Dutchess of Aqua Sparta the Duke of Poli's Daughter the said That if the Queen had no better a Method to obtain Authority then in her Uncle's being chose Pope she was much deceiv'd for mine Uncle said she will have enough to do to provide for so numerous a Family and such a multitude of Kindred As to the rest tho' the Incomes of the Duke of Poli were well paid and that he was in great Necessity yet he quitted the Queens Service some time before her Death upon a point of Honour The Queen took a fancy to declare the Marquis Del Monte her Grand Master and in this Quality would oblige all the Family to treat him with the Title of Excellence Cardinal Azzolini who had reasons not to displease her obey'd without Contradiction But tho' the Marquiss was of most Noblâ— Blood as his Sirname of Bourbon made it appear he never had this Title in Rome and the Duke of Poli having consulted the Duke de Bracciano the Constable Colonna and other Princes of Rome to know whether they thought it convenient he should give this Title to the Marquis Del Monte they were all against it and concluded they would keep no further Society with him if he gave the Title of Excellence to the Marquis This made the Duke resolve to desire his Conge of the Queen under pretext That his great Age of 75 Years oblig'd him to retire and prepare himself for Death And he had another reason as specious as the former for the Queen would have him give place to the Marquis Del Monte out of the Palace when they went with her abroad tho' she consented that the Duke should have the Preference within This Proposition being injurious to the Duke he chose rather to forsake her Service and retire as we have said Count Alibert Son to one of the Intendants of the House of Monsieur Gaston Duke of Orleance Uncle to the French King was Originally from Orleans 〈◊〉 born at Paris After his Father's Death he was sought after for some Miscarriages committed in his Charge but be was so nimble that he sav'd himself at Rome with above 50000 Livres in ready Money At first he had a magnificent Equipage for he prepar'd himself a Coach four Lacquies and a Valet de Chambre went with a fine Air and had the Ambition to play with great Lords and among others with the Princes of Brunswick at the Constable Colonna's and other Ladies and Gentlemen who tho' they often pluck'd away some of his Feathers yet he had enough to sustain himself still In the Carneval-time he had one of the proudest Chariots of all representing Mount Parnassus with Apollo and the Nine Muses which sung in Musick and this joyn'd with a Consort of Instruments made a fine Symphony He pass'd with this Magnificent Train before the Queens Palace and she came to know him by this means She permitted him afterwards in her Antichamber and had some consideration for him till at last she took him into her Service in Quality of Secretary of Embassies He was of a middle Stature and neither well nor ill made except that he was a little flat Nos'd a great Talker and spoke nothing to the purpose Sparkling enough but of no Solidity Intriguing and Curious but a little fearful full of Activity and made abundance of Motions which tended to no purpose When he would compose a Letter he sometimes did it well but it was after he had pillaged Balzac and Voiture He affected in his speaking to declaim and gesticulate like a Comedian and with all these fine Qualities he entertain'd the Queen every Day after Dinner for two or three hours She often corrected him but he suffer'd it very patiently and above all when he brought her the News of the Pope's Palace or the City which were often invented because he knew not what to say I remember one Day the Queen asking his Opinion of some black Laces which she had in her Hand demanded Whether they were not Violet color Yes Madam says he they are Violet You are a Sot saith the Queen they are a Dark Gray 'T is true Madam says the Count You 're a Beast says the Queen they are an obscure Blue That is the Term says he that I could not find out In fine he said what she would but after her Back was turn'd address'd himself to the Valet de Chambre and said What Folly is this But I must say as she does Another time having a mind to flatter the Queen upon the Whiteness of her Hands as she was washing with her Arms naked as high as her Elbow I must own Madam that your Skin is parfectly fine and very white 't is admirable for 't is all pure Nature and Art has no share in it Thou' rt a pleasant Jack F said she to speak to me after this manner Do'st thou think I am thy Wife that paints as low as her Breech He bore all these Reflections without Regret and she would often say to him Qui vive And would take Pleasure in making him deny his Country and to say Let France be Damn'd and even worse than that tho' he was always a good Frenchman in his Heart One Day he demeaned himself laying by his Cloak and took Nails and an Hammer to tack and untack a Picture against the Wall where being mounted upon a Chair which fell backward he had like to have broke his Neck All these Debasements of himself made the other Gentlemen of the Queens Chamber to have but a very low esteem of him till such time as being one Day in Her Majâ—sties Anti-Chamber speaking about the News of the War with Count Caprara whose Brother was in the Emperour's Service and had been engag'd in a Fight against the Viscount Turenne Caprara would needs prefer his Brother before this great Captain which Alibert could not suffer with Reason But one word drew in another till they came to gross Injuries and Count Caprara without respect of the Queens Palace or her Domesticks threatned to Battoon him and did it to the purpose The noise coming to the Queens Ears inftead of taking the Part of poor Alibert to enrage him the more applauded Count Caprara and told him that he ought to be serv'd so One Day as Count Alibert reasoned before the Queen in the Presence of the Messieurs de Vendome he said so many silly things that these Princes as they were going out said to their Governour Is it posfible that the Queen of Sueden who hath so much Wit should hear with Patience all the Fopperies which Alibert utters every Day in so troublesome a Manner The Queen knew very well they were nothing else but did it only for her Divertisement And it is impossible for a Man that talks two hours a Day without a Subject but he must be very impertinent After he had staid some Years in the Queens Service he had a mind to Marry and made choice of the Niece of
Night after having accompanied the Dutchess home the Count and the young Prince were at a Ball together all Night and pass'd the time very pleasantly Thus the Count comported himself in this new Intrigue which nevertheless he must quickly break off For the old Dutchess Dowager the Duke's Mother a very Severe Princess of great Vertue and admirable Conduct who was afraid any Body should speak to speak to her oblig'd the Count to retire by degrees though they shewed him great Respect This old Lady was Sister to Cardinal Cibo and so great an Enemy to all sorts of Intrigues that when she was young she broke the Skull of a pretty Girl with a Plate whom her Husband entertained and us'd to serve at the Table After which she retir'd into a Convent at Florence and there remain'd till her Husband's Death Afterwards she return'd to Rome to her Sons where she took care to see every body live in order and according to their several Duties The Count had other Amorous Intrigues besides those already mention'd with which I am not willing to tire the Reader but however we may say something perhaps in another place if an occasion present it self I shall make an end of this Article with the telling you That after the Death of Pope Alexander VIII he was made one of the Knights of Honour to Pope Innocent XI where he subsists by the Pope's Bounty and a Pension of 500 Crowns which the Queen left him for his Life payable by the Heirs of Cardinal Azzolini But the Count is not now the same he was heretofore for having renounc'd the Vanities of the World he practiseth great Devotion and lives a very Exemplary Life and worthy of a true Christian Since we have begun to note the Characters of the Queen 's Principal Officers who have so great a part in her History it will not be amiss to see here the Portraicture of the Duke of Poli who made the finest Figure with this Princess next to Cardinal Azzolini and afterwards we shall speak a word or two concerning Count d' Alibert whom she honour'd with her Confidence tho' she did not much esteem him at first The Duke of Poli was of the Family of Conti which is one of the Noblest and most Ancient in Rome out of which there has been Eleven Popes He was a big Man very gross whose Age made him grow stooping He was certainly a Lord of Merit full of Honour and incorruptible Probity reserv'd in Discourse and Phlegmatick to the uttermost point He would always say that every thing was brought to pass with Patience He was as severe as Cato and as to his Oeconomy it would have been call'd sparing in another who had not been charg'd with so great a number of Children Pope Alexander VII propos'd him to the Queen to be her Major-Domo or First Gentleman of her Chamber and she accepted it so much the more readily because she was ambitious of having one of the First Gentlemen of Rome in her Service He behav'd himself there with a great deal of Prudence but he could not forbear to testifie his Displeasure when he saw things done disorderly He was ador'd by all the Queen's Officers and respected as much as her self because of his Probity Crown'd Heads did much look upon him and their Ambassadors came to visit him not so much for his Birth as the Esteem they had for his Person He had the good Fortune to marry his Eldest Son who had been one of the Queens Pages with the Sister of the Constable Colonna Widow to the Duke de Bazianello This Alliance did much displease the Constable who cross'd it as much as he could but could not prevent it The Widow was indow'd in Fifteen Thousand Crowns in Rent and the Duke suppos'd that both the Goods and Estate would come into his Family with the augmentation of her Dowry because she had no Children by her first Husband But she was happier in this second Marriage for she had a fair Lineage from the Duke the Guadagnoli The Profits the Queen gave to the Duke of Poli were great She paid the Hire of his Palace which was near the Queens and she kept three Coaches and Liveries for him This joyn'd to the number of Priviledges Exemptions Rights of Entries and 180 Crowns per Month made him up 4000 Crowns per Annum comprising therein 600 Crowns for the Dutchess of Poli who was first Lady of Honour to the Queen tho' she very seldom perform'd her Function For besides that Her Majesty had other Ladies and Damsels she had so little inclination for her Sex at least in the beginning that Women were seldom seen with her and when she went abroad she had never any follow'd her So that the Dutchess of Poli went only to the Queen at good Feasts to receive Ambassadors Princesses and Nieces of Popes that came to visit Her Majesty As for other Roman Princesses and Dutchesses as the Queen could give them nothing but a Cushion without transgressing the Law of Ceremonies So they never came to see her because they pretended to greater Honours The other Visits which the Queen receiv'd were from Ambassadors and Cardinals who when they came to Rome were obliged first to visit the Pope next St. Peter's Church afterwards the Dean and Cardinals and immediately after the Queen and if they made any other Visit before she would not give them Audience She came to the Top of the Stairs to receive Ambassadors Cardinals Princesses Ambassadresses and concucted them back again to the same place and sent her Gentlemen to accompany them to their Coaches but she came to the Bottom of the Stairs to receive the Pope and conducted him back again also For all the four Popes which Reign'd in her time came very often to visit her and she kept a Chamber for them alone and seated them under a Cloath of State embroidered with Gold She visited also the Pope and never fail'd twice a Year to wit at the Nativity of our Saviour and St. Peter's Day The Duke of Poli had a Brother a Cardinal who is yet living and called Cardinal Conti he was Bishop of Ancona and made his ordinary Residence there and as he was in a Possibility of being Pope the Queen was very glad to be in the Interests of that Family that she might obtain some Credit under his Pontificate in case he happen'd to be chose This Incomparable Queen who pretended to surpass all the World one Day as the Cardinal took leave of her to enter into the Conclave after the Death of Innocent IX Embraced him and said Monsieur Cardinal Remember Queen Christina if you become Pope as I believe you will The Cardinal smil'd at this Discourse and said He was her very humble Servant without any such hopes but in what Estate soever God should put him he would always remember the Obligations that both himself and all his Family had to her This Discourse being reported to the
cut the Harness of her Coach and gave her many Blows on the Face speaking all the Vile and most Infamous Things that could be said to Common Whores Poor La Mosea who was in the Coach with her thought she should have died for fear Fani suffer'd her self to be thus abused and did nothing but cry but the Spectators were like Stocks immoveable at the Sight of the Tragedy for there was never any Example before of so criminal an Insolence So the Pope who was a great Enemy to these Scandals caus'd them both to be Arrested and would have sent the Marquiss to the Castle of St. Angelo if he could have got him out of the Queens Quarter But at last Cardinal Colonna did remonstrate to the Pope that the two Sisters being Widows were not oblig'd to live with the same Circumspection as if their Husbands were living The good Prince Belleville employ'd all his Interest to obtain her Liberty believing that after so publick an Affront she would have broke entirely with him But he was very much mistaken for she was no sooner out of Hold but she immediately fled into the Queens Quarter who receiv'd her very well and was mightily overjoy'd she had got this Celebrated Fani who was every where talk'd of as one of the most perfect and exact Beauties She kept her continually afterwards till in the Young Marquiss's Absence who was sent into Sweden the Father got her sent away and would not permit her to return any more After the Departure of the Duke of Mantua and the Death of the Prince Colâ—â—bier the old Marquiss who ought to have retir'd by reason of his great Age begun to make Love more than ever The Marquiss Cincinnatus who drew his Nobility from the antient Romans of this famous Name as 't is thought but whose Riches did not answer his Quality had Married one of the finest Women of Italy who was of mean Birth but Rich and though she had brought him many Children had not yet lost that lustre which sparkled in all her Person Her Stature was of a middle size but slender her Complexion fine and united her Eyes Mouth and Teeth in a rare Perfection and besides had a Wit that was lively pleasant and agreeable The Marquiss who had a numerous Family upon his Hands had a mind to enter into the Queens Service in Quality of a Gentleman of her Chamber which was easie for him to obtain by the Credit of the Marquiss Del Monte who procur'd it more for his Wifes sake than his own The Tye that was between the two Marquisses being now both in the Queens Service gave Barbon a free access to the Fair Riga Wife to Cocles for so was Cincinnatus called because he had but a short sight The Queen that knew all that pass'd for Barbon to divert her told her all his good Fortune said speaking of Cocles That he had an happy ignorance of what was done at his House for his short sight hinder'd him from seeing many things which otherwise would terribly vex him He seem'd to do what he could not understand when himself was spoken of and yet he was perpetually at the Queens where he pass'd his time in telling of News with the other Courtiers The Marquiss Del Monte was so charmed with his Mistress the Fair Riga that he resolv'd from henceforward to fix all his Love upon her so that he did all that he could to make himself agreeable he spent more than ordinary Regal'd his Mistress often took care to inform himself in the New Modes that he might bring her News of it and was very liberal towards the Ladies Domesticks and others who assisted him in his Amour And whereas when he was threescore Years of Age he endeavour'd to support his Vigour by Art But one Day being more than ordinarily heated he slept upon his Mistresses Bed till Dinner time and as it happen'd the Abbot Cincinnatus the Marquisses his Brother came in unawares without being perceiv'd and saluting his Fair Sister was extreamly surpriz'd to see Barbon sleeping upon the Bed He demanded of the Fair Riga from whence this Sottishness proceeded She presently answer'd That the Marquiss being come to see Cincinnatus was taken with a Faintness which oblig'd him to lie upon the Bed That 's all Trifle reply'd the Abbot 't is you have put him out of Breath Riga fell into Tears and answer'd Alas Monsieur I hope you will not kill him No Madam answer'd the Prelate you will much oblige me to kill him your self The Marquiss awak'd with the Noise and being much surprised to find himself in such a place with so good Company said in his own excuse That he came thither to seek for Cincinnatus from the Queen and being taken with a Faintness and Stupidity of Brain he was constrain'd to lay himself down upon the first Bed he found This Prelate who was very wise and did not think it convenient to make a noise of it left the Guilty to their Remorse and pretended to change the Discourse but could not hinder himself from saying Marquiss have a care of your self and manage it so with her that you remember you are no more Young Reflect upon what I have said and turn it as you please And so being a little more pleasant he retir'd but Riga all in confusion shut her self up in her Closet and the Marquiss went away in all haste In the mean time the Pope was perfectly oppressed with the Complaints daily made of the Disorders committed in the Franchises and particularly in the Queens Quarter He lamented that he was the only Sovereign that could not be Master of his Capital City and could not hinder the greatest Disorders This at last confirm'd him in the Resolution to execute the Design he had long before conceived of abolishing these Franchises of Quarters and he did it a while after with a Courage that was not to be shaken He was always of this Mind that it would put Tranquility and Calmness among Families honest and fair Dealing into Trade and Commerce and would make the City secure And it is so true that the fear of Punishment is necessary to Mankind and Nature without Grace so corrupt that the hope of Impunity carries Men on insensibly to commit the greatest Crimes 'T is certain that if this Affair had been well brought about it would have Immortaliz'd the Pope who began the Enterprise In truth he had all the Zeal that was necessary upon such an occasion but being encompassed by People who were declar'd Enemies to a Crown he ought to have the greatest respect for he was carried on to those Excesses that everlastingly sullied the high Reputation which he had acquir'd by his Innocence and Holy Life But before we enter into a Discussion of his great Affair where the Queen had a considerable share we must make an end of the History of the Marquiss Del Monte. In the time the Queen united her Interests with those of the
this Habit which you see makes me think of some things of great Consequence and I believe it will serve me in a little time in one of the greatest Functions that can be but Sybil thou art not able to Divine what Function this should be Pardon me Madam answer'd she looking attentively on the Queen your Majesty thinks this Habit will serve Shall I speak it Madam Yes saith the Queen The thought afflicts me saith Sybil Your Majesty thinks you shall be Buried in this Habit in a little time And I saith the Marquiss interrupting hastily believe the Queen thinks it will serve her to wish the Pope an happy New Year in Sybil has spoke the Truth replied the Queen that was it I thought on but we must put all into the Hand of God for we are all Mortal and I as well as another The Taylor to divert this sorrowful Discourse addressing himself to the Queen said Will your Majesty have a Cover made for this Habit Why a Cover great Beast says the Queen To keep it twenty Years and above saith the Taylor For if it be design'd for the use your Majesty speaks you must take care the Worms do not eat it She fell a Laughing and was well pleas'd with the Repartee After some Discourse of this nature they separated and the Marquiss grumbled at Sybil for her ill Augury You mistake quoth Sybil I have not foretold the Queen's Death I only found out her Thought This odd Apprehension did so possess the Queen's Mind that the Taylor Congratulating her upon the recovery of her Health as others did said Madam the Habit is the Cover and may if it please God be so a long time God grant it says the Queen but I am of Opinion it will serve me ere long for the use I believe 't is design'd This thought made too strong an Impression upon her Spirits to believe the Sybil Divin'd it meerly by chance It is strange says the Marquiss Caponi your Majesty should think so much upon the words of a Fool And will your Majesty be always abus'd Cardinal Azzolini coming in he desir'd him to assist to take off the ill Impressions the Queen had receiv'd which he endeavouring to do the Queen seem'd to believe only for this reason that he might no farther trouble her Head about it The Cardinal meeting the Sybil afterwards gave her a smart Reprimand for entertaining the Queen with Melancholy Visions But she excus'd her self That she had done nothing with an ill intent That she wish'd not the Queen's Death for her own sake for said she there will no body loose more than my self for I foresee the Crosses and Persecutions that will happen to me God preserve us for your Eminence will not be long after the Queen when God shall call her Azzolini who heard the first words of the Sybil without Emotion was troubled at the last and turn'd his Back all in Confusion She repented that she had said so much for her Predictions were but too true whether it were that she was effectually Inspir'd from Heaven or Chance and Conjecture that made her to advance things I know not but the Event confirm'd them She had also told the Queen that the Pope would die the same Year in the Canicular days and he Deceas'd the 13th of August next following He was inform'd of these Predictions of the Sybil and was so displeas'd that as soon as ever the Queen's Eyes were clos'd he caus'd her to be taken up and Imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo where she remain'd till her dying-day She said something also of Alexander VIII but he changed her Prison into a Conservatory where she consum'd and pin'd away for Grief At a time when the Queen did not think of Death she had a mind to Bespeak a magnificent Tomb. She sent for for her Graver called Francis Marie Anconitano and order'd divers Models without telling him of any Place where it should be set up The Graver being busie and not having his Measures ready to extend his Figures and Bas Reliefs there the Queen was forc'd to tell him she would have it made round like the Pantheon of Agrippa in old time At the same time she forbad him to speak a Syllable to any Person about it but above all enjoyn'd him that Cardinal Azzolini should know nothing of it However the thing was so long in Agitation that Cardinal Azzolini came to know of it and was affrighted at the vast Expence of bringing it to Perfection but however durst say nothing of it to the Queen This had pleasant Consequences for when the Intrigue came to be known the Graver was turn'd off though he represented to her Majesty that he could not make his Models with so much caution but that Cardinal Azzolini might get an inkling of it The Queen having ask'd him what the Expence of the whole might amount to he told her ingenuously that an hundred thousand Crowns would not finish it You 're a Rogue said she to him an hundred thousand Crowns I would spend a Milion upon 't The Cardinal hearing this fell a Laughing knowing that all her Estate did not amount to half a Million And after all she was poorly Interr'd in a Cave of the Sacrasty of St. Peter This shews the Genius of the Queen who would do every thing extraordinary and with the Magnificence due to her Character But finally it must be said in Praise of this Generous Princess that she died with an Intrepidity worthy of the Daughter of the Great Gustavus Adolphus Her Relapse having taken from her all hope of Cure she very early took care of her Soul She Confess'd with great Sentiments of Contrition and receiv'd the Holy Sacrament with profound respect and unspeakable Comfort Finding her Strength to diminish she sent to desire the Pope's Benediction praying him to forgive all the Differences that had been between them which yet had not hinder'd her from being inviolably fixt to the Interests of the Holy See and that she had always a great respect and esteem for the Person of Innocent 11th Afterwards she Sign'd her last Will and Testament and presented it to Cardinal Azzolini which he told her was advantagious to her Majesty's Houshold though he made it only according to his own Interest Father Sclavata a famous Discalceat Bohemian Carmelite exhorted her to prepare for Death sometimes speaking Latin and sometimes German or French At last the Queen Died April 19th 1689 at Six of the Clock in the Morning and her Body was carried next day towards Night to the New Church of the Fathers of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri being Embalm'd and Cloath'd in the same Habit which was design'd for her Funeral Solemnity It was carried in a Coach accompanied by the Cardinals Chaplains and the Curate of St. Dorothy's Parish The day following the Queens Body was expos'd upon a Bed of Parade with a Royal Crown upon her Head and a Scepter in her Hand in the Body of the