forbore meeting his Mistress that Night for fear of being surpriz'd and rightly judging that it would be impossible to continue his amorous commerce unless he could get rid of the spy that was set to watch him order'd St. Coâ—â—â—â—e to have him assassinated Thereupon St. Columbe riggl'd himself into the acquaintance of the Scotch Soldier and having carry'd him to a Tavern after they had done drinking led him through a blind street where he had posted half a dozen desperate Raskels that fell upon him and laid him dead upon the pavement One of the Duke of Tremovilles Lacqueys who was a kin to the Scotch Soldier seeing him attack'd went to call some of his comrades and came to his rescue but too late for the business was done and the Murderers were dispers'd However in regard that several persons in the Duke of Tremouilles Livery were seen about the body the Duke himself was accus'd to have been the author of the Assasination The Dauphin was the only person that would not be surpriz'd by these appearances as guessing right that the Murther was committed by the order of Chabane Nevertheless he would not take any notice of it to any body least the fear of danger should dishearten those that he design'd to employ in the farther espial of these secret rendezvouses to serve him according to his desires Therefore he said no more but set other spies to work and caus'd the Countess to be so narrowly watch'd that word was brought him that Châ—bane was enter'd her Chamber in the disguise of a Stationer with a great bundle of Books under his Arm. Immediately he went to inform the King What said he merrily I hope 't is not la Trimoâ—â—le but tho' the Dauphin knew well enougâ— 't was Chabane he answer'd his Father that he could not tell who it was but that his Majesty would be soon satisfi'd The Dauphin also had order'd all the Avenues to be so well guarded that it was impossible for the Count of Dammartin to escape But the Countess having timely notice by Mortaigne who kept diligent watch and ward lockt him up in a Closet by the side of the Bed which the King had never observ'd as being cover'd with the Hangings So that the King found his Mistress a Bed and while he was examing the Books that lay by her the Dauphin askt her between jest and earnest what was become of the Bookseller that sold her the Books To whom the Countess with a countenance no way concern'd made answer that he was gone but that he could not be out of call if his Highness had any thing to say to him The Dauphin took a Flambeau himself and finding nothing after he had sought all about retir'd without saying a word full of vexation and shame for the ill success of his enterprize The King on the otherside made a thousand excuses to the Countess and the better to make his peace would needs lye with her that night Nor durst the Countess give him the least denyal tho' she was sure to spend the night in a strange intermixture of pleasure and disquiet Nor was Chabane in a better condition he was so near the Bed that he durst not breath and which was worse he was forc'd to lye patient while his own Ears told him that another was enjoying those pleasures which were appointed for himself But at length the King rose and left him at liberty to make himself amends for his past sufferings The Countess who lookt upon the Dauphin as the Author of all her vexations no longer had the patience to carry fair with him as she had done before They had frequent quarrels together and one day such was the heat of passion on both sides that the Dauphin gave her a whirret o' the Ear. Of which she made her complaints to the King but not receiving that satisfaction which she expected despite and vexation threw her into a languishing disease of which she died in six weeks after and was buri'd in the Collegiate Church She had two Daughters by the King Charlote marry'd Lewis de Brezè Seneschal of Normandy who surprizing her in the act of Adultery stabd ' her to death and Mary who espous'd Oliver de Coitiny Lord of Rochefort Anno 1455. After the Death of the Countess of Ponthieure the King engag'd with Madam de Villequiers her Neice a Lady no less charming then she and who inherited her hatred of the Dauphin and perswaded Charles that the Dauphin had caus'd her Ant to be poyson'd On the otherside the Dauphin employ'd all the inventions of a crafty wit to set the King at variance with Madam de Villequiers but not being able to accomplish his design he withdrew into the Dauphinate whither all the male-contents resorted to him by his own incouragement The King after he had made use of all gentle means to reduce him to his duty commanded Chabane to march against him and to apprehend his person of which the Dauphin having intelligence left Grenoble privately and retir'd to the Duke of Burgundy The King seeing his Son in the hands of his mortal Enemy began to mistrust every body that came near him and imagining every moment that there was a design to poyson him continu'd without eating eight days together and weakn'd his natural heat by that long abstinence in such a manner that afterwards when he came to eat again 't was impossible for him to digest his nourishment which brought him to his Grave Such was the tragical end of the Amours of this Prince The Intreagues of the Court of France under the Reign of Lewis XI Anno 1469. LEWIS XI who had always great designs sent the Cardinal d'Albret into Spain to negotiate a marriage between the Duke of Guienne his Brother with Isabell of Castile the Sister of Henry IV. and presumptive heir of that Kingdom But that Princess rather chose to unite Castille to Aragon by the marriage of Ferdinand eldest Son of Don Juan II. This negotiation therefore proving unsuccessful Lewis XI cast his Eyes upon the Princess Joane which Joane of Castille had had by one of her favourites and which King Henry had acknowledg'd for his Daughter notwithstanding he was impotent in hopes to set up the rights of that Princess against Isabell But the Duke of Guienne to whom the King made the proposal would not so much as hear of a match that must have engag'd him in a bloody War with the King of Aragon and privately sent to demand Mary the only Daughter and heiress of Charles Duke of Burgundy But the Duke who saw that the greatest Princes in Europe sought his Daughter would not determin so suddenly upon the choice of a Son in Law but without engaging his promise to any one kept 'em all in suspence The Duke of Guyenne vex'd at this hesitation of the Duke took his leave of the King at Orleans to go and drive away his melancholy in his own Government At Amboise he had a
Thibaut Count of Blois But some time after she was brought to Bed the King being inform'd of all Eleonor's Galantries resolv'd to vacate his Marriage To which purpose he assembl'd the Clergy of France at Boisgency where Alegrin his Chancellor set forth the reasons that mov'd the King to desire a separation and easily obtain'd what his Master desir'd because the Queen made no opposition However Lewis that he might come off with Honour surrendred back to her the Dutchy of Aquitaine and the Earldom of Peitou which she brought him in Dowry and only kept the two Daughters which He had by her Eleonor after this Divorce retir'd to Poitiers where she was visited by Henry Duke of Normandy the King of England's Son Who thô he were a Prince whose Person was no way inviting and had the worst colour'd Hair in the world yet she fail'd not to admit of his sedulities and to hearken to the proposals of Marriage which he made her because he was Heir presumptive to the Crown of England Henry was well inform'd of all the disorders of her past life but his eager desire to joyn Guyenne and Peitou to the rest of those Dominions which he was to inherit prevail'd over all other Considerations He espous'd Eleonor which so enrag'd Lewis that he suffer'd no opportunity of Revenge to escape him So that a War was kindl'd between the two Princes so soon as Henry came to the Crown which lasted till an end was put to it by the Marriage of Henry the King of England's eldest Son with Margaret the Daughter of Lewis and Elisabeth of Castille his second Wife And thô the affianc'd Princess were but five years of Age she was put into the hands of the King of England for a farther confirmation of the Alliance When she came to be of age proper for the consummation of the Nuptials the King of England refus'd to deliver her to his Son for fear he should become too potent and go about to dethrone him with the assistance of France Thereupon Henry impatient to enjoy his youthful Spouse that was to secure him his Succession to the Crown of England the Princess being design'd to the Heir of the Kingdom he stole her away and fled into France to the King his Father-in law From thence he wrote to his own Father demanding England or the Dutchy of Normandy as an Earnest of his Succession and upon the King's refusal resolv'd to obtain his Pretensions by force of Arms. Queen Eleonor also engag'd Richard Duke of Aquitain and Jeoffrey Duke of Bretagne her Brothers to take part with Henry and Lewis oblig'd William King of Scotland to invade England on that side while he sent Robert Earl of Leicester with a powerful Army to make a descent into the Island out of France So that a Man would have thought that the King of England assail'd on every side must have been overwhelmed by so many Enemies But Heaven protected him His Son Henry dy'd in a short time after and Peace was concluded between England and France and the Marriage of Richard who was become Heir to the Crown by the death of Henry with Alice the Daughter of Lewis was the Seal of that Union But in regard the Princess was very young she was put into the hands of the King of England as her Sister had been till she came to years of maturity and Queen Eleonor was shut up in close imprisonment to prevent her contriving new troubles at Court. In the mean time King Henry shew'd himself so extreamly complaisant to the Princess Alice that it was look'd upon to be an effect of love and the Princess answer'd him with a frankness pardonable as her years however Richard grew jealous to that degree that he could not find in his heart to marry her when he came to the Crown Queen Eleonor also whom he set at liberty so soon as he saw himself seated upon the Throne confirm'd him in his aversion and negotiated a Match between him and Beranguelle the Daughter of Don Garcias King of Navarre whom she carry'd to Richard then in Palestine where he espous'd her This anger'd Philip surnam'd the August King of France who at the same time had made a voyage to the Holy Land but he would not shew his resentment there for the injury done his Sister because he would not give the Infidels an opportunity to take advantage of the division of the Christians But so soon as he return'd into France he enter'd the Territories of the King of England in revenge At length Eleonor after she had been the cause of many mischiefs in both Kingdoms where she had worn the Crown ended her days at Poitiers in the Fourscore and fourth year of her age Mary of Moravia Mistress to Philip surnamed the August Anno 1192. PHILIP the August after the death of Isabella of Hainault his first Wife marry'd Isembourg or Eudelberge the Daughter of Waldemar the Great King of Denmark but found so little pleasure in the enjoyment of her that after the first Night he never would Bed her again However he endeavour'd a long time to combat this aversion but not being able to surmount it he imparted the secret of his disgust to William Bishop of Beauvais who told him that in regard there was a near affinity between him and the Queen it would be no difficult thing for him to disannul the Marriage if he would summon an Assembly of the Prelats of his Kingdom The King relish'd this Proposal and having sent for all the Bishops of France and amongst the rest for the Archbishop of Rheims who presided in the Assembly the sentence of Separation was pronounc'd Some time before the King had seen the Portraicture of Mary Agnes the Daughter of Bertol Duke of Moravis which appear'd so charming to him that he had always the Idea of her in his sight Therefore when he saw himself at liberty he sent to demand her in Marriage and having obtain'd his desires he espous'd her with a more then ordinary Magnificence Anno. 1198. Isemburg would not be present at the Nuptial Ceremony but secretly left the Court with a design to retire into Denmark But when she came to the Frontiers of France she bethought her self of the fault she was about to commit in abandoning the Justice of her Cause she return'd back again and shutting her self up in a Convent sent an account of her misfortune to King Conuie her Brother He being astonish'd at Philip's inconstancy sent to his Ambassador then residing in Rome to make his complaints to Pope Celestin and to demand Justice of him Celestin immediately dispatch'd away two Cardinals the one a Priest and the other a Deacon to make inquiry into what had past in the dissolution of the Marriage and to make use of all the Authority of the Holy See to oblige the King to take Isemburg again in case he had no lawful cause of separation So soon as the two Legates arriv'd at Paris
Dutchess was extreamly allarum'd at her being so ill fearing lest it the Queen should dye the King would Marry some young Person whose Charms might â—oâ— her of his Affection But the distemper which had been so violent at first was but of short continuance for that in eight days the Queen was past danger and her recovery resâ—or'd tranquillity of Mind to all that were concern'd in her preservation year 1549 The Chancellor Olivier because he could not comply with the Dutchess as he ought to have done to preserve himself in the Ministry fell into disgrace Nevertheless because they could not deprive him of his Imployment without taking away his life and for that his integrity would not permit 'em to fasten any accusation upon him the Dutches to suspend him from the execution of his imployment caus'd the King to deliver the Seals into the custody of Commissioners Bertrand whom she had already advanc'd to be first President of Paris and Giles le Maitre a Creature of her own And now the Dutchess to secure her self a Protection both within and without the Kingdom marry'd her two Daughters that she had by the King the eldest who was call'd Diana to Heratio Farnese Duke of Castro the youngest Son of Pope Paul III. and the youngest to Claudius of Lorrain Duke of Aumale she also procur'd the Battoon of Marshal of France for Brissae for whom she had still the same tenderness year 1556 Pope Paul III having embroil'd himself with Philip II. King of Spain sent into France Cardinal Carâ—ffa his Nephew to engage King Henry II. in a League against the Spaniards The Affair was debated in Council where the Duke of Guise maintain'd with great hear that 't was requisite to give assistance to his Holiness with a design to make advantage of it He was in hopes that by sending Forces into Italy he might be able to advance his Brother the Cardinal of Guise to the Pontificate so soon as the See should become vacant and in the mean time to make himself Master of the Kingdom of Naples which as he said belong'd to him as Heir to the House of Anjou The Queen upheld his Opinion in hopes to procure the Command of the Army for her Kinsman Marshal Frotzi The Dutchess of Valentinoiâ— who was in a strict Union with the Guises was of the same Opinion nor durst the Constable Montmoranci oppose her for fear of displeasing her and in hopes that the Guises going into Italy would give him an opportunity in their absence to fix his Credit more stedfastly at Court Thus the League with the Pope being resolv'd upon a numerous Army was rais'd to be sent to the Pope but Davaâ—son the King's Ambassador at Rome a Creature of the Guises who was acquainted with this Intreague explain'd himself so openly upon it that the King who was inform'd of it alter'd his opinion for fear of contributing to their ambitious designs Their credit also receiv'd a kind of check but they recover'd themselves in a short time by the marriage which they negotiated between the Dauphin and Mary Stuart Queen of Scotland their Kinswoman The Dutchess of Valentinois who began to grow jealous of their advancement cross'd this Match as much as in her lay but not being able to prevent it resolv'd to unite her self more strictly with the Constable by marrying her Daughter to his eldest Son she being now the Duke of Castro's Widow who was slain at the Siege of Hedin There was one obstacle in the way which she had much ado to surmount For the young Montmoranci privately and without his Father's consent had marry'd Mademoiselle de Pienne of the House of Alvin The Constable sent his Son to Rome in order to get his Marriage declar'd void by the Rota But Montmoranci after the Affair had been examin'd at several Sittings could obtain no definitive Sentence for the Pope was desirous to make the best of the Dutchess and to tye her to his Interests by keeping her in hopes of a favourable Judgment But the Dutchess tir'd out with these delays took a shorter way obliging the King to make a Law by which all Marriages contracted by Infants under Age without the consent of their Parents were declar'd void After this Ordinance was verify'd upon Montmorancy's averrment that he never gave his Faith to Madana de Prenne but upon condition that his Father would give his consent the Parlament cancell'd all the Engagements that were between 'em and then the young Lord marry'd the Dutchess of Castro The Guises seeing that the Dutchess of Valentinois treated 'em but very coldly and trusted no body but the Constable who was of kin to the Marshal de Brissac her Favourite endeavour'd to revenge themselves The Queen of Scotland had brought along with her into France Madam Hamilton a kinswoman of hers who was Mistriss of all the Graces both of Body and Mind Presently they spread abroad the fame of her Beauty and by their Emissaries cunningly and neatly gave her such frequent commendations in the in the King's Ear that he desirous to know whether her applauders did not flatter her found so much sweetness so much life and gaiety in her Conversation that he could not chuse but love her He had aleady for some time taken some disgust against the Dutchess but she had such an ascendant over him that he durst not give her the least offence and he took as much care to conceal from her his Intreague with Madam Hamilton as if she had been his Wife Moreover his new Mistress proving big with Child he provided for her Lying in with so much privacy that no body at Court knew any thing of it The Prince that she brought into the World was Christen'd Henry and under the ensuing Reigns was Grand Prior of France and Governor of Provence The King that he might shew his activity to Mrs. Hamilton for whom his Passion was much increas'd since she had brought him a Son would needs make one in the Turnaments that were prepar'd in Honour of the Nuptials of Elisabeth the King's Daughter with Philip II. which was a Match concluded in pursuance of the Treaty of Chateau Cambresis Toward the end of the third Day which was the 30th of June 1559 the King who had already broken several Lances with good success would needs Tilt with his Beaver up against the Count of Montgomery the Son of Lorge Captain of the Guards of his Body The Count did all be could to excuse himself but he was at last constrain'd to obey his Master and that Course prov'd so unfortunate that Montgomery's Lance being broken into shivers the Truncheon that remain'd in his hand struck the King above the Brow of the right Eye with that terrible force that the King fell to the ground without either Motion or Sense in which condition they carry'd him to his Bed and notwithstanding all the remedies they could apply to him for eleven days together that Life remain'd in him they
upon Hugo gave him several mortal Stabs before the King's Face thô he made himself known to 'em on purpose to stop their fury out of that respect which was due to his Person and when they had done they threw themselves into a Forrest adjoyning and soon became invisible Several Months find away before the King could discover the Authors of so dating an enterprize but at 〈◊〉 he understood that the Murder was committed by the Queens Order and so far he was from shewing himself either griev'd or displeas'd at it that he lov'd her the more ever after and wholly fortook Almafrede who out of despair retired to a Convent and veil'd her self As for Foulqueâ— he underwent a severe Penance for having contributed to the Homicide being at Jerusalem whither he accompany'd Godfrey of Benillon and others of the Croisado For he caus'd himself to be drawn naked upon a Hurdle with a Rope about his Neck and to be whipp'd till the Blood came crying out with a loud voice Have mercy Lord upon the treacherous and perjur'd Foulques Bertrade Mistress to Philip. Anno 1086. Foulques Rechin going to pay a visit to Amaney Lord of Montfort and condole with him upon the death of his Mother fell in love with his Sister Bertrade He left nothing omitted to procure her Affection during the stay that he made at Montfort and not being able to obtain any Favour from her he resolv'd to marry her thô he were already marry'd to Ermengard the Daughter of Archambaut Lord of Bourbon and that he had a Son by her who was afterwards call'd Jeoffrey Martell To which effect he caus'd his Marriage with Ermengard to be declar'd null under pretence of being near akin and took Bertrade to Wife by whom he had a Son that bore his Fathers Name and who going to the Holy Land was King of Jerusalem In the mean time Foulques Rechin having had a Quarrel with his Brother Jeoffrey about sharing the Succession of their Father Foulques Nera the contest came to a Battle near Brochelac where Jeoffrey was overthrown and taken prisoner but took his being detain'd in Prison so hainously that for meer vexation he run mad Pope Gregory VII being inform'd how hardly Foulques had us'd his Brother and of the unlawfull Marriage which he had contracted with Bartrade excommunicated him Jeffery Martell who by this time was arriv'd to years of maturity taking advantage of the excommunication thunder'd out against his Father took Arms to revenge this Mothers Quarrel and set his Uncle at liberty Bertrade seeing her self so dangerously threatn'd by the ambitious Youth who was already become the head of a potent party sought which way to rid him out of the World and caus'd him to be poyson'd Pope Gregory being dead Foulques sent Embassadors to Vrban VI. who succeeded him to obtain his absolution offering to set his Brother at Liberty and to quit Bertrade Upon which the Pope empower'd Hugo Archbishop of Lion to take off the censure provided the Count perform'd what he had promis'd In the mean time Phillip coming to Tours to give Foulques a visit year 1093 and settle affairs between 'em in reference to the County of Gatinois which the Count had mortgag'd to him during the Wat with his Brother saw Bertrade who appear'd to him most charmingly beautiful notwithstanding those Clouds of sorrow that hung upon her countenance because her Husband was just going to put her away The King therefore having engag'd her to entrust him with the cause of her grief offer'd her his service and promis'd to marry her having under pretence of consanguinity vacated his Marriage with Bertha the Daughter of the Count of Frise whom he had banish'd to Montrevil upon the Sea Bertrade suffer'd her self to be surpriz'd with these alluring hopes and consented to be conveigh'd away by force The King thus satisfy'd after he and Bertrade had consulted upon the ways and means which way to effect their designe departed for Orleans and left behind him at Tours a Gentleman whose name was William Rechin to put the project in execution Bertrade and the Knight having conserted together how to manage the business she her self went to hear Mass at St. Martin's upon Easter-eve and after she had sent away the persons that attended her upon several errands slipt into a by Street where Rechin waited for her with two Horses She made choice of that which went most easily and being got a little way out of the City they met with laid Horses fresh and fresh every six Leagues and made such hast that before Night they reach'd Orleans where the King who had notice of every thing receiv'd 'em with those transports of joy that are hardly to be express'd He carry'd Bertrade to his Palace and by a thousand caresses endeavour'd to alleviate the Fatigues of her journey As for Foulques he did not much trouble himself for the loss of his Wife whom he lookt upon as an obstacle of his reconciliation with the holy See and finding himself well stricken in years he wholly gave off his debauchery Some time after Philip publickly espous'd Bertrade and caus'd her to be Crown'd with extraordinary magnificence He had two Sons by her Philip to whom he gave the Barony of Mang upon the Lâ—ire and whom he Marry'd to the Daughter of Gontier Lord of Montbery Henry who was design'd for the Church and a Daughter named Cecilia who was first marry'd to Tancrede Son of the Sister of Bremond Prince of Antiochia and after his death to Ponce the Son of Beritand Count of Tiral in Stiria descended from the Counts of Thoulouse However several Bishops who where present at the nuptials to which they were invited according to the custom of the Kingdom remonstrated to the King that the Church could not approve a Marriage directly contrary to all the Canons as well by reason of the proximity of Blood between him and Bertrade as for that Bertha was still living as well as Count Foulques But none of 'em took upon 'em to speak with more freedom then Yves Bishop of Chartres which exasperated the King to that degree that he caus'd him to be apprehended However in a short time after he releas'd him again at the sollicitation of the Clergy Pope Vrban VI. being inform'd of these disorders sent away on purpose a Legat into France who assembl'd a Council at Auâ—uâ— where it was decreed that Philip should be excomunicated But the Pope suspended the effect of the Decree till the next Year and then he thunder'd out his Anathema's against the King in the Council of Clermont The King terrifi'd with these censures parted from Bertrade for some time but he recall'd her shortly after by the consent of her Husband Foulques himself over whom she had so powerfull an ascendant that he sigh'd at her feet like the most passionate of Lovers The Popes Legats perceiving that the King had renewâ—d his crminal familiarity assembled another Councill
Daughter was sent away by that private conveyance during his Sickness Nor was he ignorant how prejudicial the conjunction of Bretagne to the Dominions of Spain would be to France which was the reason that without many more to do he resolv'd to cross a contrivance so dangerous notwithstanding he was assur'd that the Queen would never forgive him should the King happen to die of his Sickness Thereupon he stopt the Princess with most respectful protestations of his sorrow for being constrain'd to come to that extremity This action of the Marshal was commended by the King and all good French men and the Queen her self feign'd to applaud it however when the King was recover'd she made use of her credit to ruin that faithful subject Nevertheless she could not prevent the marriage of her Daughter with the Count of Angoulême because it was generally desir'd But it was such an inward vexation to her that sinking under the weight of her corroding anguish she dy'd in the thirty seven Year of her age 'T is true the King did not express that sorrow for her death as 't is thought he would have done considering the passion he had for her as long as she liv'd whither it were that his mind was taken up with his cares of the Wars of Italy or that the Queen's attempts against his authority had cool'd the heat of his Love However after that he liv'd such a reserv'd life that no body believ'd he would ever have thought of a third Marriage but the Duke of Longueville was the occasion of reviving that desire in him That Prince having rashly engag'd himself in a battle against the English year 1514 lost the battle of Spurs and became a prisoner to Henry VIII of England To repair this fault he undertook during his imprisonment to bring off that Prince from his confederacy with the Emperor nor did he find any great trouble to perswade him to it For thô he were very young he was very thrifty and he was a weary of paying the Emperours Troops who was extreamly poor and of furnishing him a hundred Crowns a day for his table There only wanted therefore a plausible pretence to break the Confederacy and there was not a better at that time to be found then a more strict alliance between France and England Henry VIII had a Sister whose beauty was a domestick mischief to him as we shall find in the sequel of this history She was born after another Daughter so much unprovided of the graces of the body that the King of Scotland had never marry'd her but because the King would not marry the youngest before the eldest The youngest being come of Age the Duke of Milan and several other Sovereign Princes sought her in vain because 't was not then the custom to marry the King's Daughter out of the Island This custome which had not been alter'd for four Ages together had infus'd into the young English Lords of the highest Quality a confidence to pretend to the Princess and the King gave way to it lest he should be accus'd of too much severity toward his Sister tho' he had no design to have marry'd her to any of his subjects for fear of drawing a civil War upon himself not unlike to those wherein several of his predecessors had miscarry'd Nevertheless in regard it is a difficult thing for a Woman to hold out any long time against Love when she makes it her business to allure the Princess of England after she had entangl'd in the snares of Love all those that could give any cause of jealousy to her Brother was her self smitten with one whom he had little reason to fear There was introduc'd into the Court of England a young English Gentleman whose name was Charles Brandon without any other recommendation then that of the King's Nurse whose Son he was He was extreamly handsome well proportion'd in his person and very active in all manner of exercises He had the air of a person of Quality and there was observ'd in him that sweetness of temper and that discretion that he was welcome into all societies and chiefly into the Ladies company who were altogether prevalent at Court The King took him for his second in all his matches at Tenis and made him the confident of all his most secret pleasures He conferr'd upon him the office of his chief Huntsman and lest his name should remind the Courtiers of the meaness of his Birth he caus'd him to assume the title of the Counts of Suffolk illustrious for the merit and quality of the persons who had born it for above two hundred years It is not certainly known whether this new title had convinc'd the Princess that she might bestow her affection without any dishonour upon the person whom the King her Brother had honour'd with it since the English Histories are full of presidents of several Earls of Suffolk that have pretended to the marriage of the Sisters and Daughters of their King 's or whether the Love which she already had for him had imprinted that Idea in her mind in his favour but it was observ'd that in a short time after the Princess lookt upon Suffolk with a more passionate glance then she was wont to do Nor wat it so much to be wonder'd at that the Earle should make her suitable returns with Eyes no less inflam'd and sparkling And the Courtiers in a little time were so us'd to it that they took little notice of it whether it were the custome at that time to love at well beneath as above their quality or whether it were that the Courtiers thought it not proper to be more concern'd about it then the King himself was who only laught at the business and made himself merry with the two lovers so soon as he discover'd their reciprocal affection Not that he approv'd it in the main or that he had so high a value for Suffolk as to make him his Brother in Law thô he had a greater kindness for him then for the rest of his Courtiers But he was in hopes to draw some advantage from the inequality of this Amour which he thought would exasperate the English Lords against her and cause 'em to desist from looking any more after her besides that he assur'd himself that he should be so much the master of his Sister and Suffolk that nothing should be acted between them two but by his consent This was the posture of the Court of England when the Duke of Longueville made a proposal as from himself of a match between the Princess and Lewis XII The King of England listen'd to him with those marks of respect and approbation which suficiently discover'd what he had in his Heart He was importun'd to bestow his Sister out of the way and he met with the most lucky means that Fortune ever could have offer'd him 'T is true he could not without some trouble to himself put an end to a War so advantageous to him
whether I have added or diminish'd in any thing choosing rather to omit some Circumstances then to repeat all her Follies For such is the real name that ought to be given to her jealousies and her Extravagant Amorous furies which began with Bonnivet and have continu'd ever since Who could ever have suspected the Daughter of one of the greatest and wisest King 's upon the Earth to have been guilty of so much unworthiness Nevertheless of a Queen she is become a Dutchess and of the Lawful Wife of a King of France a Passionate Lover of one of her meanest Officers But tho' she observes no measures in satisfying her inordinate desires she thinks to dazle the Eyes of the world by prophaneing the most August Mistery of our Religion Three times a Week she approaches the Holy Table with Lipps as much adulterated as her Heart with a Countenance daub'd with Black and Red and her Neck lay'd bare down to her Shouldâ—rs Her Dotage upon Pomeni was attributed to some Charm because she always wore between her Skin and her Shift a Blew Silk Purse hanging in a string from her Neck wherein was a Silver Box upon which several unknown Characters were Engrav'd She opend it in the Presence of some her Friends who saw her own Picture at one end and the Tinker's at the other She told them with Tears in her Eyes that she was never to open it but at such certain Times and to keep it till her death Nor is this the first time that extraordinary things of which we can give no true Reason have been ascrib'd to Supernatural Causes The same thing is reported of the Dutchess of Valentinois that she was only beholding to Magick for the great Ascendant which she had over Henry II. the Queen of Navarrs Father No body knows it better then this Lascivious Woman They who read these Heroick Actions of Hers for she will never want Historians will admire her obstinacy in Vice which neither Age nor the abatement of her Charmes nor the Affronts which she receiv'd could ever vanquish They will agree that so vertuous a Life ought to be enregister'd in the Temple of Paphos to serve as a Model to those who desire to enrol themselves in the Famous Corporation of the Daughters of Cyprus 'T is true that some there were who thinking she had the Purse and soul of a Queen Dedicated Books to her and in their Panegyries ascrib'd those Virtues to her which she never had But they had as good have let 'em alone for long Tradition far more like to last from Father to Son for many Ages will give 'em the lye and convince the world not only of their sordid flattery but their vile Imposture besides the reproach that they are like to undergo from those that shall read their Writings after their Decease But which was worse they did but labour in vain in this Life as being all of 'em frustrated of their great Hopes and Expectations for that never any body boast of her Liberality but all Men complain'd of her Ingratitude Her most favour'd Paramours were never enrich d with her presents and the Prisons are full of those that she has Ruind She has been sometimes seen to have been Prodigal of her Almes but never willingly paid her Debts she had always so little respect for Religion that she never was at a Sermon but she slept at Vespers but she talk'd all the while never at Mass without a Paramour by her side She gives away to my cost the Tenths of her Rents and Pensions to the next Monasteries but she detaines the Wages of her Servants and the price of the Goods which People trust her with for the support of her House-keeping She minds nothing but outward shew and Vanity but in her heart she has not the least Sence either of Honour or Piety I thought to have finish'd this Manifesto with a Description of her Inclinations but Bajomon stops me and enforces me to give him a dash of my Pencil This fellow the greatest sot that ever appear'd at Court was introduc d by Madam Danglure instructed by Madam Roland and Le Maire compleated the Polishing of him This Man she had made her Idol tho' He had been cuft by de Lone the Son of a Procter of Bourdeaux and she had taken care of his fortune to prevent his ending his days in an Hospital I shall not enter any farther into the particulars of their Amours there being nothing in 'em to be observ'd but what is base and below the honour of a Queen It behoves me now to draw the Curtain out of a remainder of value for her and so end this Story that I may not be tedious to the Reader I shall only pray to God to touch their hearts and shed down upon em his effectual Grace without which they can never hope to be recoverd from that blindness which now obscures their understandings Tho' we may well judge by this Manifesto that the King could not be refus'd the Divorce which he demanded yet in regard they are very slow at Rome in the dispatch of Affairs therefore the King to oblige the Countess of Beaufort to awaite the success of that Negotiation with more Patience he erected the Signioriy which bore that Name in a Dukedome and Peerage Sometime after this the new Dutchess became a fourth time quick with Child which encreas'd the King's Love for her and his Impatience to enjoy her under the Justifications of the Law For which reason he wrote very earnestly to Silleri not to omit any thing that might contribute to a quick dispatch of the Affair whe rewith he was intrusted year 1598 Tho' the King had utterly ruin'd the Party of the Leaguers yet the Duke of Mercoeur would not make his Accomodation but throwing himself into the Arms of the Spaniards he headed a Powerful Party in Bretaign where he propos'd to make himself Soveraign but most of his strong holds being reduc d he found there was no way for him to escape but by imploring the Kings Clemency Therefore to obtain his Pardon he had recourse to the Dutchess Beaufort who offer'd him her Protection provided he would give his Daughter to the Young Duke of Vendome her Eldest Son Thereupon the Duke of Mercoeur who expected a higher match for his Daughter sent Mary of Luxemburgh his Wife to Court with orders to offer His Majesty full power to dispose of his Daughter to what Prince he pleas'd in hopes by that Artifice to elude the Pretensions of the Dutchess but she was too cunning to fall into that Snare and prevail d with the King not to give eare to Madam de Mercoeur till the Marriage was concluded Which done she made the Dukes Accomodation who came to kiss the Kingâ—s Hands at Anger 's where the Cardinal de Joyeuse perform'd the Ceremony of Betrothing the Young Couple with great Pomp and Magnificence So soon as the Dutchess had so lay'd her design that she was in