of the Kings Life to endeavour to gain him to do something more in her favour He laid it before him how a Mother had natural Obligations and would certainly distinguish the Interest of her own Children from that of the nearest Relations that 't was not the same thing with respect to the Duke of Orleans for he who durst several times take up Arms against his Majesty himself would make no scruple to do the like against a Child that in the most flourishing condition of the State his Birth occasion'd that a Multitude of the Nobility made their Court to him which they would have more reason to do when joyn'd with so great an Authority The King was not mov'd with all this but answer'd that he had taken care of all by the form of Government that he had settled in his Declaration and so dy'd without making any alteration I had been so us'd to the Court that notwithstanding the resolution I had taken to retreat from it I could not bring my self to do it I follow'd the fortune of the Duke de Richelieu who was a Person to whom my Master had bequeath'd both his Estate and his Title some say he was his Son by Madam d' Eguillon but he had not wit enough to be the Son of so great a Man which makes me give no credit to that report However it was finding he did nothing worthy of that Name I took my leave of the Court without giving him any reasons for it being very melancholly at parting from a place which I thought was the most charming in the world My design was to engage in the War which was very hot on all sides on our Frontiers for tho I had lost a great deal of time yet I found my self able and vigorous enough as I thought for the hardship of the Service This oblig'd me to make my court to Mr. lâ— Tellier to whom I was particularly enough known to give me ground to hope for something from him But as he was all policy he spoke to the Cardinal of me who forbid him giving me any Employment I knew immediately that he must have receiv'd some such order as this for Monsieur le Tellier did not speak to me as he us'd to do and instead of giving me positive assurances as he had done before that I should have what I demanded he put me off now with telling me he should be very glad to do me any Service This was a word so customary with him when he intended to do nothing at all that I e'ne took it forgranted In the mean time I was vext that he had held me in suspence so long and Monsieur de la Chastres having observ'd that I was grumbling and fretting as I came out of his Office he told me that if I pleas'd he would find me out a Master who would make up all my losses and sorrow for my old one I told him I should be glad of it provided before hand that it should not be the Duke d' Orleans and he naming to me at the same time the Duke de Beaufort I answer'd him I had always a great esteem for him but he being engag'd in Interests contrary to the late Cardinal my Master he could not put any Confidence in me nor indeed could I serve him heartily he askt me if I thought I did wisely in talking at that rate and that after having liv'd so long at Court I had made so little advantage of what I had seen as not to know that nothing but Interest rules opinion that as long as Cardinal Richelieu was alive I did well not to engage with any of his Enemies but now at this time when I was slighted by the present Minister I ought to joyn my self to the Interest and Friendship of those who had cause to hate him and if any one was on those terms with him 't was certainly the Duke de Beaufort who had been robb'd by him of the Queen Mothers favour when but for him he might by his power with her have done any thing for his Friends that he was a brisk bold Prince and knew how to value a man of worth and one in short whose Service he was very glad he had entred into that if I pleas'd he would speak to him for me and 't would be enough to establish his Confidence in me but to tell him the aversion I had to the Cardinal Mazarin The difficulty I had to quit the Court and the eager desire I had also to revenge my self of the Cardinal made me the readier to accept this offer so he spoke to Monsieur de Beaufort who exprest a very extraordinary desire to have me And having told him that I should find him at Anet whether he was going I parted from Paris with one of my acquaintance who had a house on that Road and with whom I had made a Match to play at Longue Paume so we sent our Men before us and following our selves we took the way to Cour la Reinâ— so to go from thence by the Bois de Bologâ—e to St. Cloud as we were a little beyond the Mareschal de Bassompier's House where there is now a Convent somebody threw a stone at the Gentleman that was with me and hit him on the Back and looking behind him to see who it was he saw some People upon the Leads of the House who nodded their heads at him and thinking they had been Women Morbleu says he they laugh at us as he was saying this they hollow'd and threw stones at us again and now we could easily discern that they were not Women as we thought but Men who did not conceal themselves but began to Jeer at us and Banter us and to over do it too so as 't was not to be born So my Friend drew a Pistol and a Stone coming at him and hitting him on the Arm he made no more ado but
Cardinal de Rets the Duke de Rohan and to Chavigny They all in a surprize come to the Duke of Orleans and ask him what in the Name of God he design'd to do to sign such an Agreement telling him that all the advantage was on the Prince de Conde's side who had not only been addrest to to negotiate with but to whom here were the greatest Concessions made That he was already possest of Offices enough in the Kingdom without suffering him thus to ingross all That his Ambition was insatiate tho he endeavour'd to palliate it That the care he took of the Interâ—st of his Creatures pâ—oceeded not out of any good Nature he had to oblige them but out of the Necessity which he foresaw he might one day or other have of their Service That he himself was concern'd more than any one to hinder this increase of the Prince de Conde's power for after himself he was next Heir to the Crown That if he took not some speedy course to suppress his greatness 't wou'd be soon too late In short That they pray'd him to consider that on the concluding or breaking off of this Treaty depended the Prosperity of the State the Safety of his own Person and of the whole Nation But it was in other Terms that they spoke of this Treaty to the Dutchess of Orleans They represented to her that the design of the Prince of Conde was to possess himself of the Crown that in the Reputation he was with the People for his Victories his Usurpation would be less odious if not altogether agreeable that after which her Husband would certainly be confin'd to a Cloister if he were not kept a Prisoner all his Life in some other place that for her self she was not to expect a better fare than to live all her days in a Convent and it would hardly escape 'em but they would dispute the legitimacy of her Children because her Marriage had never been approv'd of but by force That the only remedy she had to prevent all these misfortunes was to break off the Treaty while they on their part did all that lay in their power to disengage the Duke her Husband from a person he had so much reason to suspect That she was particularly concern'd to take this care of him because he lov'd her tenderly of which he had given her sufficient proofs That they would not pretend to give her Instructions but if they might urge it without violating their respect to her they would then say that she ought to employ all her Charms to accomplish this design That the Bed was the most proper place to set upon one of her Husbands disposition that they had nothing more to say but to with her to make use of it as they were sensible she could do with success On this occasion these arguments wrought but too effectually on both of them They were hardly ever in private together that they had any other discourse and the Dutchess perceiving her Husband inclinable to receive all the impâ—essions with which she had been prepossest pusht on the affair to that extremity that the Treaty was broke off without so much as any tolerable reason given by the Duke of Orleans The Prince of Conde than saw his Error in not following the Cardinals advice but since 't was now too late for any remedy he resolv'd on other measures and rais'd new Troops to begin a second Civil War The Cardinal having a mind to dispossess him of Montrond caus'd some Troops to march that way every one being in great expectation of what would be the event between the two Parties They were not long without Skirmishes and a Collonel of the Prince of Conde's Troops call'd Concressant being taken Prisoner by the Count de Bougi who Commanded in Bourges they were in a dispute how to treat him whether as a Rebel or as a Prisoner of War The Dutchess of Longueville who was in Montrond fearing lest they should use him as the latter writ to the Count de Bougi about it and having receiv'd an answer as civil as could be desir'd it was a very great encouragement to the Officers of both sides to expose themselves who before were in no small apprehensions on that account However this was no law to the Cardinal for he order'd another Officer that was taken to be hang'd but the Prince serving some of his in the same manner he forbore to use any more such Severity The Duke of Orleans for all the jealousy he had entertain'd of the Prince did not yet separate from his Interests to which he was retain'd by many considerations he had rais'd some Troops as well as he and gave them to the Command of the Duke de Beaufort I servâ—d him in the quality of Aide de Camp all the Campaign and so constantly attended him that no body can be better acquainted with all that happen'd to him than my self He had been so persecuted by the new Minister that the Parisians lookt on him as irreconcileable and this resemblance of his Sentiments with their own join'd with some popular ways which he had made him so agreeable to them that they seem'd not content to love him but something more even to adore him The Fish-Wives above all were those that made the most shew of their kindness for him These every day were making him Presents and upon all occasions were the first to run to get a sight of him in publick Upon this he was call'd in derision the King of the Mobb But all their kindness was nothing to that of one of those honest Women I am going to tell you of she comes to him one morning and brings with her a young Girl of about Seventeen or Eighteen a sweet pretty Creature and told him that having no more Children in the World she should think her self the happiest body that could be if his Grace would do her Daughter the honour not only to lye with her but to get her with Child The Duke de Beaufort was not like his Father who was thought to be a greater lover of Men than of Women So he told her very pleasantly that he was mighty glad to oblige her and would engage for the one tho he could not be certain of the other yet he would do his best to gratify her in that too and at the same time to shew her that he design'd to be as good as his word he took and led her Daughter into his Chamber where after he had lain with her he sent them both home very well pleas'd with their Entertainment This Prince had a Sister married to the Duke de Nemours a Person of a thousand good Qualities with never a bad one The Prince of Conde having occasions that call'd him into the Province of Guienne which had declar'd in his Favour gave the Duke de Nemours the Command of his Troops with orders to act in Concert with those of the Duke de Beaufort If the
mile and half of Pierre-Pont the Enemy who were hid in a Wood discover'd us and having divided themselves into two Bodies one attackt us in the Front and the other in the Flank our Guard made but little resistance and would have run away if they could but their Horses as I said being harrass'd they were taken immediately for us we made a body by our selves and made a show to defend our selves and at the first charge we kill'd two of their Officers but being overpowr'd by numbers we were forc'd to seek our safety from the swiftness of our Horses and so made away to get back to Charleville In the mean time having observ'd that the Dragoons had gotten before us and had posted themselves in a Defile by which we must of necessity pass I got into a Wood and tho I was persu'd by three Horsemen yet I lost them and coming out on the other side I saw no body appear which made me conclude I was out of danger and I travell'd two Leagues without any opposition and was just rejoycing to my self that I had escap'd when four Horsemen very well mounted discover'd me and one of them coming up to me with the usual question of Qui vive or who are you for I had no sooner answer'd Vive France but he bid me surrender my self or I was a dead man In the mean time the other who were coming towards me and were not above ten paces off rendring it impossible for me to escape them I was oblig'd to give place to my ill fortune and to yield my self their Prisoner so I was carry'd into a Neighbouring Wood where the rest of the Troop lay in Ambuscade and he that commanded them having ask'd who I was and whence I came I told him that I was a Frenchman and that I came from Charleville It happen'd that this was a Gentleman that liv'd but two Leagues from my Fathers so making my self known to him he would not suffer me to be searcht or any way roughly dealt with but us'd me very civilly I staid there with him till Evening that they broke up their Ambuscade which I thought very strange knowing 't was not customary to do so till Sun rise But he told me 't would signify nothing to stay there any longer for they only waited for any Persons they could find that had got away from the others â—ut since they had met with no body but me 't was very probable the rest were all taken and indeed so it prov'd for I found them all got to Rocroy before me which was some Comfort to me in my Affliction yet still I must say that I was better treated than any of them for there was not one of them but had lost his Money whereas I kept mine of which to my great comfort I was very well provided In the mean time I was in great perplexity whether I should send to the Cardinal or no for on one hand I consider'd if I did so he might perhaps get me out but then on the other hand my applying my self to the first Minister of State might give them cause to suspect I was not the Person I pretended to be for I had told Monsieur de Montal that I was a Lieutenant of Foot in the Regiment of Grancy of which Regiment I was throughly acquainted with all the Officers Insomuch that when he question'd me I gave him an exact account of the State of the whole Regiment At last having well consider'd what I had to do I thought 't was best to let it alone and to discover my self to the first person that should get his liberty upon Parol or till the general exchange of Prisoners which was expected would not be long I had also another reserve which was since I had Money to offer my ransom but Monsieur de Montal would not accept of it so I found my self frustrated of that design Tho we were not far from the Capital City of the Kingdom where every one generally has some acquaintance yet 't was not to be imagin'd how few there was that receiv'd any assistance from their friends I could not however see so many worthy Gentlemen suffer without sharing with them something of what I had left which unseasonable bounty soon shew'd me the bottom of my Purse but still I comforted my self that I had half a years Arrears due to me at Lyons but when the time was come the question how I should endorse a Receipt on the back of the Order was another perplexity and I must sign my own name which I had conceal'd from Monsieur de Montal and call'd my self by the name of one of the Lieutenants of Grancy so because I would not expose my self to appear a Lier I chose to continue in that misery which I had begun to be sensible of since my Money had fail'd me In the mean time many of those to whom I had â—ent my Money having received recruits from their friends conceal'd it from me for fear they should be askt to repay me and I that assisted every body was deserted in such a manner that my condition was miserable beyond expression I was oblig'd to live above three months upon the Basket and to compleat my misfortune my Linnen was stolen from me and I had but one Shirt and one Crevat left me in the whole world so that I was fain to lie a bed all day to have it washt for my part when I call to mind how 't was with me at that time I cannot imagin how I was able to bear it and above all to find those whom I had assisted in their distress shun me as if I had the Plague tho they knew in their own Consciences that I had never been reduc'd to this condition but for my compassion to them All this while there was no appearance of the General Exchange which we had so long lookt for altho the Campagne was ready to begin that was all the news that I enquir'd after for I was just as it were sinking under my miseries my Cloaths and especially my Shirt hung all in rags and for Beer or Wine I had almost forgot the taste of them In short I who had compassion of every body found all the world cold and indifferent to me they would wish me better fortune indeed but no body would do any thing to procure it 'T is easy to judge that my mind was perplext under all this affliction almost to distraction and was a thousand times just upon the point of discovering my self to Monsieur de Montal choosing rather to dye at once than to linger out my life by little and little however resolving with my self to have a little more patience at last the Exchange so long wisht for arriv'd but 't was no help to me for the Mareschal de Grancy having given in the names of the Officers of his Regiment who were Prisoners left my name out as he very well might for that he whose
pretence of some Estate that was to be divided and about which they had formerly had some words and to urge him to it he had frequently taken occasion to discourse about that concern but that the love he had privately for his Wife caus'd him to take all the reproaches he made him without any reply It madded him so much the more to see his Brothers policy in avoiding all occasions of quarrel and he was loth to fight him without some apparent cause but a circumstance which he happened to be an Eye-witness to made him change his design of fighting him into a resolution of dispatching him by a surer way for one day coming unexpectedly into her Chamber he had surpriz'd them in the fact and before he entred the Room had overheard them plotting together to assassinate him that his Brother seeing him coming in made as if he had been only toying with her and he on his part made as if he believ'd it that he might not give them any cause of mistrust and so they parted from one another without any words of the matter but with the more resentment in their Hearts For in short he for his part had appointed one of his Servants whom he knew he could trust to shoot him as he was a Hunting and his Brother at the same time had hir'd some Souldiers to do as much for him However it fell out so that neither part was perform'd and yet the design on both sides became publick and made a great noise in the World His Servant in particular had taken such gross measures that he had as good have betray'd his Masteâ— for he made him be suspected and that perfectly lost him the favour of the King and also was taken to be done upon account of private interest and not from his jealousy that after this his Brother having not opportunity as formerly with his Wife and she being not of an inclination to be content without a Gallant e'n entertain'd them where she could find them according to the custom of her Family that among others she happen'd upon one who was a Person of great Credit at Court who being in his young Blood gave himself up to his pleasures tho at the same time he had great employments in the State He told me that their behaviour was also so notorious that he could not refrain taking notice of it and reflecting upon the Person which soon came to his Ears and there began his ruin The Person however deferr'd his revenge because the World would say 't was too hard to kiss the Wife and quarrel with the Husband and waited only for an opportunity which he was not long without De Fresne could not bear the mocks and reproaches he met with in all Companies on this occasion and therefore resolv'd when this Courtier should be absent he would take an opportunity to convey his Wife away To prevent all suspicion of this he made as if he would be reconcil'd to her and became so kind to her that she was perfectly deluded and was as forward for going as he finding her in so good a humour he took her at her word and taking the Road to Lyons he carry'd her into Provence with a design to have shipt her on board some of the Levant Pyrates and so to have sold her having bargain'd with a Captain of such a Vessel for that purpose But he had been so unfortunate that his Wife had escap'd as it were by a miracle and that instead of ridding himself of a Whore he had got the name of a Villain and a Rascal for attempting it upon which her Gallant who as has been said waited for a pretence to ruin him has laid hold of this and had effectually lodg'd him in that place which was hardly so grievous to him as the scandal that his Wife having procur'd a Merchant to furnish her with money to carry her back to Paris she had been so base as to force him to go to Law with her for it before she would reimburse and this came before the Parliament where the said Merchant was oblig'd to tell the whole story to set forth the necessity she was in of the money and to aggravate the ingratitude of it for indeed he had a great deal of reason to complain of her usage after having done her such a remarkable kindness and tho as he told me he ow'd this Merchant a great deal of ill will for not leaving his Wife where he found her yet he could not but acknowledge she was very ungrateful to cheat him of his Money upon pretence as she pleaded that she was under the Covert of a Husband and so had no power to make an Obligation Tho I knew a great part of this History before yet I would not interrupt him and he told me some circumstances that I did not know before as that he was in Prison for having disoblig'd his Wives Gallant This story made me reflect on my condition as not altogether so unhappy as some persons since I had never been marry'd and gave me so great an aversion to that Sex that I made a Vow never to have to do with any of them I liv'd three years in this Pierre Encise without so much as hearing either of Friend or Foe and believing my self confin'd for term of Life I grew so melancholy and it so alter'd me that people did not know me and the more I reflected upon my misery the more it afflicted me Sometimes calling to mind my old Master the Cardinal de Richlieu I more passionately bewail'd that loss than ever Lover did that of his Mistress In short having past my time in this condition with how much satisfaction you may easily imagin the Archbishop of Lyons Brother to the Mareschal de Villeroy who acted as Lieutenant of the Province sent me word that I might go abroad when I pleas'd for his Majesty had given me the bounds of the City only for my Prison I return'd him my thanks as if the favour had come immediately from himself and he was vain enough to accept my Complement as if it had been his due I had been maintain'd at the King's charge all the while I continu'd at Pierre Encise and by that means had a little Arrears of my Rent due to me with which I made shift to pay my Mother-in-law and had a little in my Pocket and now I began to resolve upon being a good Husband seeing to what I had been expos'd for want of two hundred Pistoles to pay those pitiful Charges But whatever Resolutions a Man may make it is impossible to avoid one's Destiny The Archbishop having taken me with him a hunting to his House at Nimis which he had lately call'd Neuvilli notwithstanding he had told me I should not go out of the City when we came back we must needs go to play and my Complaisance there cost me all the Money I had in the World Being in a rage at such a misfortune