moment They went out of the great rode crossing the Fields by little by-paths that were very much about and made their journey much longer than the way they quitted had done but as ill luck would have it they met with what they avoided and fell into the snare they took such pains to avoid They rested at night in a Village a little way off St Saviour without making themselves known to their host hoping to continue their way towards Alexandria very early in the Morning but they were deceived as the Proverb sayes He that reckons without his Host must reckon twice For it was scarce two hours within night when there arrived twelve Spanish Cavaliers perhaps the Host himself had been their Spie who pretending to be French-men assaulted the Inne where our amorous Pilgrims were lodg'd These enemies came with so great a noise one would have thought they had been the whole French army the poor Earl who had accompanied his sisters not having been accustomed to the noises of War and such kind of assaults as that being afraid of his life got up all trembling to the highest Garret of the house to hide himself thinking the very Flyes were Horses and believing every Horse was a compleat Army of the enemies In the mean time these two Countesses disguiz'd like men were not yet got into bed and staid still in the Chamber almost in despair yet the Countess Lovize rais'd her self a little out of her Fear when she heard them speak French having been us'd to men of that Nation though in quality of Friends and not enemies were those she had formerly convers'd with which these Souldiers pretended not to be These brave Cavaliers were not much troubled to find out that these assieged persons were Females and not Males as their habits spoke them and it was the better for the Ladies that it was so because that after they had given them the divertizement of a two hours siege they went away betimes in the Morning to seek some other fortune and left our Fair guests at Liberty without suffering any damage from them at all unless it were some few kisses which they were oblig'd to give them and some other little rudenesses they offer'd them which need not be explain'd to the Reader The Countess Margaret was not a little mortified to be surprized by such an assault as this but on the contrary the Countess Lovize was over-joyed in having gain'd the affection of those besiegers and had diverted her self with those Counterfeit enemies as may very well be imagin'd They went on their journey early in the Morning towards Alexandria although the Earl their brother advis'd them to return to Casal Certainly these illustrious travellers wanted Conduct to trust themselves in a journey without any train in the time of war and in a Countrey that swarm'd with Souldiers not being ignorant that the enemies rang'd every where even to the very Gates of Casal two causes nevertheless excus'd them Love and Curiosity for in effect there was nothing but the Love of the Countess Margaret to her Gallant and the dishonest curiosity of the Countess Louize her Sister which made them hazard that little honour they had left For certainly if they would have demanded a Convoy for their safety they should not have been deny'd it but who is ignorant that Love is blind and alwayes in hast The Countess Margaret intended to relate this rencounter to the Duke but her Brother and sister thought it not very convenient least it might give some jealous trouble to that sick Lover and therefore this past under Silence At last being come to their Journeys end into the Dukes presence who was in Bed they did not trouble themselves with great Preamble and Ceremonies nor to keep him in long discourses but their first conversation was Embraces with all imaginable tenderness which she gave to this poor sick man who return'd the same to his Mistress whose heart was pierc'd with griefe although the Room was fill'd with many Captains and some of the principal of the Army The Countess scarce had begun her Caresses to the Duke but he seem'd much amended and so much that he lookt like one that never had been Sick and also all that day he had no Feaver which made it believed that the Countess had brought some Antidote with her to drive away the Sickness of her Lover The General of the Neapolitan Cavalry who was by the Duke when this Beauty enter'd the Chamber taking leave presently of his Highness in going to the Dore said to one of his Friends who was in the Company We may very well take leave now and go our wayes for the Duke will be no more for us Almost all the Commanders of the Army did nothing but grumble in the Camp at the Countesses coming thither believing that as long as the Duke had this Woman with him he would forget his duty But for all that they found themselves happily deceiv'd because the Duke recover'd as he was though perhaps not altogether cur'd by the sight of the Countess gave himself up in good earnest to the exercise of his Charge It was a strange amazing sight to see this Prince ride round about his Camp on Horseback with his Mistress giving the necessary Orders to his Army where he did wonders that being his first time of Appearance in the Field so that there was very few persons that did refuse him the Honour he had Merited of delivering Alexandria he knew so well how to make his Advantages of time and place that the Besieged became in a little time besiegers themselves and fill'd with extreame feares those who had been the most likely as Enemies as Besiegers to have given a mortal apprehension to his whole Army The Duke forbore not for all this to give the best part of his time to his Amours with the Countess his Ague being turn'd to a Tertian which gave him some respit but this alteration made it the more dangerous And since these Ladies had not brought with them Cloaths sutable to their Sex they presently sent away an express to furnish them it being very unpleasant to the Duke to see her who possest his heart under any habit but her own not at all caring to see her drest like a Man as well in the Chamber as in the Camp whither he often carry'd her As for what belong'd to the vertue of the Countess Louize she lost not one hour of the day by idleness her great pleasure being to receive the Visits of the Chief Commanders in that Army amongst whom she pass'd her time with such satisfaction that she often lost her self so that it was impossible for her Sister to find her it being certain that she had above half a dozen Favourites who fai'd not to content her to their power and for that reason a certain Florentine Gentleman who as well as the greatest Commanders had received from the Countess Louize some Favours told a Comrade of his
That he found the Whores of Casal very obliging The Newes of the Arrival of this Lady into the Camp and of the Liberty which she afforded every one to offer her their Service as well as the goodness she had shew'd to that Commander we mention'd before quickly spread it self into the French Camp so that it afforded the best sport in the World and there was a person who discoursing with the Duke of Modena of this Fair Curtisan said in derision of her Li Frances Fanno Le Puttane egli spagnoli le godono The French create the Whores and the Spaniards injoy them This he said in reflection upon her first Gallantry with the French Monsieur which I have already told you of In fine The French Army rais'd the Siege from before Alexandria in the night the 16th of August after they had besieged it three Moneths and they dislodg'd themselves with so little noise and so secretly that their Enemies themselves that were round about them perceived it not until morning after the Sun was up and that from the Town Walls there was no Tents nor any thing else to be seen The News was presently carryed to the Duke who was yet in Bed with his Goddess he expressed no small displeasure of this unexpected depart of his Enemies chiefly having resolved to give them Battel the day following believing the Victory would certainly have been his if he could have once dsiputed it with them So as soon as he was up he went to visit the Batteries that the French had made against the Town having no body in his company but his Countess her Sister the Countess Louize being gone in other Company they staid nine dayes at Alexandria and in the evening of the last day the Duke went away accompanied by some of the chief Commanders amongst the Spaniards and after he had given the necessary Orders for the conservation of that place and recommended the care of the Army to his Lieutenant he return'd to Casal with his Lady The joy of his arrival at Casal was Celebrated that Town indeavouring to shew him all the Honour imaginable in acknowledgment that they lookt upon him as the Deliverer of a place of that importance but after all those Feasts were kept with much modesty The greatest pleasure of the Duke was to pass the best and greatest part of the day in going here and there with the Countess thinking no moâ—e of the Army than of any thing else to the great astonishmâ—nt of all the World who could not enough admire how a Man could be â—o much devoted to the love of that Woman for he was quite contrary to other men who love change and often turn their backs not only to Whores but even to their Wives after they have Marry'd them My dear Reader I believe thou very well understandest me and that it is not necessary I should explain my self further and therefore I will only tell thee That this Prince the more he injoy'd his Well-Beloved the more his desire was kindled towards her and in the Mornings whâ—n he rose out of bed he was moâ—e pâ—ssionately in Love with her then at night when he went to bed to this Countâ—ss the Fire of his Amorous passion was te-kindled at those times that otheâ—s make use of for their repose From that time the â—uke fail'd not one day of that Summer to Vâ—sit his Countess at her own house and when they were alone they made no scruple to pull off their Cloaths and go to Bed together without any more Complements The one as if he were a Prince without a Principality the other as if she were one of those Curtizans of Rome that are alwayes in their Smockes waiting for their Braves And although the Duke did often force himself to give Audience to all the World that came to his Court yet it was in such a way it was easily seen that he did it with Chagrin and against his mind and carry'd himself like an extravagant and it is not hard for me to believe it since that all his thoughts his soul and heart breath'd nothing else but his love of the Countess But for to give more convincing Proofes of this and to assure the whole World and chiefly his own Subjects that the Countess was absolutely his and possest all his Affections he appointed her two Men for Guards who wore the same Livery of his own Footmen with order to follow this Lady whereever she went and to Guard her House night and day this so publick testimony of the Dukes love made her be respected and more esteem'd than ever and also fear'd by every one so much it would have been lookt upon as Sacriledge to have given her the least displeasure or discontent and there were at that time four persons condemn'd to Banishment for having their Tongues a little too long and had talk'd too lewdly against this beloved Lady There was also another had the like ill Fortune but he rather out of Raillery then for any thing else hearing the Barrenness of the Countess talk'd on who had no Children neither by her Husband nor the Duke began to laugh and said Che non Faceva Fancialli Perche voleva esser troppo seminata This poor Babler carry'd not his words to Purgatory for they put him in Prison for some dayes and he had staid there longer but for the Intercession of that person whom he chiefly had offended by his words and was not inclin'd to Revenge although what had been said had not much pleas'd her Certainly that Lady deserv'd the affections of so great a Prince very much being adorn'd with all the advantagious qualities which she possess'd she had a way of speaking so gentle and so attractive that she captivated all hearts and oblig'd them to love her I do not mean here of her extraordinary and charming way with which she caressed the Duke having no expressions capable to describe them but she was inclin'd to oblige every body so it were not to injure her self nor as one may say pick her own pocket for in that case she had no memory being like other women who are sparing not to say covetous Pride never set his foot in her Carriage but on the contrary the more she saw her self in the Princes Favour the more did the desire in her increase to Speak Familiarly with all People and to converse modestly with every one The Balls Feasts and Recreations of taking the Air alwayes took up her thoughts and her minde went no further then those noble Divertisements and nevertheless when she chanc'd to meet the Duke in any place she express'd a carelesness of all things else besides the pleasing sight of his person which she esteem'd above all Anger nor Vanity never transported her and if sometimes she had occasion to Chide the Servants of her House she did it without those transports so ordinary to other Ladies and also those Cloaths she had so rich above the other Ladies of her
yet withal that he should not fail to let the goodness of the Pope be known and to excuse him to the Duke if they came so far as to Ecclesiastical Censures against his Person This Father went from Rome with this Order drawing towards Mantua but in passing by Bologne he communicated all these Orders he had receiv'd from His Holiness to the Superior of a Convent of his Order in that Town and asking his Counsel How he should Act in an Affair of so great Importance they consult together and both concluded That it would be better to stay for the opportunity of the Dukes being at Casal to the end that he might have the convenience of assaulting both their Hearts together our Capuchin followed this advice and in stead of continuing on his way for Mantua drew towards Casal where he arrived two dayes sooner then the Duke who came thither with the greatest part of the Court. This Capuchin being then arrived at Casal discover'd to almost the whole Convent the occasion of his Voyage and pray'd them to joyn their Prayers to his to obtain from God a favourable success in so difficult and dangerous an enterprise but that policy of his succeeded very ill contrary to his wishes because the plot being discover'd the Noise of the Subject of his Voyage to Casal was spread through the whole Town so that he was discover'd before the Duke gave him the Hearing but at last his Highness coming also to be inform'd forbid every body to suffer this Capuchin to come near his Person and not permit him to enter in any place where he was which this poor Father perceiving despairing of acquitting himself of his Commission and the more because he was told That the Duke was going suddenly to Mantua he thought it necessary to take his Journey to Rome following the Advice given him by the Lord Miroglio himself All the World had great respect for this proceeding of the Court of Rome and so much the more because it had imploy'd those of the Order of Capuchins which is in great veneration in Italy nevertheless that hindred not the Duke and the Countess to mock at all they did to stifle their Love which became greater and greater making the Proverb good That privation begets Apetite because the more they saw themselves molested upon the Subject of their Amours the more it inflam'd in them the desire to do all things that could contribute in any sort to their Delights and what pleas'd them The Duke was inform'd of all they said at Rome touching his Love to the Countess and in truth they spoke of it with too much scorn making Libels and Satyrs extreamly piquant against his Person also in return they spared neither the Cardinals nor the Pope himself in the Court of Mantua though the Duke did what he could to silence them like a good Prince as he was for his greatest Vice was that Adultery so great was his respect to the Holy Chair he would not suffer them in his presence to speak any thing against the Heads of the Church however his Courtiers being not of his humour it was not in his power to make them hold their peace therefore their insolence grew to that height that there was seen at Rome some Libels in which they Challeng'd the Inhabitants of that Noble City to come to Mantua to let them see they would revenge the Affront they pretended to have received from them But it is now time for us to visit his Highness in his Tent to see in what condition his Love is now he is turn'd a Soldier The good Fortune of the French had been so prosperous till then that they had carryed their Victorious Armes beyond Flanders Catalonia and Roussillon and though they had not as yet begun to shew themselves of that side of Caracene towards Milan yet they took the way to be Masters of Italy to which that Nation ardently aspires The Enemies beat the Field and rang'd sometimes on one side and then of another upon the Banks of the River Tesino with so much Liberty they seem'd to be absolute Masters they were commanded by the Duke of Modene one of the great Captains of our time and he was accompanyed with as many Captains as he had Soldiers that is to say they were the Valientest Warriours in the World for in truth at that time the French were so esteem'd But the Spaniards perceiving themselves not in a condition to oppose those Invincible Conquerors and that the Affaires went but too ill in Lombardy addressed themselves to the Emperour desiring him to assist them in the Defence of a place which was so considerable in the Empire this Monarch granted their requests the more willingly in regard of his own interest there as well as that of the House of Austria and indeed he made it appear that the Empire was interessed in it doing upon that account all in his power and joyning with those of that House with whom he enter'd into a very strict League to prevent the Duchy of Mantua from falling into other hands The Duke Charles was to that end nominated Vicar of the Empire and they gave him to that purpose the Command of an Army that he joyning with the Spaniards might stop the Progress of the French Arms in Lombardy In the mean time the French thought fit in their Councel of War to lay Siege to Alexandria one of the strongest Towns in the Duchy and although this place was very well Mann'd and defended this resolution nevertheless gave much apprehension to the Spaniards since it was a place of such consequence to any that could possess themselves of it and for that reason the Duke Charles thought himself oblig'd in Duty to go himself in Person to assist a place so important to the repose of all Italy after they had then order'd all things necessary for the succour of Alexandria he gave Order for the March of his Army he parted to that end from Millan where he had been Incognito to speak with the Ministers of Spain not on purpose but to take an occasion of passing from Mantua to Montferrat and by that means to go to Casal to visit his Countess who impatiently expected him As soon as he saw her he express'd his kindness in an extraordinary manner to her having been absent from her 15 dayes so that it was impossible for any to snatch this Prince out of the Arms of that beauty in 2 dayes notwithstanding all the Remonstrances of those which were sent to him from the Army who exhorted him to come in all haste to the relief of Alexandria which was going infallibly to be lost if there were not some kind of Succour sent immediately to it The Countess had taken a resolution of putting her self in the Habit of a Man and to follow the Duke wheresoever he went and although the Duke seem'd to consent to it at first yet he thought it not very convenient in the end and therefore she
saw her self necessitated to remain at Casal having obtain'd a promise from her Lover That every day she should receive from him an Account of his health and the progress of his Highness with that of his Army This Prince parted from Casal then the fourth of August accompanied with his Countess who went with him in his Coach above three Miles and also by an excess of Gallantry heâ— Brother drove the Coach till they came to a certain Village where they stopt to take leave of his Highness who drawing apart his Well-beloved was sometime in conversation with her but not satisfied with that and what he had injoy'd of her company all the way they enter'd into a Peasants house hard by that place were they were together a full hour to the great heart-breaking of all the World who waited for them in the Street although in the mean while the Countesses Brother invented all he could imagine to divert the Company After these two Lovers had given their adiews to each other having finished all their Ceremonies in the Chamber of that good poor Country-mans house they went out and being yet not able to separate for good and all they staid at the door talking together toying and fooling with one another and also to make Love half an hour longer whil'st in the mean time there arrived a Post from the Marquiss of Faensaldagnia Goverâ—our of Milan who earnestly desir'd his Highness That he would hasten his depart to the Army where they impatiently waited for him having absolute need of his presence who ever had seen the Duke and his Countess so strictly imbrac'd would have thought they were never to meet again and if a Gentleman a great friend of the Dukes had not confidently told his Highness that the night came on apace and that it was not safe for him to enter in the dark into a Countrey that was the rendezvous of the enemy I believe the Duke and his Countess would have staid a good while longer in that place which yet was not a very convenient one to make love in In fine after that these two Lovers had given some tears to their future absence they took leave of one another She returning to Casal and the Duke marching towards Alexandria where the Army staid for him and where the Spaniards Council of War was held to consult upon the way to secure that place so considerable to their State and which they already believed out of their power The Marquess of Faensaldagnia had commanded an apartement for the Duke to be made ready in a Palace a mile from Alexandria about which was encamped the Imperial and Spanish Army as being a very advantagious Post to trouble the enemy who had no defence from their shot and were blockt up between the Town and the River The Duke was scarce arrived but finding that Air unwholsome for him and being very much heated by the journey he was presently seiz'd by a Feaver which obliged him to go to bed but that which added to his trouble was to see himself in a Countrey so prejudicial to his health and where he could not have those things fit for his cure with that diligence which his disease required Tortona being distant from him two miles and that was the neerest Town wherein there were Apothecaries Two things begun to trouble his mind and raise his spleen and melancholly The one was that such a misfortune happened to him in the First time of his life that he had appear'd in the field fearing it would oblige him to return to Casal without the glory of having done any thing to shew his courage but that which was his greatest heart-breaking was That he fancied the Spaniards would believe him a Coward under which notion he should pass for such through all those Countries not being able to imagine they would be so civil to lay all the fault upon his Feaver which really was the cause but would rather believe it a fair pretence of the Dukes to hide his cowardly heart The second thing which so tormented him was To see himself alone and deprived of the service of his Countess as he had been formerly he resolved to keep his bed notwithstanding and stay in that Palace which they had provided for him because he would not loose the sight of the Spaniards who came to visit him whilst his Feaver thus perplext him and advised with him of the means the most fit to enterprize something upon the enemy This sickness of the Dukes was not carried so close but that it came to the ears of the Countess who was not a little troubled at it and as I believe it was his Highness that advertised her of it being confident that she would not fail to come to him as soon as she receiv'd that news It was that which the Duke desired with greatest passion for being without his Mistress he was without his heart as he himself assur'd her brother who writ word of it to the Countess by the express command of the Duke As soon as the news of the Dukes sickness arrived at Casal the Countess was so afflicted that one would have thought she had no life left and although they did what they could to perswade her his disease was not great nor dangerous she nevertheless grieved very much but she grew desperate when she was inform'd that the French Army were so much up and down the Countrey that it was dangerous travelling between Casal and Alexandria whither she would go notwithstanding accompanied with onely very few on Foot through by-waâ—es with intention to serve as Physitian to this Amorous sick man she sent out a Scout before her journey to be perfectly inform'd of the march of the enemies that so she might the better chuse what way to take She was uncertain in her resolutions in what habit to travel in whether that of her own sex or of a man fearful of being known if she should make that journey in her ordinary dress but having ask'd Counsel of her Governour in that affair he advised her to go with very few in her company and to disguise her self like a man The resolution for parting then being taken after the Scout she sent was return'd which was the same day that the Duke himself had inform'd her of his being ill she discover'd her design to the Countess Lovize her sister a little before she went this Countess Lovize having formerly travell'd as a man with a Frenchman whom I spoke of before who was her Gallant offer'd her self now to accompany her sister in the same posture The Countess Magaret received this offer of her sisters very willingly and was the more inclined to it by perceiving they two were so much of a humour as to matter of journeys as well as other things so away they went very late in the evening accompanied onely with their younger brother and one man to avoid the encounter of the French who costed up and down the Countrey every