Passage into St. Mark 's place at thâ—â—orner of the Street called St. Remuaâ—â— where she had hir'd a Palace to see 〈◊〉 Masqueraders pass by with whâ—â—â— all that place is usually fill'd during the Carnaval The Queen tho' she was at that time above forty Years of Age yet continued very brisk and gay and so soon as the Theatre was open'd and the Comedians acted as they did very well in the Opinions of all Her Majesty caus'd Women Singers to be brought amongst them which Charm'd the Ears of the Auditors by the sweetness of their Voices as they did their Eyes by the agreeableness of their Persons and richness of their Habits Among the Cardinals that frequented the Queens Box Caâ—dinal Benedetto Odeschalchi never failed so much as one Night being there during all the five Years the Quâ—en maintain'd her said Box in the 〈◊〉 but after the Elevation of this very Cardinal to the Popedom 〈◊〉 changing his Humour and Conduct both at once endeavour'd to destroy the Play hâ—â—se werein he had formerly taken 〈◊〉 mâ—ch pleasure And to bring it the moâ—e efâ—â—ctuall to pâ—ss he made a rigorous Edict which 〈◊〉 remains in force by which he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Women to Rehearse any Pâ—â—t upon 〈◊〉 Stage he liking rather â—â—at young Musitians should play those Parts and be cloathed in their Habits contrary to the express prohibition of the Sacred Scripture which forbids Men to wear Womens Apparel as being an Abomination before God The Novelty of this Spectacle drew such vast numbers of People thither that they had much ado to get Entrance for Money For at that time was a great Concourse of Strangers of Quality there who had brought with them the Newest Modes from abroad which the Roman Cavaliers imitated and made themselves all fine and gallant There was one among the rest who was of the first Rank and surpass'd them all in richness of Cloaths his Stature was middle sized the Features of his Face rarely compos'd his Eyes black and as lively as those of the finest Roman Ladies he had a happy Physiognomy and a Head of Hair which made him one of the handsomest Gentlemen in Italy He Sung and Play'd rarely well upon divers sorts of Instruments was a great lover of Poetry and had also himself compos'd three fine Pieces Happy indeed if with all these Advantages he would have Corresponded with the Ladies Desires for there was more than one who were willing to have put him to the Proof but he made no answer to their Attempts as we shall presently acquianit you He was then in the Flower of his Youth being entred into the twenty third Year of his Age and his Blood boyl'd in his Veins which made him appear all Spirit The Queen seeing this young Lord in a Box just over against her as he was making a profound Bow to her immediately felt an extraordinary Emotion by looking upon him and having learnt his Quality and personal Merit it augmented the Esteem which this Princess began to have for him and she could not forbear casting her Eyes towards his Box very often A little while after one of Her Majesties Valets de Chambre who had been an old experienc'd Gamester at Love Intrigues hearing the Queen one Day speak many kind things of this young Prince and at the same time say She had a mind to have her Hair cut took his opportunity to tell her Madam said he the Prince Don Benigno for that was the Name of this young Lord has a Valet de Chambre a Perriwig-maker who cuts Hair rarely well The Queen ravisht with the Thoughts of having an occasion to speak well of a Person for whom she had so strong an Inclination sent for the Perrwig-maker who performing his Office according to her Desire after having spoken very advantagiously of his Master gave him ten Pistols One of the Queens Officers was afterwards with the Prince who told him That he was extreamly joyful that the Queen had so far honour'd him as to make use of one of his Servants to which the Officer answered in few words but setting forth the Queens admirable Qualities in the choicest Expressions he could invent The Prince mightily extoll'd her and Her Majesty was inform'd of all he said to her Advantage and was infinitely pleased with it Another time she sent to the Prince to desire him to let her see one of his Perriwigs she tried it on and made a short one of the same colour being of a fair and bright colour which she wore many times afterwards When the Queen was in private among her Women there was nothing to be heard but the Praises of Don Benigno and no other Subject could afford her so much pleasure as that One of her Maids a great Favourite at that time who was very handsome and well shap'd call'd Signora Octavia hearing her speak so often in the praise of this young Prince fell in Love with him but not daring to discover her Affection she consum'd and pin'd away The Queen was troubled and seeing her thus Languish without knowing the Cause oblig'd her to go and take the Country Air. Octavia chose to go to Frascati as being one of the most delicious Places about Rome where the greatest part of the Cardinals and Gentlemen of Rome had Vineyards and Houses of Pleasure which look'd like so many Enchanted Palaces Don Benigno had one there which was none of the least and he was actually himself there enjoying the Pleasures of the delicate Season of the Spring The Queen gave Octavia two Calasâ—es cover'd and two â—acquies and she brought her Mother Sister and some other Women along with her and for Valet de Chambre she would have that Intriguing Purvoyour who had been employ'd in the Qâ—eens Amours Arriving at Franscati they alighted in a private place because they would incommode no Body and the Train stay'd at the Stables of the delicious Vineyard of Aldâ—brandina where they were well receiv'd because of the Queens Liveries by the Orders of Madam the Princess di Rossâ—no Achelmere for that is the Name of the Purveyor took care of preparing the Dinner while the Women went to Mass at the Capuchins and in the way met Don Benigno by chance Octavia turn'd her self aside that she might hide the Blushes which appear'd in her Face though they render'd her yet more beautiful There was only a single Salute on either side and after the walking of a Turn or two they return'd to a slender Dinner at their Lodging for in Italy People are very Sober when they live at their own Expences However she eat with a good Appetite and reproach'd Aâ—â—hemere for being so sparing While these things were doing a Footman came from the Prince who brought in a Man that carried a great Vermilion Bason whose outside was gilt with Gold full of most exquisite Viands and desired to speak with the Conductor Achelmâ—â—e presented himself and the â—ootn an told him Thaâ— the Prince Don Lenigno had
was Gentleman of the Chamber to her Majesty He was Young and well Made extraordinary Handsome and had a Bon Grace in all that he did But he was an universal Lover and manag'd an Amour like a Roman Hero It was only Languishing and Sighs that express'd his Flame at the first and he was diligent both Night and day to make her see and understand it She gave him some Hopes which made it stronger which were fully to be explain'd by the Marriage Bed But however the Queen had no inclination to give the poor Gentleman any thing though he had serv'd her as a Page from his Youth and her Majesty had bestow'd Favours upon others who had not merited so much as himself Her Caprice cross'd this Amour but his Patience and Assiduity gain'd his Mistresses Heart insomuch that she gave him to understand that if he was not Happy it would be his own fault But however these fair hopes were of no long continuance for the Count of Warwick came in to Traverse 'em by declaring himself a Lover and was receiv'd with little Ceremony He was an English Lord of high Birth Son to the Earl of Northumberland but being a younger Broâ—â—er of that Illustrious House which were Persecuted for their Loyalty to their King during the Troubles of England rais'd by Cromwel and the Parliament he was oblig'd to seek his Fortune in Foreign Courts and was at last recommended to the Queen who made him Major Domo after the Death of the Marquis Del Monte. The Earl of Northumberland died at Florence where both himself and Family were Maintain'd by the Bounty of the Grand Duke Count Warwick was of a slender Stature and had an Air of Grandeur which shewed who he was His Complexion was very delicate but his Health seem'd to be ruin'd by the paleness of his Face whether it came from his Temperament or Debaucheries As to the rest his Carriage was the most agreeable in the World and if his Health had been perfectly entire he had been one of the finest Gentlemen in Italy The Marquiss de Mala-Spina being allarmed at so redoubtable a Rival did not know what to do daring neither to conceal nor publish it because of the Antipathy of the Queen against him But his good Genius inspir'd him to go to a Lady of Quality who was Married to a Roman Lord Captain of a Troop of Light-Horse in the Pope's Guards called the Marquiss Cavallieri his Lady being Sister to Count Warwick He entreated her to do him the Favour to represent to her Brother that his Intention in addressing himself to Jovannina being not to Marry her he would not cross a Passion which tended to that Holy Sacrament The Marchioness readily undertook it for fear her Brother should fall into any Trouble in the Queens Service and caus'd him to desist so that the Marquiss was quickly at Repose on that side Jovannina having lost Count Warwick treated the Marquiss much better for fear he should escape again and these two Lovers manag'd their Interests so well that the Maid by the Ascendant she had over the Queen brought her to consent that the Marquiss should make Love to her in the way of Marriage But Cardinal Azzolini who was afraid the Queen would execute this Project and spend as much Money upon her as she had done upon Octavia her Elder Sister turn'd the Queen against it and broke all the Measures of these poor Lovers and at last to comfort her said The Marquis was impotent and no way fit for Marriage The poor Girl afflicted with so many Crosses fell sick and must take the Air again to dissipate her Sorrows And she had scarce begun to take Breath when a certain Italian Abbot of some Birth but little Merit and full of Vanity thought it a seasonable time to perswade her to hear of a Passion which he begun to have for her To this purpose he employ'd a Woman who was one of the Queens Guardrobe who had not been Cruel in her Youth and was very proper to tie an Amorous Noose And as she had an Entrance into the Appartment of the Maids and some part of their Confidence it was easie for her to perswade Jovannina to have some Complaisance for the Abbot Vannini the same Person that had already dishonoured Bandiere's Daughter This Maid being dejected at the ill success of her Amours and the Disgrace of being cast off by so many Lovers embrac'd the Motion upon Condition that her Mother approv'd it The good Mother who liv'd upon nothing but the Wages of the Daughter and had other Children besides and an Husband to maintain yielded to the Temptation of a Thousand Crowns which he gave her and deliver'd up her Daughter to this Villainous Baboon whom Vanity and the Difficulty of it stir'd up to so hard an Enterprise To come to him she counterfeited her self sick once more and the Queen out of Complaisance sent her to Albani where not to lengthen out the Story the Abbot was satisfied After fifteen or twenty Days absence she return'd to Rome and the Abbot who found her a delicate Morsel invented a way to introduce himself into the Queens Palace by means of his Mistresses Confidents His Liberalities gave him Entrance every where and surmounted all Obstacles but he could not do his Business so â—â—â—retly but that it was found out by the Marquiss Del Monte for he surpriz'd the Lovers in the very flagrant Delight and threatned to destroy them if he did not come in for a share And as he was Almighty with the Queen so he had a Talent to make himself fear'd Thus he obtain'd his Wishes and the Abbot always paid the Expence of the Feast But after all these Pleasures poor Jovannina found her self with Child which affrighted her and made her perfectly desolate à nd her Mother became the most sorrowful of all Women but the Queens Goodness supply'd all Defects and she had Remedies given her to take it away but they had so ill success that she died and was interr'd in the Habit of a Carmelite Crown'd and set round with Flowers for a mark of her Virginity The Queen wept as much as if she had been a Relation so good was this Princess and so full of Tenderness for her Domesticks that she would have left them all Rich at her Death if they would have permitted her to do it 'T is Time that wipes away Tears and Her Majesty comforted her self for the loss of Jovannima by 〈◊〉 Acquisition of another call'd Georgina who surpass'd her in all things but was the innocent cause of her Death as shall be related afterwards At this time the Duke of Mantua being come to Rome the Queen did him so great Honours as none ever received from her before and the Duke on his side would not be behind her in Civility but at last the Ceremonies abated both of one and the other side The Queen was over joy'd that a Sovereign Prince came to visit her for
Light and without it we know nothing certain She appears in all her Simplicity in the History of the retired Life of Christina Alexandra Queen of Sweden and of the Goths and Vandals There is enough said there to inform the Curious and shew the Frailties which appeared in the private Life of a Princess who in her publick one demonstrated so much Greatness of Soul Her History is writ by too many Authors of different Nations and Languages to make mention of in this place They all agree in Matters of Fact and we may follow them without any sâ—ruple But seeing they have spoke nothing of the secret Intrigues of this Princess known only to her Domesticks we question not but that it will oblige the Publick to communicate these Memoirs and we shall here find that Princes do easily impose upon us and what is oftentimes attributed to Policy is yet nothing else but the Effect of irregular Passion Christina Alexandra has perhaps been the Princess who has most of all imposed on us and made her self most talk'd of in the World She knew so well to assert a certain Character of Greatness in her whole Personage that she charmed all Mankind Her Wit caused Admiration in all who were able to comprehend it and certain Graces sparkled in her Face which caused Love in all that view'd them Nevertheless she had more agreeableness in the one than the other and her extraordinary Qualities hindred People from reflecting upon the real Defects of her Person She was a little bent not to say crooked Her Stature was middle-sized inclining to be fatâ— and yet she was at a reasonable stand as to that Point Her Complexion was the finest in the World Her Eyes were beautiful and sparkling her Lips red she had good Teeth and an Aquiline Nose her Neck and Hands white tho' she never wash'd them in any thing but cold Water Besides these Excellencies of her Sex which made her a Beauty in her own Nature she had some of the best Qualities of ours such as Courage and Undauntedness with an admirable knowledge of most things a great dexterity in the Conduct of the weightiest Affairs as also of the most curious And in a word she had almost all the choicest Qualifications of both Sexes The greatness of her Wilt the facility of her Genius the exactness of her Thoughts the delicacy of her Expressions and last of all a prodigious Memory which made things past appear as present All these rare Talents should I say or rather all these extraordinary Qualities did so astonish all that approach'd her that they were not capable of attending any other thing And yet those who would not suffer themselves to be so easily led away without a nicer Inspection could find considerable Faults in her how great and transcendent soever her Wit were She so much loved her Pleasure that she observed no Measures in the taking of it and would Debase her self so far as to be Familiar with many of her Officers Her Domesticks who would take all sorts of Liberty with both Sexes were sometimes Doubtful of their own and her greatest Favourites have oftentimes found her Light Inconstant Contradictory and always full of her self things scarce Supportable even in Princes themselves The Greatness of this Princess's Soul manifested it self in the generous laying down of her Crown and quitting her Kingdoms to Carolus Gustavâ—s Prince Palatine of the Rhine Every Body was Surpriz'd at it but no one could tell the Causes and Reasons which induc'd her to it But the Queen excellently skill'd in the Art of Dissimulation alledged many which being very specious made her thâ— more â—steemâ—d For she having Knowledge in History as well as Languages â—ad read that some Princes who had been Crown'd with Glory but â—ired with the noise of Arms and the trouble of Royalty chose to retreat towards the end of their Lives into places separate from the Commerce of Mankind to live a more easie and quiet Life But this Example was not the motive of her Retirement for she was then in the flower of her Age and had scarce tasted the Pleasure of Reigning Nor was it want of Success which has often been the cause of the precipitate Retreat of Princes fearing to tarnish the glory of their former Actions by the shame of the â—atter For Fortune had smiled upon our Queen even till that present time Her People were Victorious over their Enemies She was the Refuge of the Princes of Europe and indeed every thing conspir'd to make her Fear'd of the one and Esteem'd by the other Notwithstanding all this she took the Resolution of quitting Sweden and advancing the Prince Palatine of the Rhine who was next Heir to the Throne Her Subjects oppos'd themselves and represented the miserable Effects of it and redoubled the Esteem and Respect which they always had for her Majesty It was noised in the World That she being disgusted with the Lutheran Religion had a design to make Profession of the Roman Catholick which was not agreeable to the Laws of the Sweden and that she had rather follow the motives of her Conscience than preserve her Crown For my part I should believe with others that this was the true motive of her Abdication if she had not afterwards given the Lie to those great things she at first had done for God's sake But being throughly inform'd in all her Secret Intrigues I believe that Love which very often ascends the Throne with Princes was the cause which made Queen Christina Descend She Loved Count Magnus of Gardia so desperately who durst not answer her Passion that whereas Kings elsewhere make Queens by Marriage she endeavour'd to make a King on the same manner But not being able to bring the Estates of Sweden to Consent to this she took so great a despite at it that she resolv'd to live for the future in a Melancholy Single State However she had neither inclination nor disposition to pass the rest of her days in Retirement being perswaded as she said that Vertue did not consist in being Severe or Rough nor in retiring from Humane Society to seek God in the Horrour of Solitude And that it was the way to draw and collect a Man to himself rather than to Unite him to God Adding That since there was innocent Diversion to be had in Society and that Pleasures were permitted to the World one might find God among Men without refusing them So that acting upon â—his fine Principle she took a resolution to quit the troublesome business of a Crown that she might give her self up the more entirely to her own Fancies But withal thinking to improve her Wit by enlightning her Reason she intended to Travel all over Europe for Rules to perfect her Manners to be built upon the different Maxims of those People among whom she came All this joyn'd with the Secret of making her self universally talk'd of was the reason of calling in Prince Carolus Gustavus to
pretended that the Pope ought to have given her thanks or rather because her People were accustom'd to an insupportable Liberty and could not be contain'd within Bounds but so it was that the Cession of the Franchise did not last above two Months before the Queen receiv'd Discontent and Vexation from it every way The first thing that was seen was a Battallion of Sbirries with their Bariseil at the Head of them to take possession of the Quarter with insupportable Pride The Pope made these Scoundrels insolent by the Power given them and it was the reason that we look'd upon them with Contempt and it did so much the more mortifie all the Domesticks in that they were not us'd to be vex'd with such Rogues with whom they had never any thing to do before At last happen'd an Accident which was the Cause of all the Mischief that might be foreseen A Valet of one of the Queen's Anspessades had cheated a Banker of some Barrels of Brandy and the Sbirri's whether of their own Motion or excited by some of the Queen's Enemies took him Prisoner upon Easter-Day near the Queen's Palace and dragg'd him as far as the Steps of the Church de Regina Coeli which is at Longara Many Footmen and others of the Queen's Domesticks who went to St. Peter's for their Devotion cry'd out to the Sbirri's as they went along that it was a shame to take him upon Easter-Day without regard to the Sanctity of the Festival This did not terrifie them at all for they brought their Prisoner to a Cabaret keeping him by main force though they remonstrated to them that he belong'd to her Majesty The Queen having understood it sent to disengage him being angry that they had not ask'd her permission to take him He was taken away by force out of the hands of these Rascals and brought back in Triumph to Langara the People crying out Vivat to the Queen and Hooting at the Sbirri's But this caus'd a great Noise for the Pope taking Offence that they had committed Violence to the Ministers of his Justice and enterpriz'd upon his Authority made a Criminal Process against all those that had a share in this business and condemned them all as seditious The Queen being stark mad to see the Placards stuck upon the Walls of her Palace wherein the pretended Criminals were condemn'd to Death for Contumacy and their Heads set at a Price kept no farther measures with the Pope and to brave him took the occasion of a Feast which the Jesuits made whishe went with a magnificent Train accompanied by all her Domesticks arm'd like so many St. Georges under their Habits The Condemn'd had order to follow her Majesty at the sides of her Coach with the three accus'd Auspessades and nine others which made up the number of a dozen all well-arm'd and resolute to the uttermost I remember poor Captain Landini who had before pass'd for a Man of Courage considering the danger fell a trembling when he went out of the Port Settignana and whereas he should have follow'd the Queen at the Head of the Auspessades was forc'd to be put into one of the Queen's Coaches being as pale as a dead Man However they seem'd to take no notice of it at the Apostolick Palace but on the contrary the Pope regal'd her Majesty with some Basons of Fruit the first of which I remember was green Raisins a Rarity for the Month of May as then it was A Chamberlain of Honour presented them to the Queen who gave him no more than ordinary Thanks but after he was gone look'd upon me and said What does Mingon mean with his Raisins She spoke of the Pope who being of an austere Temper refus'd almost every Favour asked of him with this Word Minga which is as much as to say No or not at all in the Milanese Language or in the Countrey of Spain from whence the Queen gave him the Nick-name of Mingon Does he think said she we are asleep No I will vex him in my turn She then gave Orders that as many Sbirries as pass'd by her Quarter should be taken up One Merula a Neopolitan Bandit whom the Queen had taken from Justice which would have punish'd him for some Crimes committed in the Realm of Naples was her Bravo And indeed this Man though but of few Words was a wicked Devil for he would Kill a Man upon the least occasion or for Money if you pleas'd There was then a Corporal of the Sbirries who had Insolence enough to speak some ill things of the Queen and to boast an Exploit which he had done in her Quarter but he did not live long after this Temerity for he was Kill'd by Merula at Noon day as he was going out of his House near the Governor 's of Rome The Pope enrag'd at the Death of this Man redoubl'd his Edicts against the Queen's People and and came to such a point of Choler that he propos'd in a Consistory to Excommunicate the Queen But Monsieur the Cardinal D'Estrees so strongly represented to his Holiness that he must have more circumspection in regard of Crown'd Heads and that it could not be prov'd that the Queen was the cause of it that it hinder'd his Holiness from coming to this Extremity And 't is remarkable that the Queen who had often vexed his Eminence upon many occasions found no body but him to maintain her Interests for I think Cardinal Azzolini was then Sick In the mean time things grew worse and worse insomuch that the Queen having understood that the Pope would send all the Sbirries to carry away the Condemn'd by force out of her Palace order'd the Marquiss Del Monte to give Notice to all her Houshold to be in her Palace on Sunday after Mass All the Domesticks were there and above all the Gentlemen were the first that heard the Queen's Speech She said Gentlemen and all you others my Domesticks I have brought you hither to tell you That the Pope is coming to the Sword 's Point with me by forcing my Domesticks your Comerades into the hands of Justice I am resolv'd not to forsake them and therefore those that are in my Service must prepare themselves to run the same Fortune with me and to repulse couragiosly those Violences that will be offer'd I will be at your Head and expos'd to the same Perils with all of you You know me and understand by some Actions of my Life that I am not Fearful let those that have not Courage to serve me declare it for I will force no body I know the Pope is your Sovereign and if any Interest oblige you to retire those that have a mind may do it freely I had rather have ten Couragious Men who are willing and will be Faithful than a thousand timerous Persons and Cowards who for fear of prejudicing their Affairs are not willing to run the same Fortune with me They all applâ—udâ—d the Speech but you might see by their
by their Liberality Catherine manag'd them both and assigned them different Hours for fear they should meet one another but but this Precaution was all to no purpose for their Grisons discover'd them and they were much amaz'd to meet one another in the same Chace for they were both Comrades and Allies Things being so they were forc'd to accommodate themselves to the Season and each endeavour'd to prefer himself to his Mistresses Favour living as yet in a good Understanding with one another but the Coldness and Indifference of Angelica towards them made each of them believe his Comrade happy to his prejudice They fell out upon this Imagination and would have made a noise if they had not been hindred For one who was call'd the Abbot of St. Marc was Violent Imperious and of an high Hand but the other who is at present Lord de la Mouche Erithree was more Tractable Angelica hated them equally and being a Person no way suitable to either of them sigh'd only for her dear Theodon The frequent Importunities of these two great Lords forc'd Angelica to have recourse to her Father for so they call'd Monseigneur Zachary exaggerating the Tyrannies of her Mother This Prelate to encourage his Daughter to enter into a Convent gave her a Dowry of eight thousand Crowns which were put into the Bank of the Mount of Piety in a borrowed Name Angelica not being able to do any better dispos'd her self to enter into a Nunnery comforting her self with this That she should however be near her Lover and that she might see him in his Working-Shop by the Ballistrades of the Clock which at the same time denotes her Innocence While these things were a doing the Prelate dies leaving this fine and desolate Daughter to the Discretion of her Mother who dissuaded her from going into a Convent for the Interests of her Family and the poor Daughter was forc'd to accommodate her self to her Humour she must then take up again the Trade of Singing as before A Cardinal of the first Rank in the Sacred Colledge and perhaps one of the handsomest who had sometime before made an Ambassadress of France in Love with him hearing so many fine Things spoken of Angelica would see whether they were true His Authority and Liberality found every where a free Access and he was Charm'd with the Voice and Manners of Angelica but he went so often that the noise came as far as the Ears of Pope Innocent XI As he was a very severe and angry Pope and would let no Body be at quiet he took a resolution to cause Angelica to be taken up and put into a Convent as Scandalous and of ill Reputation So true is it that in his Time the Innocent suffer'd as well as the Guilty for her Mother was more to blame than she seeing she receiv'd no visit but out of Obedience At that time the Duke of Mantua was at Rome and they boasted to him of Angelica as one of the Singularities or finest thing that was to be seen in Rome The Marquiss Del Monte brought her to his Highness as we have said before and he found her so well to answer her Character that he made her very considerable Offers to come to his Court The great Liberalities he bestow'd upon her Mother engag'd her to promise a consent to his Will but Angelica who saw no Security for her self when she was in the hands of so puissant a Prince was not able to resolve what to do She had notice given her quickly after to have a care of her self because the Pope was going to take her up and put her in a Convent and this put her into a terrible Fright for tho' she had no repugnance to enter into Religion she could not suffer her self to be confin'd in a Monastery ordain'd only for Women of ill Reputation There was then no remedy but in all the haste imaginable to implore the Protection of Queen Christina She did it and this Generous Princess who had a great value for her because she had heard her Sing often not only permitted her a Refuge in her Quarter but took her into her Service with a Sister of hers named Barbara who was also a most Beautiful Virgin but had not so great a faculty of Singing Theodon was over joy'd that his Mistress had escap'd so many and powerful Rivals and it gave him courage to continue his Pursuit To this end he address'd himself to one of the Queen's Valet de Chambres who was his Friend to get a sight of her and easily obtain'd his Request But as Lovers are never contented Theodon importun'd him so much that he promis'd him that he should come to the Speech of her One day the Queen kept an Academy of Musick in her Garden and there was a great many Ladies Knights and Gentlemen under the shady Grove where was a fine breeze of Air Angelica when she had sung her Roll slipt down an Alley with her Sister and entred into a little Banquetting-House where Theodon had made a magnificent Collation to present her with in his Friend's Company of the best Wines that were to be had It was about the time that the Song of Flon Flon was in request and the Trumpets of the Marquiss de Lavardin being posted upon a little Hill in the same Garden sounded the same Tune The Eccho's repeated the last Words All the World Sung it and the Qeeen her self sung Flon Flon The Joy was universal and the Wine made our Lovers become Poets For after they had drank plentifully they propos'd to make every one a Couplet to this new Air and Angelica taking her Guitarre began and did it very well for an Extempory Effort and was follow'd by Theodon's Friend A thousand sits of Laughter accompanied the Musick insomuch that others of the Queen's Maids walking in the Garden were drawn thither by the Noise They presented them Fruits and they sat down on Angelica's side and drank their Healths over and over and the Sport â—â—sted till almost Night when a Footman came to give her notice that she must wait upon the Queen the Company being now gone She broke off therefore this sweet Conversation but with Violence to her self and promis'd to see him again as often as she could But this happy Season did not last long for a little after the Queen fell Sick and so all sorts of Divertisements ended This Sickness was fatal to Angelica for her own Mother deliver'd her up to be Dishonour'd by an infamous wretch in the Queen's Palace It was to the Abbot Vannini whom I have mention'd before the same that abus'd Signora Giovannini and was the cause of her Death This Prelate who was ambitious to make himself Talk'd of had gain'd Signora Caterina with a Present of Silver of above the value of a thousand Crowns Angelica having all sorts of Liberty of going out with her Mother was carried to walk among Women where she always met the Abbot