accept the offer if I had been in a Condition to raise her Fortune But besides that I had nothing to trust to but my Place and a small pittance of Money I had got whilst I was in Courland that which was the greatest obstacle to me was the difference of Religion she being a Calvinist and I a Catholick and being according to the Rules of my Religion induc'd to believe that she could not be sav'd I could not impetrate from my self to Marry a Person whom I must look upon as lost to all Eternity unless God would be pleas'd to take her into his peculiar Mercy The Princess of Tarente who was likewise a Calvinist did leave no Stone unturn'd to bring me over to her Religion making use of all the Perswasives that could be upon such like an occasion and employ'd several of my particular Friends in whom she knew I had a great confidence to back her endeavours but I happily escap'd all these Snares tho' at the same time I was catch'd in these of Mrs. ..... for I must confess that I lov'd her to the highest degree but could not resolve to comply with what the Princess would have me do Tho' it be true at the same time that Mrs de Launay whom I had espous'd in France was also in some measure the occasion of it notwithstanding that I look'd upon that Marriage as invalid About that time the Duke of ..... happening to pass through Hertogenbush in his return from Italy paid a Visit to the Prince and Princess of Tarente He no sooner saw Mrs. .... but he fell as desperately in Love with her as my self had done before Being now guided by his Passion he stay'd much longer than he intended at first and us'd often to visit these two Ladies in her Chamber where he would have stay'd all day long if Decency would have permitted him so to do At last he discover'd his Passion to Mrs. .... making all the Protestations Imaginable that his Love was not like that of many other Persons of his Rank but that he had so high an esteem for her Person and Merits that if she would relie upon his Honour he would Marry her notwithstanding the great inequality of their Condition That all that he desir'd of her for the present was that she would confide so far in his Word and Honour as to come to him at ....... where he would Marry her before he would ask any Favour of her That if she would give him her Word so to do he would send a Coach with Six Horses to the Hague which was to conduct her from thence into his Country but that he desir'd her not to speak a word of it to the Princess of Tarente being unwilling she should know any thing of the Matter This Precaution together with the Duke's Quality created some Jealousie in Mrs. .... for fear she should be drawn into an Error of which she might have occasion to repent for ever after She apply'd her self therefore to her Confident Mrs. la Motthe who advis'd her not to let slip so fair an opportunity of raising her Fortune being perswaded that the Duke was a Person of more Honour than to break his Word The Princess de Tarente would almost every day ask both of them what made the Duke be so often in their Chamber but did not in the least think of what pass'd there In the mean while Mrs. .... was in a great perplexity what to resolve upon judging that she could not without the greatest hazard to her Reputation go to meet a Prince in his own Country She set before her Eyes that in case he should happen to break his word with her she should be the general Discourse of all Europe which needs must impair her Reputation But Mrs. la Motthe at last made her surmount all these Scruples so that she gave her word to the Duke to comply with his Requests who told her at parting that each Moment she tarried here was so much time lost to compleat his satisfaction It was therefore agreed upon that the Duke was to send a Coach with Six Horses for her and that as soon as she had receiv'd News of their safe arrival she was to go with Mrs. de la Motthe to the Hague under pretence of buying some Cloths The Duke sent accordingly a Letter from ..... appointing the day when the Coach should be at the Hague the Letter being address'd to me by the two young Ladies appointment who also made choice of me to conduct them thither I had no sooner receiv'd the Letter but streightways I went to Mrs. .... to deliver it to her who thereupon desir'd leave from the Princess to go with Mrs. de la Motthe to the Hague to buy themselves some Necessaries The Princess having granted their Request they were met at the Hague by the Duke's Coach attended by his Gentleman of the Horse and four Horsemen After they had taken Coach I return'd immediately to Hertogenbush but said not a word to any body of what I knew No sooner where they arriv'd at ..... but the Duke perform'd his promise to Mrs. ..... whom he Married on the left Hand as it is usually done among Princes and other Persons of an Eminent Rank when they Marry below their Quality After he had Married her he settl'd upon her the Country of H ..... by which Name she was known for a considerable time after But by heâ— prudent Conduct she got such an ascendant over the Duke and the whole Country that since he has actually Married her on the right Hand so that now she is Dutchess of ..... one of the most considerable Princesses of the whole Empire The States of the Country having in respect to her Person receded from their Ancient Custom and her Children will be Legal Heirs to their Fathers Dominions Mrs. de la Motthe had likewise her share in the good fortune of this Lady the Duke having Married her to a Scotch Colonel upon whom he has heap'd many Favours Thus they left the Princess of Tarente who was extreamly surpriz'd to understand what good Fortune was befaln them The good understanding which had hitherto been cultivated betwixt France and the States-General began to abate by degrees the last being grown jealous of the Kings Power For not long after he had assisted them against the Bishop of Munster he was enter'd Flanders where meeting with no opposition from the Spaniards he had made several Conquests which made the Dutch look upon them with a Jealous Eye for fear if he should make himself Master of the Spanish Neitherlands the next turn would be theirs Seeing therefore themselves under a necessity for weighty Reasons of State to counterbalance the growing power of this Monarch they entred into an Allyance with England and Sweden in order to oblige him to make Peace with the Spaniards The King who all that time was not arrived to that pitch of Greatness he has appear'd in since was fain
but they not obeying my Commands were all made Prisoners of War and the Swedes finding among them a Serjeant and four common Soldiers who had Deserted they Hang'd them in sight of their Army They then carried on their Trenches towards the Bridge-Gate and threw in a great quantity of Bombs which Consumed our Magazine of Forrage which was laid up in a place which formerly had been a Church belonging to the Recollects whom my Father-in-law had Chas'd from thence whilst he was Governour of the place I was hardly put to it to provide for our Horses which made me take all what I could meet with of Forrage in the Inns or Private Houses This and the fear of the Bombs which had already ruin'd many Houses proved the occasion of a Tumult among the Inhabitants of whom I was fain to Imprison some to keep the rest in awe I took care to inform the Elector at Court of what had pass'd who sent me word that I should Defend my self to the last they being resolv'd to Relieve me in good time Accordingly the Elector Marched to our Relief of which Coningsmark had no sooner notice but he rais'd the Seige after twelve days opening the Trenches But before he March'd off he Dismantled the two Forts which he had taken and the Elector who had notice given him of the raising of the Siege returned to Berlin the rest of the Campaign being spent without any considerable Action After the Campaign was over I made my Appearance at Court to receive some Instructions from his Electoral Highness and to give him an Account concerning what had pass'd during the Siege of Altenoe I was not forgetful to represent to him That the Catholicks had shewn the greatest Zeal for his Service in the Defence of the Place whereas the others had been very remiss in their Duties I told him that if he would be pleas'd to Annul what had been done by my Father-in-law when he was Governour of the Place and would Restore the Recollects the Church that was taken from them this would be a means to encrease their Affection towards him and to engage them for ever in his Interest My perswasions prov'd so successful that the Elector did not only grant what I had desired but also restored to them the great Church which my Father-in-law had taken from them and given it to the Lutherans I was extreamly well satisfy'd with what I had done in behalf of the Catholicks there but what rejoyced me infinitely more was that my Spouse did assure me she found in her self a great inclination to be Converted to our Faith She was Educated in the same Religion her Father profess'd who was the second of that Family since they turn'd Hereticks her Grandfather and the whole Family having been always good Catholicks till my Wifes Grandfather chang'd his Religion This happy Inclination I could attribute to nothing else but a peculiar Mercy from God not but that I had often discours'd her upon this Subject but it was a considerable time ago having of late desisted from it because I found her not in the least disposed to hearken to my Advice in this point But her intended Conversion was likely to have prov'd almost Fatal to us both because I mistook my choice in the Person to whose care I committed the management of it For I pitch'd upon a Jacobin Friar who instead of being a Man of Virtue and Piety as I thought him to have been was for teaching my Spouse quite another Lesson than what I intended he should do She told me how he had managed his Business with her which made me under hand give notice of his Misbehaviour to his Superiour without mentioning a word of it further either to himself or any body else for fear of bringing a Scandal upon our Religion But my Spouse took the thing quite otherwise for imagining that all the rest would prove like him I found her quite averse to pursue her former good Inclinations I had much ado to perswad 〈…〉 her that the misbehaviour of a particular Person ought not to stain the Reputation of all others of the same Religion That there had been a Judas among the Apostles themselves and that therefore the rest had been never the less Holy and Acceptable to God This may serve as a warning to those who are entrusted with the care of sending abroad Missionaries or other Persons for the Conversion of Hereticks to be sure to choose such as are of an untainted Life because the least Tresspass in them is apt to produce great Scandal especially if it be of the same Nature with this At last my Wife being overcome by my perswasions and the Instructions of a Religious Person of a far different Temper from the Jacobin Friar she renounc'd Lutheranism and was reconcil'd to that Church which her Grandfather had abandon'd We were now busie in the Blockade of Stetin all the Avenues of which were closely guarded by our Troops notwithstanding which the Swedes found means to throw a Re-inforcement of 600 Men into the place being guided by a Peasant who Conducted them cross the Marshes through ways which were at another time quite Impassible But notwithstanding this the Garison diminished considerably every day partly by Famine partly by their frequent Sallies The Swedes therefore made a second Attempt to throw in another Re-inforcement into the place but the Elector's Troops being better upon their guard since the first Relief most of them were made Prisoners before they could enter the Town The Guide as ill Fortune would have it was among these last who had a Halter for his Reward Our Elector kept also a Correspondence in the place by which means he hoped to make himself Master of it without being obliged to employ his whole Force against it The Chief of this Conspiracy was a certain Brazier of which there are a great many in that Town It was agreed he should set the Magazine of Amunition on Fire which he did accordingly together with one of the best Mills belonging to the Town but being discovered he with two more of his Accomplices were hang'd for their pains The Besieg'd who were very strong within and headed by a Governour who perfectly well understood his Trade made frequent Sallies upon us in one of which they made themselves Masters of the Fort of Almea where there was a Garrison of 600 Men who were all made Prisoners of War Coningsmark advanc'd likewise to the relief of the Place but finding it impossible to raise the Blockade he directed his March towards Altenoe and the Elector fearing lest he should attempt a second time the Siege of that place sent me thither with a reinforcement of 600 Men. Coningsmark advanc'd towards the Town by the way of the Bank which leads along the River up to the two Forts which he had built in the last Siege without attempting any thing further his Business being only to consume the Forage on that side as he did
them it had been agreed betwixt them which side they were to take And they were not mistaken in their guess for no sooner did the King's Dragoons appear at Loudun but Fester sent for the Priests who were appointed to receive the Abjurations of the Protestants to his House where all the Protestant Families of any Note were assembled all which were at once reconciled to the Catholick Church except three Families who were forced not long after to take up their Lodgings in the Hospital for the Dragoons were Quartered upon them to consume all their Substance and did not leave their Houses as long as they had a Morsel left for their Sustenance The Happiness of a most profound Peace which the Kingdom enjoyed at that time under the Protection of the most Glorious Prince of the Universe who had carried the Terrour of his Arms all over Europe was a sufficient inducement to the King to promise himself as I told you before Success in every thing he shou'd undertake for the future and it must be confess'd that the happy Progress he made did justifie the Goodness of his Intentions God was pleased to bless his Designs with success as tending to the increase of his Glory and this so powerful Party which under his Majesty's Predecessors Reigns had almost brought this great Monarchy to the very brink of Destruction was forced tamely to submit to his Commands without the least Opposition Nevertheless this was not the only thing which took up the King's care at that time he was too wise to let slip the least Opportunity which seem'd to have any relation to the Interest of his Crown as well in respect of the Catholicks as the Protestants and it was upon this Score That he made use of his Authority and Interest to have such a Coadjutor chosen to the Archbishop of Cologne as he knew to be addicted to his Interest The Situation of this Electorate did in some measure oblige the King to take this seasonable Precaution because it border'd upon the Dutch Territories who were very jealous of the King 's present Prosperity The Glorious Conquests of his Majesty were also an Eye-fore to the Emperour who a few Years before had been put to the utmost hazard of losing his Crown if Fortune had not declared at the very critical juncture against the Turks The stupendious Success with which his Arms had been Crown'd since on that side gave him no small hopes that after the Conquest of Hungary he might promise himself the same success on the Rhine if he could by some means or other break the Truce concluded with his most Christian Majesty Our King who was resolved not to let slip this opportunity to thwart the Designs both of the Emperour and the Dutch and to secure to himself the Lower Rhine in case of a rupture with them left Instructions to bring this Matter to a good Issue The Cardinal of Furstembergh chief Minister of the Elector of Cologne and Canon of the Cathedral of that Name who ow'd every thing to his Majesty was pitch'd upon by the King as a fit Subject to fill up this Archiepiscopal Chair whenever it should become vacant The Elector himself had made a Postulation of a Coadjutor to the Chapter of Cologne and most of its Members were either in the King 's or Cardinal's Interest The Chapter was assembled before the Imperial Party could make their Cabals to disappoint our Design so that of five and twenty Canons of which this Chapter is compos'd there were no more than five who did not give their Voice for the Cardinal This was no small Vexation both to the Emperour and Dutch who were most nearly concerned in it but there being no other way left for them to redress themselves the Emperour made his Applications to the then Pope Innocent XI whom he earnestly intreated not to approve of the said Election for fear as it was insinuated by his Agents all Europe might thereby be involved in great Troubles Pope Innocent XI was a very Pious Person but he was also a Man and consequently subject to some Frailties and he did not stick at this time to make use of this juncture to mortifie his Majesty with whom he had had some difference of late The Business of the Franchises of the Quarters of Ambassadors stuck among the rest so close in his Stomach that he would not grant his Bull to the Cardinal The Elector of Cologne happen'd to Die not long after and our King who had certain Intelligence that the Emperor and the Dutch by the help of their Money had made a strong Party in that Chapter advised the Cardinal of Furstemburgh to stand by his first Election as Coadjutor of the late Archbishop and that whatever he did he should if possibly he could not let it come to a New Election The Cardinal sent this Answer to the King That he had not the least reason to fear a New Election being sure that he should at least have as many Voices as he had before and perhaps more whereas if he should oppose this new Election and enter his Protest against the meeting of the Chapter this might perhaps prove a means to abalienate the Minds of many of the Capitulars from his Interest and that consequently it must be feared they might make use of the same pretext as the Emperor and his Faction had already done to wit that his former Election to the Coadjutorship was void because the same had not been confirm'd in the Arch-Bishop's life time These reasons were at last approved of by the King who supposing that he who was upon the spot could give a better and nearer guess at the matter than those who were at a distance yielded to his perswasions Thus the Chapter of Cologne assembled in order to proceed to the Election of a new Arch-Bishop Some of the Canons who under hand had disposed of their Voices to the Emperor and Hollanders broke their word with the Cardinal and gave their Suffrages to Prince Joseph Clement Brother to the present Elector of Bavaria so that the Cardinal in lieu of Seventeen Voices which he had at his first Election had now no more than Fourteen Prince Joseph had Nine and the Count de Requâ—en One. It is to be observ'd that to put any Election of this nature beyond all contest it is requisite to have two thirds of the Voices of the whole Chapter so that the Cardinal in this last Election fell short by two Thus the Cardinal saw himself in a much worse condition than he would have been if according to our King's advice he had adhered to his first Election The Pope who had already in the former Election made use of his Authority in opposition to the Cardinal did in this last not in the least alter his opinion and confirm'd the Election of Prince Joseph Clement of Bavaria But notwithstanding this Confirmation the business now in question was how he should put himself in possession
with him he desir'd him to come to him This was an unexpected Complement to Monsieur de Pommerevil who did not imagine that my Friend durst have made thus bold with him but he who knew the Marshal de Estrees to be upon the spot did put no great value upon the Intendant's Displeasure Monsieur de Pommerevil who was no less sensible of the Marshal's Prerogative did think it most adviseable to make his Applications to him which he did accordingly and requir'd that these Four Soldiers might be taken into Custody again The Marshal who was resolv'd not to lose an Inch of his Authority told him that he would send for the Captain who should deliver up the Four Soldiers into his Hands which being done accordingly the Intendant committed them for the present to the Gaol of Brest till he could have them convey'd to Morlaix where he intended to have them severely punish'd In the mean while my Friend writ without delay to the Marquess de Louvois to Inform him of what had pass'd but before they could receive an Answer from that Minister he put another Affront upon the Intendant which he relish'd worse than the first and would have made him feel the effects of his Anger if the Marshal de Estrees had not been so near at Hand You must know the Intendant sent to my Friend to let him have some Soldiers with an under Officer to Conduct the beforementioned Prisoners to Morlaix but he sent him word that he did not stand under his Command neither would obey his Orders that his Soldiers were to serve the King and not him with this he went to the Marshal unto whom he gave an account of the Matter and how the Intendant would have put upon him as well as upon the Authority of the Marshal whose Orders he was ready to Obey if he thought fit he should detach a Party for that purpose The Marshal told him that he had done what he ought to do in having refused these Men and that he order'd him to do it again if he did give him another such like occasion Monsieur de Pommereville finding the Captain back'd by the Marshal was forc'd to rest satisfied and the Captain gain'd the good will of all the Officers of the Army for his boldness to dare to make head alone against the Intendant of the Province Within a few days after Monsieur de Pommereville receiv'd an Answer from the Marquiss de Louvois upon his Letter writ upon that Subject to the said Minister which was no small addition to his Vexation For the Captain had been so vigilant as by his reiterated Letters to represent to the said Minister that the Intendant acted in this point more out of a motive of Envy and Passion than love of Justice the Soldiers having been discharg'd by due course of Law before which made the Marquiss de Louvois order the Intendant not to meddle any further in the matter I receiv'd much about the same time Orders from the said Minister to Embark with all the rest of the Officers who were ready to go for Ireland in the first Vessel I could meet with At the same time Monsieur de Gerse who was likewise to go for Ireland was expected at Brest which made several of the Officers that were with me at Camaret leave us and return to Brest imagining and not without reason that by reason of his near relation to the Marquess de Segnelay he would be provided with a good Convoy to facilitate his Passage thither If I had been as wise as I ought to have been I should have done as they did but considering that Monsieur de Gerse was not come as yet to Brest and that it would cost me a great deal of Money there to expect his coming what with Covetousness and what with Love I was not so careful as I ought to have been of my own safety There were also several Officers who tho' Love had not the least share in their Resolution for fear of spending their Money at Brest resolv'd to take the same Course as I did THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Kt. LIB V. THE Master of the Vessel who as I told you before was to have Transported us from Camaret into Ireland being disappointed of his Bargain for want of a Pass had left this Port which made us take a Resolution to go to Croisil where as we were certainly inform'd we could not miss of a Vessel fit for our purpose which indeed prov'd true for we were no sooner arriv'd there but we met with one which was lately come from Ireland and having taken in her Cargo of Salt was just ready to set Sail again for that Kingdom Thus we Embark'd but at our going out of that Port the Entrance of which is very difficult we were in great danger of being lost there being a very dangerous Rock upon which many Vessels split in pieces and we were in the utmost hazard to have run upon it by the neglect of our Pilot who was drunk As good Fortune would have it it was low Tide and no Wind stirring so that with the next high Tide we got clear of that dangerous Rock This Sinister Accident seem'd to be an ill Omen of what befell us hereafter for the very first Night we were by a most furious Tempest driven near the Coast of Bell-Isle where we cast Anchor and being shelter'd from the Wind remain'd there two Days The Storm being somewhat abated we set sail again but were the same Night overtaken again by another Tempest which lasted whole twelve Days during which time having been toss'd up and down along the Coast we were at last forc'd among the Rocks in Conquet Road. My Advice was to make the Port of Camaret where we might buy us some fresh Provisions the greatest part of what we had taken along with us being consumed already so that if we should happen to meet with another disappointment by reason of the Winds or otherwise we might be in great danger of want of Victuals But the other Officers who had been before with me at Camaret and had a suspicion that I had a more than ordinary Kindness for Madam ..... whom I spoke of before imagining that this Advice of mine proceeded rather from the great inclination I had to see her than from any consideration of our necessity were against it and their Surliness prov'd the occasion of that Misfortune which befel us not long after For if we had made that Port we should questionless have been advertis'd that the English and Dutch Fleets were come to the height of the Westsand to Attack Monsieur de Tourville in his return from the Mediterranean They were also to prevent the Squadron design'd for Ireland from coming out of Brest and they were at that time much concern'd at Court which way those that were intended for that Service should avoid meeting with them But which way soever the rest escap'd their Hands our
certain Merchant whose Name was Launai who formerly knew me very well being a Factor for a Merchant of Loudun whose Name was Moret was very ready to supply me with it After I had given them the Money I desired each of them to make a memorandum what reason had made him leave France in what Quality he had serv'd there and since in England under His Britannick Majesty All these memorandums I desired 'em to leave with the before mention'd Officer who came frequently to see me and was to deliver 'em to me before my departure The Officer took effectual Care to get me all these memorandums but finding that the Pr. ... was not so forward as I had expected to dispatch me into France I sent one of my Servants thither to carry and deliver them to the Marquess de Louvois with several other Letters I took the opportunity of the Pass of a French Gentleman of my Acquaintance who took him along with him as his Servant I sent word to the Minister That I had not receiv'd as yet any Orders to go into Poictou but that I believed it would not be long before I should receive my last Dispatches and that therefore if he would send me his Commands I would be ready to receive them at Calais My Servant was so successful in his Journey that he passed unmolested and delivered my Letters to the Marquis de Louvois in which among other things I gave him an Account of what I had done for these French Officers with an Intention to be Serviceable to his Majesty and I was so fortunate that not one of all the Letters I gave him miscarried and Fortune continued to smile upon me for some time longer for at last I receiv'd Orders from the Earl of S .... to begin my Journey He made me at the same time a Present of two hundred Guineas from the Pr .... and told me that this was not intended as a Present but only to defray the Charges of my Journey for the present because all my Money had been taken from me at the time when I was taken at Sea About two Days before my Departure a certain French Protestant whose Name was Christian and who was sent as a Spy into England by the Marquiss de Louvois came to desire me to take a Niece of his along with me into France He told me that since I had but three Servants and my Pass expressed four she might pass very well for one for provided I had no more than my number no notice would be taken whether they were Men or Women I was not very fond to accept of what he proposed to me being afraid that this young Woman might prove more troublesome to me than all the rest and that consequently I might repent of it at leisure when it was too late I was not ignorant that most of our Refugees in England were an odd sort of People and that it was the safest way to have little or nothing to do with them Christian began to perceive where the Shooe pinched and guessing at the reason of it shewed me a Letter written by the Marquiss de Louvois's own Hand asking me whether I knew it I had no sooner cast my Eye upon it but I told him Since he had shew'd me so fair a Pledge I would not only take care of his Niece but of any thing else he should desire me that might be for his Service He desir'd me to take a Supper with him the next Night which I did and after we had drunk a merry Cup I observ'd him ogling his Niece which made me shrewdly suspect there was more Familiarity betwixt them than there is commonly betwixt an Uncle and a Niece He was so vain as to talk likewise to me concerning what Business he was employ'd in by the Marquess de Louvois which was also a shrewd guess to me that he was not extraordinarily Qualified for such an Employment and that it could not be long before he would be betray'd as in effect it happened not long after for he was taken up and Committed to Prison by the Prince of Orange's King William's Orders THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Kt. LIB VI. HAving thus far settled my Business in England and every thing being got ready for my Journey into France I left London and took the Niece of Christian along with me Before my Departure it was agreed upon betwixt the Earl of S .... and me that I was to receive further Instructions from the Pr .... by his means that I was to send him word from time to time of what News of moment there was in France and he was to do the like to me from England It was so agreed betwixt us how to direct our Letters so as that they might pass securely without the least Suspicion The Earl of L .... who was all along of our Cabal was also privy to this and the Earl of S .... ordered me to direct all my Letters I was to send to him to a certain Gentleman of my Lord L ... Acquaintance and Recommendation I left also my Commission with him not for fear of any danger on my side but because I could appear the more close and prudent in my whole Conduct I told them that it was my constant Opinion People could not be too careful in matters of this nature because if a Man had taken his Measures well and the same were thwarted or spoiled by some siâ—ister Accident that could not be foreseen by Humane Prudence he had however this Comfort that is was by Mischance and not through his own Neglect That I considered if perhaps I should be narrowly searched either at Dover or else at my first coming into France it must turn to our great Prejudice if any thing should be found about me which might give the Enemy an infight into what we designed and ought to keep concealed is that it would be much the safer way to send my Papers after me by the Master of the Packet-Boat who might deliver them into my own Hands if I were still at Dover and if I were not I would take care to send word from Calais where they should direct my Letters as safely as to my self I got very well to Calais nothing of moment happening to me in this Journey I was no sooner got out of the Packet-Boat but those that kept Guard near the Port took my Name and the Sign of the Iâ—â— where I was to Lodge in writing My design was to go further to pay a visit to Monsieur de Laubanie then Commander in chief at Calais but whilst I was Dressing my self he sent one of his Servants to me who brought me a Letter from the Marquiss de Louvois directed to me which had been inclosed to the said Monsieur de Laubanie with express Orders to deliver it to me immediately after my Arrival there This was an Answer to the several Letters I had sent him out of England He told
me forget the ill Treatment I had received before and I answered his Civilities in very obliging Terms telling him that I would not fail to pay him that respect I knew was due to him and would come to Sup with him that night his reply was that he desired me to come pretty early that he might have the more leisure to talk with me concerning what News I could give him from England I went according to my promise and we spent the greatest part of our time in discoursing upon the English Affairs and the present Condition of that Court of which I gave him the best Account I was able to do yet so as to be careful not to let him know the least thing of the Secret I had to manage for the King's Service The next morning I continued my Journey to Paris where we were no sooner arrived but I began to try what metal Monsieur Christian's Niece was made of I must confess it to my shame considering I was a person who should have had more sense at that time being especially a Married Man and having many Children of my own But however it was what I had observed betwixt her pretended Uncle and her that Night I Supp'd with them at London rais'd my passion to that Degree that I could not forbear to attack a Fort which I did believe would not endure a long Siege and indeed I found my self not much mistaken in my guess for she was so good natur'd as to hang out the white Flag at the first Summons and soon after surrendred at Discretion After we began to be more Familiar together I check'd her one day concerning her amorous intrigue with her Uncle she would fain at first have denied the whole but finding that I would not be satisfied thus she at last confess'd what Familiarity had been betwixt them but at the same time told me that he was none of her Uncle nay not so much as the least of Kin to her and that she had only pass'd for his Niece in England because the Neighbourhood should take the less notice of their living together that Christian was born in Paris and she in Angiers that he was a Protestant and she a Cathalick but that to make her amends for the loss of her maiden-head he had brought her over to his Religion Finding her in a good vein to answer me every thing I ask'd her I began to examine her what business did bring her at this time to Paris and whether she knew the Contents of those Letters she brought along with her for the Marquiss de Louvois She told me that her Business was at Court where she was to wait on the Marquiss de Louvois in hopes to meet with a suitable encouragement to the Service she was going to do his Majesty by discovering to him the infidelity of a certain Swiss whose Name was Prancourt who being employed as a Spy by the Marquiss de Louvois in England did under that notion betray him to the Enemy That she had such convincing proof of what she offer'd as was past all contradiction because it was of his own Hand writing She then told me by what accident she happen'd to come by the secret It seems this Prancourt was an intimate acquaintance of Monsieur Christian and happened to come one Evening about a fort-night before she left England to see and take a merry Cup with him as they used frequently to do After the Glass had gone several times about Prancourt desired her as she pass'd accidentally thro' the room where they were to carry a Letter which he gave her to the Post-House because he did not care to stir at this time which she promised him to do very carefully but in lieu of delivering it to the Post thought fit to keep it being curious to see the contents of it which convinced her that he betray'd the Marquiss de Louvois For this Letter being directed to an Uncle of his who was one of the chief Magistrates in one of the Cities belonging to the Swiss Cantons he gave him notice that the Prince of Orange K. William III. had granted him a Commission to levy a Regiment of Swiss at the intercession of my Lord M .... his Wife's Uncle He desired him to engage as many Soldiers as he could in the Service besides several Officers whom he named to him She further told me that among other pretty Tricks her pretended Uncle Christian had taught her how to open and close up again the Seals of Letters without being perceived by any body and that she had made use of this Art to close up Prancourt's Letter so artificially again that the Marquiss de Louvois could not suspect the opening of it and that therefore she hoped for the greater Reward from his hands She confess'd that she had not said one Word of it to Monsieur Christian who she feared if he had known it would have made his own advantage of it and would have endeavoured by this Discovery to regain the favour of that Minister which she believed he had pretty well forfeited of late because he had for some time past not receiv'd his usual Allowance from him That she had improv'd this opportunity to compass her own Design under pretence that she would go into France to sollicit the payment of the Money due to him from Court which he had agreed to and charged her with another Message to be delivered by her to the Marquiss de Louvois to wit that he had prevailed with one of the Clerks under the E. of S .... to give him timely Intelligence of any thing of moment for a good consideration she added however that she would not positively affirm it for truth knowing him to be a Person full of vain Conceits and who would often imagine things quite different from what they really were besides that this might be perhaps invented by him to ingratiate himself at Court to hasten the payment of his Money When I seriously Reflected what a trick this Young Wench was going to put both upon Prancourt and her pretended Uncle I could not but be sensible how little confidence I ought to put in her besides that I always look'd upon it as a general maxim for a Man of Sense not to rely upon such light Gossips Nevertheless as it is one of the greatest defects of Mankind seldom to be forewarned by the misfortunes of others so I was very near to have been catch'd in the same Snare as Prancourt was the consequences of which would have proved as pernicious to me if I had been as Treacherous as he of which I shall have occasion to say more anon After I came to Versailles I waited immediately on the Marquiss de Louvois who did not see any body that Morning so I went to the Princess de Conti's Apartments one of the Kings Daughters to see whether I could hear any tidings of the before mentioned Lieutenant of the Chevalier de Fourbin I found his Father
to ask pardon from God Almighty Notwithstanding all this I appear'd every day at Court in hopes of being employed some where or other One day the Marquess de Louvois told me that my Lord L ..... had sent my Commission and other Papers according to the direction I had appointed him at Calais which Courchamp had sent to him together with a Letter from the said Lord to me There was among them another Commission from the Pr ..... by vertue of which I was constituted Governour of the first place that should be taken in Poictou or in any part of France after their landing He delivered them all together into my own hands and at the same time made me write again two Letters in his presence to the same two English Lords I had Writ to before They were both dated in Paris as were likewise the two former and contained in substance that being fallen ill two days after my arrival in this City I could not immediately pursue my intended Journey into Poictou that nevertheless being not unmindful of what I had to do I had met with several Gentlemen of that Province whom I had found as great Favourers to our design as I could wish for and did not question but that their concurrence would be of greater consequence to us in that Country I told them further that being on the mending hand now I did not question but to be able to give them before long a more compleat account of the matter to their entire satisfaction I gave likewise an Account to my Lord L ..... what success I had met with in his Affairs in the same manner as I have related it just now having not Writ to him before upon that Subject because I was very cautious of Writing any thing to them without their Knowledge nay even without the positive Orders of the Marquiss de Louvois I did not send these Letters to the Post-house at Versailles but took the Copy of them along with me to Paris where I tarried two days whilst the King and Court were at Marli After I had Writ them over I enclos'd them in one Packet with an intention to carry them the same Night to the Post-House But Monsieur Christian's pretended Niece happening to see them lie upon the Table told me she would save me that labour and carry them for me she being also to send a Letter to her Uncle Knowing how she had serv'd Prancourt I ought sooner to have thrown them into the Fire than trusted her with them but having not the least suspicion that she would serve me the same trick I told her without the least hesitating upon the matter That if she pleas'd she might but desired her withal to make haste back again But she play'd me the same Pâ—anck as she had done to the Swiss before for in lieu of carrying the Packet to the Post-House she kept it and taking the next opportunity whilst I was gone into the City unsealed the Letters and after she had seen the Contents of them resolved to present them to the Marquess de Louvois In the mean time we continued our former familiarity and she caress'd me to the highest degree the better to dissemble her design against me a convincing instance of the deceitfulness of such light Creatures She had the cunning to desire me to take her along with me the first time I should have occasion to go to Versailles under pretence that she intended to deliver a Petition to the Marquess de Louvois in order to obtain some further Gratification I was so far from suspecting her intention that I freely carried her thither when she took this opportunity to deliver these Letters into this Ministers own hands not questioning but that by this second piece of Service she had made her Fortune for ever But if she had found her self deceived in her first hopes about Prancourt's Letter she had this as an additional Affliction for her pains that she was not rewarded with the value of a Peny for this I for my part met with so cold a Reception from the Marquess de Louvois the next time I saw him that I don 't at all question but this mistake turned to my great detriment ever after And to speak Truth what Opinion can a Wise Minister have oâ— what Confidence can he put in a Person who could be guilty of so gross an Oversight I did what possibly I could to dissemble my Resentment against this Treacherous Wench whilst I was in his presence but he soon perceived the different Passions which struggled within me and I verily believe he guess'd at the whole Matter and what Familiarity there used to be betwixt us for he forbid me expresly not to mention one word of it to her for says he if you do so she will be sure you must have it from me and when she perceives that I let you go unpunished what other Construction can she make of the whole unless she be quite a Fool but that these Letters were written by you with my consent He told me further that he was unresolved what he had best to do in the matter whether he ought not to have me taken up for fear she should else guess at the Intrigue when she found me to come off thus unpunished after what she had convinced him of against me That I had put him by this Imprudence of mine to a great Non-plus and that I deserved to be severely Chastized for it I cannot deny but that if he had sent me to the Bastile I should have looked upon it as a Chastizement I had very well deserved at his Hands at this time when his words had made so deep an impression upon my mind that I durst not look up into his Face and if it had not been for his express Commands it would have been impossible for me to have kept my self within the bounds of Moderation in respect of this Treacherous Wretch But being full of Shame and Confusion I could say no more than to beg him to forgive me this Fault and though I always had a natural aversion to Hypocrisie yet I master'd my Passion so far as not to gave the least Suspicion of it to the young Wench Nay though I hated her ever after to the highest degree I would not send her away immediately but resolved to take another opportunity to rid my Hands of her for fear she should guess at the occasion of it Whilst I was at Paris I had presented to the Marquess de Louvois a Memorial containing the Names of all those Gentlemen who according to what had been related by the above-mentioned two French Protestant Ministers were ready to do and hazard every thing for the Re-establishment of the Protestant Religion The same Memorial likewise shewed that the principal Design of the Enemy was at that time upon Port Lowis in Britany which they believed to be but ill provided and where by reason of the small Garrison they judged they
the Wines of our Country used to be most Transported was quite interrupted which had reduced many Gentlemen in the Country to a Starving Condition who though they had great plenty of Wines in their Cellars yet were not able to raise any Money upon them to supply their present occasions I told the Merchant that I would try what I could do and at the same time writ a Letter to the Marquess de Louvois I acquainted him with what had been proposed to me by the Merchant at Nantes and that considering the present Circumstances of my Affairs he could not put a greater Obligation upon me at this time than to give me leave to take this occasion of getting a Present of a thousand Pistols and at the same time to rid my Hands of a great store of Wines I had by me He sent me a very obliging Answer even beyond what I desired or expected for he told me that he would gratifie me in this point of getting a thousand Pistoles and that for that purpose he would send me a Pass from the French Court without which no Vessel durst stir out of the Port at this time He further advised me to endeavour to make the Merchant allow me a more considerable Reward for so extraordinary a Favour a thousand Pistols being not an Equivalent to what he was likely to get by the Bargain After I had received this Letter I thought my self as good as secure of the Money not questioning in the least but that my Interest was so great in the English Court where I knew they would be very glad to oblige me in a thing that stood them in nothing as to obtain there what I desired I sent therefore word to the Merchant that he might rely upon it who thinking himself now sure of the Bargain bought up great Quantities of Wine for that purpose and offered to lay down ready Money for the three hundred Pipes which I told him I had in my Cellar but I would not accept of it till I had procured him the Pass Not but that such a Sum would have come very seasonably to me at a time when I was in great want of Money But though I had said no more than what was actually true when I had told him I had three hundred Pipes of Wine in my Cellar nevertheless it was at that time not altogether at my own disposal For you must know that some of my Vine-yards being let to a Farmer great part of it belonged to him but he owed me three years Rent and was not in a Condition to pay me because he could not sell his Wines which made me look upon the Wines as good as my own The better to keep my Promise with the Merchant I writ to my Wife to desire her to take the said Wines in part of Payment at a current Price and to take the Vine-yards into her own hands the Farmer being very-willing to be discharged of them She very readily did what I desired because I had given her an Account of what prospect I had to dispose of my Wines at a good Advantage and to get a good Sum of Money besides It is a natural defect to all Mankind to be apt to flatter themselves in those Matters which appear agreeable to their own Sentiments or Interest this made me build Castles in the Air and to live in hopes that I might meet several times with the same Opportunity of getting a round Sum of Money hereafter But I was soon convinced of the vanity of my hopes for the Marquess de Louvois to whom I had sent since that time a Letter directed to the Lord L ..... in England in which I desired him to procure me a Pass from the English Court by which means I might rid my hands of most of my Effects in France which otherwise in case our design should succeed I was in danger of losing I say the Marquess de Louvois in lieu of sending me the Lord L .... s Answer which was according to my desire as I was convinced afterwards to wit ofter my return from our Journey sent me word that he had weighed the Matter since and upon more mature Deliberation found it not convenient to be done This Letter was no less vexatious than surprizing to me and put me to the greatest Nonplus that could be imagined For besides that nothing touches one more narrowly than to be disappointed in the hopes of a thing which one thought to be possessed of already I had now many Vine-yards and great stores of Wines lying upon my hands of which I could in all likelihood not make the least Profit on the other hand I had by my Credulity occasioned to the Merchant of Nantes considerable Damages who relying upon my Word had bought up such a vast quantity Wines as considering the present circumstances of Affairs could not but be a great Charge to him I was so startled at this ill Success that I did not know where to turn my self first and what Excuses to make to a Man to whom I had given my absolute promise as looking upon the thing as infallible after the kind answer I had received from the Marquess de Louvois I was just at Port Lowis when I received this dismal News and I must confess had it not been for Monsieur de Vaux my fellow Commissioner who did me all the good Offices he could I should have been apt to do something or other I might have repented of hereafter He gave me at that time most particular proofs of his Charitable Inclinations and Piety but the last Night before we came to Port Lowis there happened an Accident to us which made me believe that those Devout and Zealous Gentlemen don't care to look Death in the Face any more than other People This happened in a certain Inn not above three French Leagues from Port-Lowis in so miserable a place that it afforded nothing but a few Eggs for our Supper and at our first Entrance into the Inn you might see Misery painted in such lively Colours in the very Hostesses Face that without going to a Conjurer it was easie for us to guess what Entertainment we were likely to meet with in such a By-place as this to be short when we enquired what we could have for Supper the Answer was That they were but very ill provided to entertain many Gentlemen So we were forced to be contented with a few herbs miserably dressed and a new laid Egg each of us After Supper we went up Stairs into a nasty Hole which they called a Bed-chamber and our Servants went to Supper with the Hostess who fry'd them some sorry Pan-cakes with Bacon Whilst they were at Supper together the Host came home as Drunk as a Lord and the first thing he did was to fall about his Wife's Ears whom he called Whore and other such like pretty names a convincing Instance that a Drunken Man does not stick at any thing as will appear by the
must take care to see them Lodged in some Inns near to my Lodgings and to agree with the Inn-keepers for their Subsistence as cheap as could be done adding that it would be for a little time only to wit till he should have time to consider what was further to be done with them I reply'd that my Purse was not in a condition at this time to bear the Charges of so many Gentlemen unto which he answered that he would take care of them in a very little time and that I should not be long troubled with them But whilst these Officers were disposed in these Inns my Banker in London drew a Bill of Exchange upon me of four thousand one hundred Livres which he had paid to them by my Order in England I gave immediate notice of it to the Marquess de Louvois and desired him to enable me to discharge this Debt which he promised me to do forthwith but the time of the Payment being just expiring without hearing any thing further from this Minister I was put to a great Nonplus He happened just then to come to Paris so that I took this opportunity to wait on him there and to put him in mind of the Bill of Exchange which was payable within two days after He gave me for Answer that he had forgot to perfom what he had promised me but that he was going to Versailles the next day and immediately after his return from thence would take effectual care of the payment of the said Sum. But either he did forget it again or else he had no mind to think of it the last of which seems most probable to me for the day of payment came and I had not one Shilling from him to pay the Bill This disappointment was followed by another for if this Minister had failed in his promise concerning the payment of the Money he was as careless in performing it in relation to those French Officers which he had promised to take off of my Hands in a short time and were not in a capacity to subsist without my Assistance I had no Sur-plus of Money to supply their wants and the Inn-keeperâ— where they Lodged began to be very backward to take my Word any further than they had done already considering that I had no settled Habitation either in or near the City of Paris This made mâ—strain my Credit with my Land-lady who being an old rich Maid I prevailed with her so far as to engage her Word both for them and me to the Inn-keepers Thus they were pretty quiet for some time but Monsieur de Ville a Banker of Paris unto whom I was to pay the Bill of Exchange having Protested for want of due payment the said Bill I carried a Copy of it together with two Letters lately sent me from England to the said Marquess de Louvois These two Letters being brought to me directly from the Post-house without being first sent to the Marquess de Louvois as they always used to be done before I began to suspect that this was intended for a Trap to catch me in to wit to try whether I would either be so ill advised as to open them without him or perhaps keep them by me without communicating them to him For besides that I began to be jealous of the Effects of those malicious Suggestions which Monsieur de Vaux had insinuated into this Minister I had great reason to believe that at this time more than ever he had taken a resolution to Sacrifice me for the publick Interest considering as I told you before that he judged it more adviseable to let me fall as a Sacrifice to the State than to punish a great many of the Protestants whom he knew to be ill affected to the present Government in France But whether I were mistaken in my guess or not I was resolved not to give him the least occasion of this nature and so carried those Letters to him Sealed up as they were delivered to me from the Post-house After he had perused them he gave them to me and told me that it was time now to put a stop to our further Correspondence with England and that I should not write any more either to the Earl of S ..... or my Lord L ..... who had sent me these in answer to my last Letters I writ by this Minister's direction They contained in substance That they were not a little surprized at the Advice I had given them in my last because they were assured from very good hands and such as were beyond all question that the Protestants in the Province of Poictou were ready to hazzard every thing for the recovery of the liberty of their Consciences and to free themselves from that Bondage they groan'd under at this time that therefore they would have me not be discouraged or mis-led by these ill grounded Suppositions which were the only obstacle that could in all likelihood prove prejudicial to so great and well laid a Design My Lord L ..... sent me also Word about the Pass I had desired of him for the Importation of some Wines and told me that he could not but wonder I had not mentioned any thing of it since desiring me at the same time to let him know where the fault lay being well assured on their side that every Body was very ready to gratifie me in this as well as in any other matter which might tend to my Advantage As to what I had demonstrated to him concerning the protest of my Bill and the trouble I was in about these French indigent Officers I could get no other satisfaction but what he had given me several times before to wit That he had forgot it but would take care of it without any further delay If I had not been beyond my right Wits and made serious Reflections upon a matter of such Consequence to me as I ought to have done I might without consulting the Stars have dived into the bottom of the whole business or at least have given a shrewd guess at his design and its true Origin But it seems it is a natural defect in Mankind not to make use of the same foresight in our own Affairs as we do in others which made me not to be in the least aware of the Snare that was intended for me till I was catch'd in it past retreating This made me be so careless as freely to perswade my self that it was that great weight and multiplicity of business which continually Harrass'd this Ministers thoughts which had made him forgetful of mine in hopes of which I returned to Paris living in expectation of the issue of his fair promises In the mean while Mr. de Ville who I told you had protested the Bill of Exchange had given an Account of it to my Banker in London who had sent him word to talk with me again concerning the Payment of it and that in case I were not as yet in a Capacity to satisfie the
not fully convinced of it she at least shrewdly Conjectured that there must be some Mystery in the bottom which she would endeavour to discover by her coming to Paris immediately after the Consummation of her Daughters Marriage There happened also another thing which quickned her departure For the Intendant of the Province of Poictou had according to Orders received from Court sent some Officers to take possession of my House in the Country for the payment of a Debt which as it was pretended was owing from me to the King But my Spouse went to wait on him and having given him to understand that I was a Prisoner in the Bastile and upon what account which was confirm'd by the principal Inhabitants of Loudun he withdrew his Myrmidons My Spouse much surprized at this Accident of which the Intendant could not give her a satisfactory Account made all the haste she could to come to Paris with an intention to speak with me before she went to present herself before Monsieur de Pontchatrain The Governor of the Bastile was amazed to see her there after all the Pains he had taken to prevent her coming to Paris she told him the reason which had obliged her to come to Town which he knew to be no more than what was really true because Monsieur Pontchartrain had told him that he had been these twelve Months looking for me and that if he had known I was in the Bastile he might have saved himself that trouble He then told my Spouse that he would advise her to act with a great deal of Precaution in this Point that I had been very ill of late and being just now upon my recovery the sight of her might prove very prejudicial to my Health He had not Impudence enough to tell her in plain terms that I was out of my Senses but being sensible that she had heard of it before nay that my Sister had carried her the last time she was in Paris to the Mad-House to enquire after me he only gave her some hints of what he would have her take for Truth But my Spouse being resolved not to be kept any further in suspense by these and many other such-like Reasons he pretended to alledge to her told him positively that she would and must see me as long as she had got leave from Court and that if he refused her admittance she knew where to apply herself for Redress Monsieur Baisenaux finding her so resolute did not think it his best way to give her a flat denial but told her that the Warrant she had obtained from the Marquess de Louvois was of no force since his Death and that therefore she must now apply herself to Monsieur de Pontchartrain whose business it was now to take Cognisance of me as she might easily guess by what had lately happened at her House He offered at the same time to make use of all his Interest with the said Minister and to speak to him the very next opportunity to obtain a Warrant for her But my Spouse being resolved not to rely upon his promise went the next day to wait on Monsieur de Pontchartrain who was then at Paris desiring his Protection he gave her for answer that the only way to get me released out of Prison would be to engage me to give satisfaction to the King for some words I was accountable for to the Court. That in the mean while she should have leave to see me and that he would dispatch his Warrant for that purpose immediately Monsieur de Baisenaux Governor of the Bastile happened to be in the Room at the same time though at some distance from the Minister who having got sight of him sent one of his Servants to let him know that he wanted to speak with him He ask'd him in my Spouse's Presence whether she might see her Husband without any Hazard or Inconveniency Monsieur de Baisenaux not thinking it for his purpose to contradict the Minister of State for fear of Exasperating my Spouse answered That he knew of no Inconvenicy and so having received Orders from his own Mouth to let her see and speak with me He conducted her in Person up to my Chamber in hopes that his presence might at least retard a discovery which he knew must needstend to his Confusion I had been some time before removed out of that Chamber where I had lain ill so long and was since lodged in another in the Tower of the Treasury which was much more wholesome for its Situation than the former I had a Chamber-Fellow there who was an English-man and had served in the Quality of a Captain of Foot under King James but being fallen under Suspicion of keeping Correspondence with the Enemy was Committed to the Bastile this being the second time for he had been there once before upon the same account Here it was my Spouse came to see me and the sight of her did so much amaze me that what with the surprize and the consideration of finding my self thus neglected by her I gave her but a cold Reception which so startled the poor Creature that she was ready to Swoun away This was the first step toward the discovery so much fear'd by the Governor who did all what in him lay to prevent it by interrupting us in our Discourse but no sooner did my Spouse hear me reproach her with want of Duty and Care but she disclosed the whole Mystery in the Governor's presence If I was surpriz'd at the sight of her I stood quite amaz'd at the recital she made me of his Treachery which was of so hainous a nature that nothing could be beyond it and I am almost convinced that if his Majesty were rightly inform'd of it he would according to his Justice make the Governour pay for it with no less than the loss of his Place My Spouse who could not forbear crying when I reproach'd her with her want of Love was all overwhelm'd with Grief when she saw me in the condition I was in Lame and Helpless not being able to stir one of my Hands and Legs After many Tears Sighs and Sobbs she at last told me concerning the Seisure of the Intendant of Poictou and what Monsieur de Pontchartrain had told her about my being accountable for Words to the King protesting That if nothing else was in the way to obtain my Liberty she would set all at stake to deliver me out of Prison She desired me to satisfie her thus far as to let her know what account it was I had with the Court about words against the King that she might be able to give a satisfactory Answer to Monsieur de Pontchartrain at her next Audience I told her that this Discourse was a Riddle to me which I did not know how to unfold being sure that I had not the least Concerns with the Court upon account of words or any thing like it That she was sensible herself that my