and so to come my way I thought there was more mystery in all this than there was occasion for and that it was only to make proof of my Fidelity or to render his management of affairs more valuable for its secrecy However it was I spent two years in such sort of businesses in which time there were many Plots at Court to remove him from the Ministry but all to no purpose In the mean time having writ to the Curate as well as to my Father to inform me if any thing happen'd in their Country that I might beg for him there came now an Express to me from him to tell me that a small Abbey of about four thousand Franks per annum was become vacant I immediately begg'd it of the Cardinal and he granted it me at the first word but wou'd needs know who it was I begg'd it for My Lord said I for our Curate who taught me to read and to whom I told your Eminence I had so many obligations And why not for one of your Brothers said he I think you told me you had several and they needy enough 'T is true my Lord said I but as Providence has done by me I am oblig'd to prefer my Gratitude before even my natural affection thus your Eminence can judge if after all the obligations I have to you I ought not to serve you above all the world We shall see that reply'd the Cardinal smiling and may chance to put you to the tryal sooner than you think of I was just going to answer him again when the Prince of Conde came into the room which made me spoil my Compliment to help him to a Chair He made but a short visit and the Cardinal waiting on him to the Chamber-door spy'd Monsieur De Charrost who was but an inconsiderable person then but one who we have seen since Captain of the Guards du Corps Governour of Calais Duke and Peer of France The Cardinal had a mortal aversion to him so that he was no sooner stept back into his Chamber but he order'd me to call the Captain of his Guard whom he gave a strict charge at any rate to rid him of that piece of Impertinence and that he should order the Guards to deny him entrance The Captain of the Guard askt him if he should turn him out of the Anti-chamber I don't say so says the Cardinal but that you should keep him out for the future This Order being known all over the house in a moment every body turn'd their backs upon the poor Gentleman and were as shye of him as if he had had the Plague I know not whether he apprehended any thing but he took no notice of it and staid three long hours in the Antichamber The Cardinal who had a mind to go out sent me to see if he was there still and having told him that he was he chose rather to stay in his Chamber than expose himself to his Compliment The next day Charrost came to the door again and offering to come in as usual the Guards thrust him away and he asking to speak with their Captain the Captain order'd them to tell him he was not within he besieg'd the house thus two days before he could see the Cardinal but on the third day he put himself just in his way as he went to Mass The Guards routed him again and would let him stand quietly no where whereupon he leapt up into a Nich that was design'd to set a Statue in and when the Cardinal came by My Lord said he your Guards have refus'd me entrance at your Gate but if you shut me out at your Door I 'll come in at the Window The Cardinal could not forbear laughing to see him stand so like an Image and finding him so very zealous to him he was ever after very kind to him Monsieur de Charrost having thus gain'd admission continu'd to make his court to him very diligently without asking any thing tho he had need enough the Cardinal was oblig'd the more at that for he was always pleas'd if he saw himself lov'd without a principle of Interest and would do the more for any person for not being importun'd In the mean while an opportunity offer'd so happily for him that now was his time to make use of the Cardinals favour wherefore waiting to find him in a good humour he comes briskly to him one day If I durst my Lord said he I would ask your Eminence to help me to 200000 Crowns without one farthing charge either to the King or your self How then Charrost reply'd the Cardinal smiling To Marry me my Lord with your own hand return'd Charrost I have found out a Fortune and if your Eminence will but speak a word for me my business is done If it stops only there said the Cardinal you may reckon it done indeed He threw himself at his feet and embrac'd his knees in token of thankfulness telling him that all he desir'd of him was to send and demand Madamoiselle Lescalopier for him The Cardinal did it to the astonishment of all people who knew that he never car'd to meddle in such sort of things The Relations of the Lady could not refuse a man of his Authority so Charrost having got such a Fortune was in a condition to buy some considerable place and the Cardinal who never suffer'd any body to be near the King but such as were his own Creatures and wholly at his service treated for him to be Captain of the Guards du Corps In the mean time I got my little Abbey as I said before and sent the Bulls all Perfum'd to the Curate which wrought these two different effects that he was like to dye with Joy and my Father and Mother-in-law with sorrow They came all to Paris the Curate to give me thanks and acknowledge my kindness and they to load me with a thousand reproaches They askt me If I was not asham'd to provide for strangers when my own Brothers had so much occasion but at last when they had vented their passion they began to talk at another rate and sell to perswading me to beg another Abbey of the Cardinal I told them it was not my fault they had not this but this was not the way at Court for 't was not always a fit time to ask and the certain way to get nothing was to be always begging That if the Cardinal had been so kind to me being but his Page I hop'd to be more in his favour when I was in a better condition to serve him that I was not without natural affections tho I had no great reason for it but that I should always consider what my honour oblig'd me to without calling to mind any of my just resentments and with these sort of hopes I appeas'd them I had no sooner clear'd my hands of them but I had all our Province about me thinking because I had gotten this Abbey for our Curate I could not
but be very prodigal of my favours to them all some of them came from the very further end of Berry whom I had never seen nor heard of â—eizing me every hour with their Genealogy making it out very plainly that they were my Cousins in the third degree and therefore hop'd I would use my Interest to procure them some preferment I made short with them and told them I had as good a will to serve them as any man in the world but it was not in my power which they might easily see for that I had got nothing yet for my Brothers who being in the first degree 't was but reasonable should be first regarded and that then I had some Relations in the second Degree who pretended to some priviledge before them that when I had preferr'd them all then they might depend upon me that I should do them all the service I could They understood me well enough and so getting rid of them they left me in quiet At last the happy hour was come which I had so long wisht for when I should lay down the office of a Page with which I was never very well pleas'd the Cardinal gave me two hundred Pistoles to buy me Clothes and told me I should be one of his Gentlemen I had hopes now he would have done some great thing for me however I did not continue long idle but went over into England and into Scotland with Letters written in Cyphers and those Countries being in Arms I was seiz'd by a Party of the King of England's Army whom I was as much afraid of as of those of the Parliaments They immediately searcht me but found nothing about me for I had put my Letters into my Post-horses Saddle the Plates of which I had made on purpose at Paris being of double Iron contriv'd to hold the Letters in the inside and unless they broke them they did nothing They ransackt the very Pummels of the Saddle but to no purpose for they could not find my Packet Then they askt me whence I came whither I was going and a thousand impertinent questions and I answer'd them all as I found proper being prepar'd to meet with such like interruptions telling them I was a young Gentleman that was travelling But this gave them the more suspicion finding my Equipage did not agree with the Character I gave my self so they stopt me four or five days at which I was very uneasie for I carry'd along with me if I am not very much mistaken business of no small consequence such as if I should be discovered with I knew my fate but what comforted me was that my Letters were perfect Magick and written in such a character that the Devil could not have read them They had no regular Alphabet as is customary in such cases but the same stroke or dash would signify twenty different words that it was impossible but for them that had the key to make any thing of it as for example you must know it was agreed that one stroke should signify an entire word of a Line in St. Austin and to know which it was the figure of the Page was put under the stroke and the number of the line and the number of the word in the line and to make it the plainer the mark or stroke was to be the first letter of the word As to explain it suppose the word was Have and that this word was to be found in the 10th Page of St. Austin the 10th line the 5th word in the line the cypher would have been thus This being so contriv'd I leave any one to judge if 't was possible without conjuring to have found out my Errand and yet I trembled every joynt of me for I knew if they found out my Letters the more difficulty they had in discovering the Contents the worse I might expect to be handled by them But it being my good fortune not only to secure my Packet but also that they believ'd me too young to be capable of such sort of Negotiations they let me go and I deliver'd my dispatches and return'd safe with an answer I was very well paid for this Journey for I had an order to the Financier for two thousand Crowns and one of the Pay-masters demanding a consideration of me for prompt payment was turn'd out of his place upon my complaint to the Cardinal I know not whether the Genius of the English Subject to take up Arms on every light occasion or this Voyage of mine wrought the effects that follow'd but those three Kingdoms who as I said were disturb'd before immediately upon this broke out into confusion insomuch that the King of England who had given us no great marks of his good will in several cases found his hands so full at home that there was no great fear of his being troublesom to us And what makes me think we had a deeper hand in this affair than others is something that happen'd to me three months after my return being one morning as I seldom mist at the Cardinals Leveâ— he whisper'd me and bid me go to the Fauxbourg St. Marceau over against the Conduit to the sign of a Woman without a Head and to go up two pair of stairs where I should find a man lying on a Bed with yellow Curtains whom I should order to be at Madam D' Eguillons at Eleven a Clock at night without fail I deliver'd my message immediately and being not forbidden to see this mans face as in other cases I call'd to mind that I had seen him in Scotland and I believe he knew me too for I observ'd that he lookt earnestly at me as if he would have recollected who I was we neither of us said any thing of what we thought only that he told me he would not fail the appointment At the time aforesaid I was order'd to stay for him at the door to introduce him into the Cardinals Closet he came disguis'd like one that crys Wafers in the Streets and I hearing a man cry Wafers was far enough from imagining that 't was he but he knowing me and discovering himself I brought him to the Cardinal with whom he was shut up till four a clock the next morning all the Cardinals men had orders to go home which gave further occasion to the talk that was made of him and of his Neice Madam D. Eguillon no body imagining he had any business to keep him there all night but to lye with her besides they had taken out the Keys that they might go out when they pleas'd and this made the Ladys Servants be as forward as any in the report I don't say this to affirm that there was no privacies between them but to shew as I said that all the times he staid there were not the effects of an Amour The conference being over my Wafer-merchant comes out of the Closet at the door whereof I had waited by the Cardinals order his Eminence made me lend
for I was so far from having any symptoms of one that was poison'd that it never so much as made me sick I had newly begun to go to Confession and therefore could not conceal it from the Curate who chid me severely laying before me the heinousness of the sin and charg'd me to ask God forgiveness and made me promise him never to do so any more without first telling him of it The cruelty of my Mother-in-law and the unkindness of my Father not only continuing but encreasing truly I ev'n resolv'd to run away and so waiting for an opportunity I told the Curate my intention who told me I was fit for nothing at that age being but eight years old and therefore perswaded me to bear a little longer till I was fit to go into the Army but that being a long time I told him resolutely that I neither could nor would endure it He finding that unless I was prevented I should quickly be gone acquaints my Father with it who seeming not to believe it told him he should not trouble him self about me but let me go if I would the Curate seeing him so unnatural could not forbear weeping and taking me in his arms entreated me once more to have a little patience but finding it impossible to shake my resolution he pull'd out of his Pocket two Crowns and gave them to me telling me that he was sensible I should want them and was sorry he was not in a condition to assist me better so praying God to bless me told me I was always to remember that I was born a Gentleman which oblig'd me to suffer a thousand deaths rather than to do a base action or any thing unworthy of my quality My design was to find out Monsieur de Marillac from whom I had already receiv'd so much kindness but there happening at that time to be a Troop of Gypsies in our Village I fell in with them and asking them if they would take me with them they told me with all their hearts if I were able to travel This was enough to make me one of the Gang and having left our house without taking leave of any body and soon forgetting the good advice of the Curate I began that very day like a true Gypsie to steal all the Cocks and Hens I could lay my hands on not regarding that it was but at my Fathers door and that all the Farmers thereabouts were his Tenants Thus I went on without giving my self leave to think what I was doing and every one having got his booty they were to bring it to the Captain who seeing me have six or seven Fowls for my share gave me a dram of the Bottle and told the rest what a hopeful beginning I had made and that in time I should make a brave fellow we feasted that Night at the expence of the Country and as liberty is sweetest to those who have been under constraint I thought my self in Heaven in comparison of the life I liv'd before I led this wretched sort of Life almost five years in which time we traverst not only all over France but many other Countries at last a small misfortune befalling us only that some of our Society chanc'd to be hang'd we were forc'd to take refuge in our Native Country so we return'd into France through the Province of Burgundy and taking the Road to Dijon we came into the Country of Lyonne and from thence into Dauphine and so into Languedoc till at last we came to the County of Foix Here we thought our selves secure for the Country being Mountainous would the better shelter us we fancy'd from the Peasants if we found them so uncivil as to resent our Thieveries but we had taken wrong measures and they were too cunning for us for the very first Night while we were all scatter'd here and there after our Game they came upon us and plundred our Baggage this happen'd to us by the neglect of those we had left to look after it who foolishly running after some Fowls left on purpose by the Peasants to draw them from their charge they who had plac'd themselves in Ambuscade surpriz'd our Camp and ruin'd our whole Army and to add to our misfortune they had penn'd up all their Fowls so that tho we came back very much fatigu'd we were forc'd to take up our Lodging on the hard ground and without our Supper This Life began to grow irksom to me at last tho I was pleas'd with it a while when I knew no better for as my understanding encreast I began to be asham'd of my self remembring my Birth and what that requir'd of me I cry'd often by my self and finding no body to consult with I was sensible of the want of good advice at last calling to mind what the Curate had said to me at my coming away I seriously askt my self Is this the Life of a Gentleman This thought which had not so much as once came into my head before made such an impression upon me that I resolv'd to desert and being sent abroad as usual I took that opportunity to get away so making to the Mountains of Capsi I entred Rousillon by Ville Franche as I went I saw on my right hand Canigout one of the highest of the Pyrenees on the top of which is a Lake with abundance of very good Fish but that which is most strange is that if one throw a stone into it it presently falls a raining I askt the people thereabouts the reason but they could not tell me I had hitherto kept the Curates two Crowns in my Pocket and they did me special service at this juncture My design was to list my self in the first Company of Souldiers I could meet with and did not question but I should be entertain'd for they did not measure Souldiers by inches in those days My Gypsies complexion made me pass among the Spaniards for a Native of the Country and tho we had War with Spain at that time yet they neither stopt me at Perpignan nor at Salses at last I got to Locates which was our Frontier on that side and listed in the Governours Company who was Monsieur De St. Aunais There was not a Party made out against the Garrison of Salses but I would be one and having learnt a little Spanish I fancy'd that looking so like a Spaniard I might have an advantage one time or other to do something that might distinguish my self for I must needs say I began to despise the life of a common Souldier and Ambition was so got into my Crown tho but 15 years old that I could not sleep quietly for dreaming of great things I askt leave however of Monsieur De St. Aunais and he gave it me but seeing me come home always and nothing done Souldier said he you don't do well a Man should rather lose his Ears than do as you do we may see our Enemies when we will but he that asks leave to
reply'd he but in short what business have you with the Count de Soissons and what are you two plotting together I saw by these words I was betraid and that nothing but telling the truth could save me My Lord said I if I did not give you an account of that it was not to make a secret of it but your Eminence having chid me I thought 't was enongh to do my duty without making my court to you from the merit of my answer to the Count de Soissons he sent to me indeed to entertain me in his service but if those who told your Eminâ—nce that story had also told you what return I made 't would have been so much to my advantage as would effectually have re-establisht me in your favour I know all says the Cardinal to me hastily to terrify me and if you would have me to pardon you you must confess the whole matter freely I ask no Pardon my Lord said I but to do me Justice only I told him that I had too good a Master to think of changing him and I will always say so as long as your Eminence will please to accept of my service Then you have nothing else to say return'd the Cardinal very seriously Well take heed you will repent it before it be long I said to him all that an innocent man could say but as he still doubted the truth of it he continu'd eight whole days without taking any notice of me in which time he employ'd La Ferâ—é to discover how it was La Ferté did all he could but understanding 't was one Mezieres had spoke to me who was a man very faithful to his Master and from whom he had no hopes to learn the secret he try'd if he could pump it out of the Prince himself he told him that I was a gallant Fellow and behav'd my self so at Locates and had been very faithful ever since I belong'd to the Cardinal but that the Cardinal had us'd me very ill and I had reason for some resentment that this was the time for him to gain over such a man into his service who was worth having and if he pleas'd he would attempt it The Count de Soissons who was a man without artifice or disguise told him 't would be in vain that Mezieres had spoke to me already but there was nothing to be done with me This restor'd me to the Cardinals good opinion but not to any capacity to relieve Mr. de Marillac on the other hand the Cardinal was resolv'd to cut him off the more to despight the Queen Mother who was always forming Parties against him and whereas the pretences on which he apprehended him were too weak he came upon him for false Musters a fault that every Captain in the Army is more or less guilty of And indeed what General can be safe if he is answerable for all the actions of his Subalterns 'T was on such a slight matter as this that the Cardinal begun the ruine of so great a person and having gotten a Court Martial of his own Creatures they question'd him on a thousand trifling stories that as a very worthy Gentleman said if they had been all true were not crimes sufficient to have whipt a Page and he answer'd them Article by Article so readily and so directly as puzzled all his Judges But the Cardinal who saw them wavering sending them word they should take heed what they did the fear they had upon them of his displeasure made them pass the sentence he desired for they condemn'd him to have his Head cut off which was executed the same Afternoon in the Placé de Grâ—ves Knowing the nicety of his humour I askt his Eminence if he would give me leave to put my self into Mourning he told me I might do what I would which I understood too well to venture upon it A month or two after this a match was propos'd to me which seem'd to be much for my interest the Cardinal also was very much for it but not for any reason he saw in the thing so much as for the aversion he had to the Count de Soissons and the Lady was Niece and Heir to the Baron de Coupet a sworn Enemy to that Family Indeed that Prince who carry'd it very high had sent the Captain of his Guards one day to abuse a Baron in his own house on pretence that he had spoken dishonourably of a certain Lady whom he had a respect for This occasion'd a great deal of disturbance all the Gentry who thought themselves toucht in such an affront to a person of Quality were got together an account of it being sent to them by the Baron de Coupet and they all agreed that his Dignity secur'd him from his resentment but yet they resolv'd that from that time forward they would universally slight him and not one of them come into his company and that whoever he was that should break this agreement should not be lookt upon as a person of honour This resolution was exactly observ'd and the Prince who had some friends and some creatures found himself at once abandon'd by them all he did all he could to regain the good opinion of the Nobility but finding that not one of â—hem would so much as see him he su'd for the Command of the Army and the Enemy being at that time advanc'd as far as Corbie the Ban and Arrierban was to be rais'd which he thought to be â— fit occasion for his purpose He was prodigious extravagant keeping twelve Tables of five and twenty Dishes for all comeâ—s caressing every body offering Money to several and sending it to others whom he believ'd in want By which means he recover'd the Friendship of most of them But the Relations and Friends of the Baron de Coupet would never forgive him and as they breath'd out nothing but revenge or at least pretended it they cast their eyes upon me in the proposal of this Marriage hoping by that means to be protected by the Cardinal they obtain'd it at first word and the Cardinal told me I could not do better I was surpriz'd at the motion I that had neither Estate nor Employment at least considerable enough to expect a fortune and at the same time mistrusting something in the bottom the sad example of my Father made me resolve to go fair and softly In the mean time I saw the young Lady who was really very agreeable but a little too free for the very second time I saw her she was pleas'd to tell me that being already as it were Man and Wife if she did give me those little liberties I might desire I should not construe it to her prejudice This was enough for me I could understand the rest and these words made me examine her more nearly and I fancy'd she lookt a little big upon which I grew cold in my Courtship all of a sudden It seems I was not deceiv'd for it was even
this I spoke of it with some Passion to the Master of Requests but finding I was not likely to get any Satisfaction from him I went to make my complaint to the Chancellour Seguier who promis'd to do me Justice He continued but three days in that Mind for after Mazarin had spoke to him he never regarded his Word and though I gave my constant Attendance on him every day I made no Progress in my Business In the mean time Money began to grow scarce and I was forc'd to borrow of those Friends who were inclin'd to pity my condition My Father I had often writ to on that account but receiv'd no answer and might have starv'd if all the World had been like him I was advis'd to Petition the Queen-Mother a Princess of a very compassionate Nature and who only was not belov'd by the Parisians because they did not know her I begg'd her therefore that she would be pleas'd to order the Chancellor and Sollicitor to do me Justice and to hasten the Tryal of my Cause but 't was my misfortune that that Princess committed all things to Cardinal Mazarin from whom you may be sure as he was a party concerned I had little reason to expect any Favour It far'd with me at that time as with all in Misery I was forsaken by those I had the most depended on and after I had two or three Months longer sollicited in vain I was reduced to such extream Poverty that I was ashamed of my self and knowing not where to hide my head my last Refuge was to go to my Father's in hopes after what I had done for his Family he could not deny me some small Relief when he should see me suing for it in another manner than what I had done in my Letters I scarce had wherewithal to carry me down and 't would certainly have mov'd any one to see a Man who was lately in such Splendor forc'd to starve himself for fear of wanting Money on the Road. When I light at the Door the old Servants of the Family who had seen my Grandeur and saw me now could not believe their own Eyes but my Father and Mother-in-Law could not help knowing me or they were willing enough else to forget me for though I found them at Table when I came in they hardly had the civility to make me sit down and when I did the most of my Entertainment at Supper was the Reproaches they made me for my extravagance which had brought me into this condition How strange a thing is this Misery that the Mind as well as the Body should sink under its oppression I was so dejected that I knew not what to say for my self and but I that sigh'd at every word they spoke I seemed to have lost both Life and Sence After this Welcome the first day I would not have stay'd another in the House if I had known whither to have gone for alas my old Friend the Curate had been dead above two Years and Heaven it self seem'd to conspire to load me with Misfortunes Tho I bore them all as well as I was able and endeavouring to bring my Father to Reason I sounded him to find how he stood affected to lend me some small matter to carry me back again to Paris I told him mine was a plain case that they could not always deny me Justice and 't would not be long before Cardinal Mazarin would be weary and cease persecuting me if it were only to be free from the Complaints I should make against him I told him abundance of other things to make him sensible that his Money would not be thrown away and that I intended to repay him but â—e all in a Fury interrupting me Why surely then says he you take me for one that is easily to be bubbled but you are mistaken Sir go banter somebody else with your shaâ— Stories I know the reason well enough why your Money is stopt and pity the poor Creditors you rail at as they are not only like to lose their Due but as they have to do with a Fellow of such wicked Principles These words made me so desperate but that I reflected on the Sin I was going to commit I had certainly stabb'd my self at the very instant yet I could not forbear using a thousand Reproaches and though I knew well enough what my Respect oblig'd me to yet I did and said many things which were not so decent to be done to ones Father He took occasion from this 't was either he or my Mother-in-Law to forbid me their Table and to put me out of all doubt there comes up one of the Servants about Ten in the Morning and spreads me a Napkin on the Table in my own Chamber and acquaints me with their Pleasure tho' the Cloth was laid so early it was not till after they had din'd that I had any thing brought me to eat and then I had the honour to share in their Scraps with the Servants But what madded me above all was to see how great my Brothers liv'd particularly the Abbot who grew so wealthy there was none in all the Country as he fancied that could compare with him He kept two or three packs of Dogs two Huntsmen five or six good Horses and yet never was the Man that once invited me to hunt with him though he ow'd all his Greatness to my means 'T is but meer Railery to say that any one dies of Grief for if 't were true I could never have outliv'd mine At last after I had liv'd there three Months in this manner and not being able to endure the ill treatment I met with I resolved to return to Paris Much ado I had to squeeze from my Father Money enough to bear the Charges of my Journey but I was not got above two Leagues on my way before he that was his present Curate overtook me and brought me ten Pistoles telling me that he had a good while intended to present me with them but being in the Hands of one of his Friends he could not have them before adding that his Predecessor was oblig'd to me as he had been to his Predecessor so begg'd me to accept of them and wish'd he could have commanded more for my sake I had receiv'd in my Life many considerable Summs from the Cardinal but I profess I never was so sensible of his Liberalities as of the kindness of this poor Curate I told him therefore that I heartily accepted of his Present and if Heaven should favour me with an opportunity I would give him proof of my Gratitude for not to dissemble with him but to tell him plainly how things stood I was in such necessity that without this seasonable relief of his I must have certainly starv'd After a great many Compliments on both sides we parted and I kept on my way to Paris When I came there I found the Civil War ready to break out again The Prince de Conde was gone to
St. Maur upon a false Alarm with a Troop of Attendants little inferior to the Kings This Prince who had done Cardinal Mazarin so much Service as I have mention'd was in requital confin'd to a severe imprisonment out of which being escap'd by meer good fortune he continu'd so apprehensive of the like usage that he never rested from the thoughts and contrivances of War being instigated by a great many People that hated Mazarin If I had been in the Equipage I cou'd have wisht my self 't wou'd not have been long before I wou'd have waited on him and offer'd him my humble Service but being now in a condition so fâ—r different from what I had appear'd in I was forc'd to content my self only with making Prayers and Wishes for the success of his Designs In the mean time the Parliament began again to make Decrees against Mazarin so that he was forc'â— to fly the Kingdom to avoid the fury of the common People who all cry'd out to have him remov'd Observing therefore so favourable an opportunity I presented my Petition to the Court of Judicature in which I declar'd the state of my Case and what injustice I had suffer'd for a long while and I had this relief by it that notwithstanding the Cause was depending in the Council my Adversaries were order'd to be heard before this Court. Upon this no body appear'd and I obtain'd a Judgment against the Pay-master General who was oblig'd to disburst me the Money which he had before taken for his own with giving him a full discharge for it He durst do no otherwise for fear I should have set an ill name upon him and have made him pass for another Mazarin which was a Character at that time sufficient to have a mans brains knockt out especially at Paris where the Populace hated the very Name of him I receiv'd then all at once a good Sum which I had no sooner done but I sent twenty Pistoles of it to our Curate ten for the Principal and as many more for the Interest The removal of the Cardinal was all this while nothing but a sham to amuse the People for he had still as much authority in the Council as if he had been present there Every one was disturb'd at this but especially the Prince de Conde who had a strong Party in the Parliament and was favour'd by the People For his Reputation that was founded on so many Glorious Victories which he had obtain'd gain'd him those who had only heard of them as well as those who had been witnesses of such great Actions He pretended as I said fear of the like usage which he had met with but the real motive was to advance his own Greatness as was evident by his Conduct For at the same time that he appear'd irreconcileable to Mazarin he treated with him under hand and if he cou'd have brought him to his Demands he wou'd not only have suffer'd the Cardinal to return but wou'd have been ready to offer him his Friendship 'T is not known certainly what broke off the Treaty unless 't was that the Ambition of that Prince tormenting him continually he made new Demands every day still as the other granted the old ones But this I am inform'd from good hands that the Cardinal sent often to tell him that he shou'd have whatever he requir'd and that the Troubles which happen'd presently afterwards were purely owing to the Prince de Conde If I were dispos'd to give a particular account of all the Actions of the War I cou'd do it as well as another but that being the business of an Historian more than of one that writes Memoirs I shall content my self with telling you only this that after a great many Messages backwards and forwards to no effect they both had recourse to Arms. The Prince de Conde who had several places of strength in his hands sent some of his Creatures to all of them to provide all things necessary in case of a Seige and especially to Montrond which was in the Heart of France and at that time held to be impregnable My resentment wou'd not let me stand Neuter in this War so I joyn'd my self to the Duke de Beaufort who was now reconcil'd to the Prince de Conde thro the Interposition of the Duke of Orleans after so violent an Enmity that nothing would serve their turns but the immediate death of one or the other Now you must know that the Duke of Orleans was wholly rul'd by the Cardinal de Retz the Duke de Rohan and Monsieur Chavigny and these three persons having their several Interests to recommend they had often hinder'd the Peace from being concluded when the Duke himself might have done it as he pleas'd since the Prince de Conde who had declar'd for him durst not have oppos'd him Cardinal Mazarin who was come to Court again seeing himself on the brink of so many Troubles was resolv'd to make his last effort to prevent them to give the Duke of Orleans and the Prince de Conde all the satisfaction they cou'd desire provided they did not insist too much on the Terms of their Adherents He desir'd the Prince de Conde to send him one of his Friends whom he had a confidence in but that he shou'd be one who was never known to have been employ'd in any of their former Negotiations that their Treaty might not be suspected by them whose Interest it was that they should not agree The Prince de Conde chose out one of his own Gentlemen to send on this Errand to whom he deliver'd his Demands in writing with order to tell the Cardinal that it wou'd be to no purpose to consider a longer time on them for he wou'd never be brought to any lower conditions This was a hard Chapter for the Cardinal who had nothing now to choose but Peace or War but one seeming much more eligible than the other he sign'd the Treaty telling the Gentleman that there being several things in it which requir'd some time before they cou'd be perform'd he begg'd the Prince de Conde to desire the Duke of Orleans whose Interest was not forgotten to conceal them from his Lady because the Cardinal de Retis the Duke de Rohan and Chavigny who had so great an influence over her wou'd certainly hear of it and never rest till they had broke the Treaty If the Prince de Conde had follow'd this advice he had without doubt prevented abundance of mischief but fancying the Cardinal started this scruple only to appear more mysterious in his Conduct he comes publickly with an excess of Joy and Gaity crying aloud at a good distance to the Duke of Orleans We have trapp'd the old Fox at last and have got him fast in a Noose Here my Lord says he delivering him the Treaty is your Demands and for what concerns me in it I am very well content The Duke shewing it to his Lady she immediately communicates it to the
was wanted immediately at Paris about some business of consequence so I took my leave of this Traytor without taking notice of any thing and it pleasing God that I should not continue long uncertain whether my suspicion was well or ill grounded it happen'd that a Souldier whom my Valet had carry'd to drink with him on purpose to pump him told him that I was much in the right of it to go away for I had scap'd a scowring he could not get a word more out of him tho he prest him to speak plâ—iner but as this was enough to make me judge of the person I was no sooner on Horseback but I told him I should remember him as long as I liv'd and that at another time I would tell him more he stood mute at these words and not giving him time to justifie himself I clapt Spurs to my Horse and got so far from him that if he had said any thing 't was impossible for me to hear him In the mean time all that I had told him came to pass Monsieur de Tonecharante having been inform'd of his rudeness gave the dismiss to the Souldier without him and not content with giving him this affront he resolv'd to have him casheer'd the first minute he could get an opportunity The thing was difficult to be done at that time it being not then as 't is now that the Collonels were absolute Masters of their Regiments for on the other hand the King was in want of Officers and accordingly was more chary of them than it has been since Indeed they did not come in such crouds for Commissions in those days nor were not so prodigal either of their Estates or of their Lives so that Monsieur de Tonecharante tho he had resolv'd to do his utmost to throw him out found it impossible to bring it to pass till the Peace of the Pyrennes but now the time being come that there was not so much need of Souldiers and the King making a reform among his Troops he manag'd it so that he got his name into the List of those that were to be disbanded tho it was a little out of the order for he was the fifth or sixth Captain of the Regiment and the reform us'd to begin at the youngest Desplanches could not bear this affront without making his complaint which the Count de Toncherante had foreseen and had been beforehand with him having waited upon the King and given him a large account of his behaviour which was not only brutish but something worse for he was grown to that height that sacred things were not free from his violence when he was in drink and he would speak either of God or the the King in the same terms as he did the worst of his Enemies For all this he had the Impudence to go to the King and having pleaded the merit of his service how he had been several years in the Army had always kept his Company full and had never been charg'd with any failure of his duty that he had an Estate of his own and did not serve meerly for his Pay and a thousand things to the same effect The King after he had given him Audience with a great deal of patience answer'd him coldly that he knew all this as well as himself and that since he had been so faithful to him he had done this to give him leisure to serve God as regularly as he had serv'd him and tho he did not expect him to be a Saint yet he would not have him be impious that he had been inform'd from very good hands that he had pist in the Holy Water Pot in contempt of that sacred Element and of all Religion that he did not know how it came to pass he was not prosecuted for it and but that he understood at the same time he was in drink he should perhaps have repented coming to him else Desplanches who knew in his heart the King had tax'd him with nothing but what was true insisted no more upon it but went out with shame enough and retir'd himself altogether to the Country and never stirr'd out of it but once that he came to Paris to marry the Daughter of Monsieur de Brillac Councellor of the great Chamber but this Lady neither being not able to cure him of his Debauchery he kill'd himself with drinking in about five or six years I had resolv'd at my last parting with him to demand satisfaction from him for the Treachery he had us'd towards me but having given the Cardinal an account of the whole matter he prohibited me so strictly that I durst not think of it In the mean time he sent me to Brussels upon a secret affair which I must not reveal and in which I could not succeed The Prince de Conde was still at the Spanish Court and it happen'd while I was there that Monsieur de Beauvais was kill'd he was Father to the Countess de Soissons and Master of the Horse to the Prince he was a Man of Courage but â—ad too good a conceit of himself which was the cause of his misfortune for as he was coming down from the Prince de Conde'â— Lodging he met a Gentleman coming up and takes him by the arm at the top of the stairs with â—uch sorce that he threw him down and walkt over him himself The Gentleman would not so much as ask him the meaning of it then from the respect he ow'd to the Place but going out immediately he gets a Friend and sends him to Beauvais to demand satisfaction of him for this affront Beauvais was not a man that us'd to refuse any body so having brought a Friend with him to be his Second they fought it out two and two of a side one of his Enemies was quite kill'd upon the place but he was never the better for this short liv'd advantage for he receiv'd a Pistol Bullet in his head of which he dy'd in a few days The Prince of Conde being inform'd of this accident went to see him before he dy'd and as he saw there was no hopes of his life he told him that seeing the condition he was in he ought to leave all other thoughts but those of his soul that he had kept a certain Lady a long time by whom he had had several Children one of which was the present Countess de Soissons but was never marry'd to her that he advis'd him to discharge his conscience which he might do by making her his Wife that he knew not how to show his friendship more to him than by advising him for his good and that if he would be rul'd by him he would go and send for a Priest immediately Beauvais had lost all his sences and had not spoke a word in four and twenty hours but the Prince's voice or rather the discourse he made to him reviving him No my Lord said he raising his voice I shall not be rul'd by you I
of this War The Viscount de Turenne who foresaw what would happen told the King that 't would not be always thus and that if he did not proceed more vigorously he would find himself in an error The King had a great confidence in Monsieur de Turenne but the Marquis de Louvois who to speak properly had indeed the direction of the Army had no sooner discourst the King about it but his Majesty quite alter'd his mind so that Turenne finding he could do nothing with the King by his advices having not the good fortune to be believ'd let them take their own course without troubling himself about them In the mean time I had my Office of Aid du Camp which was easy enough to me and when I thought least of it they were pleas'd to change my quality and mistake me for a General coming to me for Certificates The Duke de Longueville had a great many Gentlemen in his Retinue and amongst the rest the Chevalier de Monchevreuil Brother to him who is now Colonel of the King's Regiment he was a very compleat Gentleman and had been very fortunate with the Ladies for the Duke's Mother lov'd him at that rate that one day when he came back from the Army she her self helpt to pull off his Boots which was suppos'd to be that he might the sooner be ready to serve her in another way besides this he was very much in the favour of several other Ladies insomuch that if he had not ruin'd himself by gaming he might have been in a very good condition but he would play away all that ever came near him whether 't was his own or no and one time he lost all the Advance Money of the Regiment of Normandy which was put into his hands for Recruits He had often practis'd these tricks so that he had not only lost his Reputation but in some measure his sences for he saw himself reduc'd at last to such extremities that even distracted him yet for all this he could not leave off Play He was no sooner gotten into Holland but he begun afresh and his old ill fortune continuing he lost every penny he had which bringing his old distemper upon him he became perfectly mad and a Fever seizing him with it in few days carry'd him out of the world The Duke his Master did not survive him long for getting some Wine in his head in the Prince of Conde's Camp just before he past the Rhine he made that foolish step which cost his own life and the lives of a great many brave Gentlemen There being but a little time between both their Deaths the Relations of the Chevalier de Monchevreuil came to me to desire me to write to my Acquaintance in their Country that he dy'd for Grief at the loss of so good a Master 'T was a very pleasant Request when I knew that they carry'd him to Nuits the day after we entred Rhineberg which was at least four or five days before we past the Rhine but feigning my self ignorant I told them I would do so to oblige them tho I had been inform'd that he was sick before I could not imagin what should make them desire this piece of service of me except it was that they had a mind to conceal the nature of his Death to avoid a blemish upon the Family but they had another reason for he having play'd away a great many peoples money they had rather make them believe they had receiv'd it again after his Death than that he dy'd for Grief at the losing of it and after all 't was a fineness that I could never understand for let it be which way 't would 't was of no great consequence and on the other hand they might be sure to expect that those persons would demand their money but the eldest Sons Estate was entail'd who was the only person they could expect it of and if Madam de Maintenon had delay'd much longer to take care of that Family they had been so far from paying Debts that they had been reduc'd into very bad circumstances I can't be thought to speak this enviously to lessen his quality if you will but consider what I have said of my self they may see I do not flatter and if it should ever come to pass that I should be as rich as the greatest I should never be for boasting of it I did not indeed inquire of those Gentlemen what their end was but those people to whom I wrote wonder'd what the meaning of it should be for coming presently after to understand that he dy'd distracted his Relations immediately concluded that I was the cause of it and upon that account ow'd me all the ill will possible however not one of them had the impudence to charge me with it but as they were near Neighbours to Normandy and Normandy is famous for Treachery they did their utmost to ruin me and if Madam de Maintenon had been in as much favour as she is now they might easily have done it and the best I could have hop'd for had been to have spent my life in the Bastile but to my great good fortune her credit was not so great at that time and so all they could do was to make Grimaces at me The truth of it was I never sought to disabuse them but taking not a word of notice either good or bad I let them alone to do their worst In the mean time our Army gain'd ground in Holland and having past the Rhine we came to the Iysel and passing also that River laid siege to Doesbourg The Duke de Orleans the King's Brother was in the Army and his Birth requiring that he should have the principal command next to his Majesty he march'd on one side the River and the King on the other He had nothing of the Air and Mein of the King as much as one was majestick so much the other had of meanness in his Countenance and in his Manners he had the very Looks of a Woman and painted like the Sex which he did because 't was said he had a Tetter upon his Cheek and he would have been very much disfigur'd without it which might be but if he was excusable on that account yet he was inexcusable in another for he wore a Cornet in bed like a Woman instead of a Night Cap not forgetting a Scarlet Knot and a Riband of the same to tye it under his Chin. 'T is true he was so asham'd of it himself that he would make all withdraw when he went to put it on but as always there was some Valet or some Favourite that had access to him the story became so publick over Paris that all people knew it and 't was necessary he should be very brave to have all these failings and yet please the French who are very nice and censorious but indeed he wanted not that quality for he who avoided the Sun for fear of his Complexion would at the
left it to the keeping of the Inhabitants who had always been their own Masters and therefore he would stand by the Letter of the Treaty In short there was no remedy but to decide the matter by the Sword or to refer it to the King of Great Britain who had been Mediatâ—r of the Treaty and was Guarantee of the Peace But the Spaniards suspecting that Prince not to be so much their friend as that requir'd chose rather to name Commissioners to accommodate the matter the King did the like and they appointed the Town of Courtrai for their meeting which having produc'd nothing but arguments Pro and Con and no conclusion appearing likely to be made the King order'd Luxemburg to be invested Every body thought this would kindle the fire again and that the War would break out hotter than ever The neighbouring Princes were so alarm'd that they dispatcht Orders to their Envoys at both Courts to try if 't were possible to soften the matter and prevent the miseries that threatned upon a rupture But it was impossible to adjust it the King would have Luxemburg or Alost and the Spaniards saw 't was equally inconvenient to them to part with either if they gave up Luxemburg they shut out their Succors from Germany from whence they must come if they granted Alost it was to give away one of the best Revenues in all Flanders the income from that Bailliage bringing in a Revenue of 1600000 Livres a year and besides the jurisdiction of it extended even to the Gates of Brussels on one side and Ghent on the other so that it would be to block up both those Cities And to say all in a word in the necessity they had brought themselves to the King taught them which to choose for his Majesty having more mind to Luxemburg than to Alost sent them word that was better for his turn than the t'other But he had not the gift of perswasion neither if they could have helpt it but Luxemburg in the mean time continu'd blockt up which if it had not he must have made use of some force to have open'd his passage on that side the Country The King of Spain who saw himself in no condition to resist such powerful forces by himself had sent orders to avoid the quarrel if possible so that the Souldiers were wholly unprovided when they should have come to fight These things will hardly be believ'd in times to come but since there is no other History I believe will mention them I hope the most incredulous will take my Testimony of them and if I have given an account of these things 't was not that I was really present there or that I am troubled with that itch of scribbling to write of those things which has already employ'd the Pens of so many worthy men I should have said less of this affair had I not been oblig'd to mention it upon the account of my Nephew whom I shall speak of presently and of an accident which happen'd to him which had certainly been his utter ruine if he had not found very good friends to appear for him He had quitted the Kings Regiment where as I said before I had plac'd him and had put himself into the Cavalry where his inclinations led him to serve and was made a Captain meerly on the account of merit for a very gallant action which he had perform'd and tho it be not proper for an Unkle to praise one of his near Relations yet I must not omit that he had a very good reputation in the Regiment but so it hapned that in one day he lost all that esteem he had obtain'd which nevertheless was not so much his fault as that by his action Luxemburg was prevented falling into our hands at that time We had been already a good while before the Town and the Garrison began to feel the want of many things and above all of Money for want of which the Governor could not subsist his Men wherefore he resolv'd to send some body to Brussels to get some in if possible He fixt upon three persons for this enterprize the Count de Walsastine and two other Officers and he order'd Capt. Gregorie an old Soldier for their guard who knew all the by-ways round the Town for twenty miles together Gregorie found means to get them clear well enough but we having some people in the Town who gave us an account of every thing that past we had advice not only of their going out but of their errand to Brussels and could have trac'd them thither if it had been needful but we contented our selves to watch them so exactly as to be sure of them as they came back Our Spies look'd out so well that we had certain advice when Gregorie and his Companions were come within a days journey of the Town whereupon several Parties were sent out one of which was commanded by my Nephew it happen'd that Gregorie fell into his Ambuscade in particular and they being but about seventeen Horse and my Nephew above sixty they thought it their best course to retreat and so made off towards Treves My Nephew persuing him kept so close to him that he was forced to take into the Town and appear'd at the Gates almost assoon as he but the Germans not favouring our party deny'd him entrance on pretence that they must first go and ask leave of the Governour my Nephew told them in short the King would have a severe satisfaction for this falseness but 't was all one they made them stay a full hour at the Ports in which time Captain Gregorie and the Count de Walsastine consulted together what to do whether they should stay in the Town or go out another way but at last they reselv'd to stay in the Town so they took up in an Inn which had a private back door against which they threw a gâ—eat heap of Horse-dung The Governor of Treves supposing by this time they had secur'd themselves orders the Troop to be let in and my Nephew being inâ—â—rm'd that the Spaniards were in that Inn he quarter'd his people all thereabouts and having visited all the Avenues he plac'd Centinels at every place which he thought proper but seeing the Dunghil which I mention'd he never imagin'd there should be a door theâ—â— In the mean time Gregorie to amuse him and that he might not imagin he would be stirring that night made a strange revelling in the Inn and such a noise as if they had been all drunk and appear'd at the Windows with Glasses of Wine in their hands and this they got some Germans to continue all night The Centinels made no question but 't was the Spaniards all the night while in the mean time they open'd the false door I told you of and threw aside the Dung and went about their business My Nephew knew nothing of their going till t was quite day when finding how 't was and understanding they were gone towards
all the world body for body but if she would permit me to speak seriously to her this Groom was a fellow that deserv'd to be handsomly chastis'd since when he knew what notice the world took of it instead of behaving himself cautiously to prevent the spreading of such a noise he had encreas'd it by his impudence and had made people believe what really never was that I knew he had pull'd out handfuls of Money among his Comrades which was as much as to say that he who had the priviledge of something so extraordinary could want for nothing that this I had taken notice of in particular but there were a multitude of such like passages tho without troubling her with such trifles I left it to her self to judge if this was to be suffer'd in such a fellow Tho she had said a thousand things to urge me to be very free with her yet I perceiv'd she was very uneasie at my discourse her colour came and she blusht like fire when I touch'd some particular points and when I had done instead of flying out on the Rascal I had so plainly detected before her she exclaim'd violently on her Son-in-law who she said was the Author of all these Calumnies It was to no purpose in the world for me to swear and deny it she did not believe me or at least she pretended not to believe me but at the same time threatned what she would do to him and she gave proofs of her good will in a few days in attempting to sell a fine Estate she had about Nemours that it might not come to him The summ being at least four hundred thousand Francs she could not soon find a Chapman and Mr. de la Tour did all he could to prejudice people against it when he saw them inclin'd to it Indeed her conduct in this affair was inexcusable not only on that account but as she had so little discretion as to tell the fellow all I had said to her He who tho he had chang'd his habit had still the servile spirit of a Foot-boy durst not express his resentment to me but he had such an influence upon his Mistress that she let me see it in her countenance which was enough to have taught me to desist and if she had a mind to ruine herself to give her liberty Indeed 't is so with all the world and a man ought not to attempt doing people good against their will but as I did every thing different from other people I went to her again as I us'd to do and told her that for all her displeasure at me I was resolv'd to let her see how entirely I was devoted to her and therefore came to tell her that in endeavouring to sell her Estate she made the world talk of her more than ever That now they said for Money to give the Groom she would sell the Inheritance of her Family and ruine her only Daughter that she might easily guess what the consequence of this would be since a person of her quality must needs be more sensibly touch'd with such reports than other people that her Family and that of her Husbands too were concern'd and at stake and if I might venture to tell her what I had been told there were not wanting those that had resolv'd by some means or other to dispatch the Rascal that had expos'd her and made her the common talk and jest of the Town Nothing that I could ever say to this Lady made such an impression upon her as this last circumstance she enquir'd who it was that told me so but finding me unwilling to name any names she prest me to it by all the intreaties and good words possible but I begg'd her pardon for not proceeding any further which made her imagin I had made the story my self I told her she was at liberty to believe what she pleas'd but perhaps time would make it appear too true that I was wholly incapable either of adding to or diminishing from the truth Upon which I left her without any more ceremony The next day passing thro the street where she liv'd I met Mr. Theodore that was the name of the Groom who thinking he had to do with one of his own sort comes up to me and tells me I was well set a work to go and tell such a parcel of impertinent stories to his Mistriss He had no sooner spoke the words but without any other reply I gave him his reward with two or three good rubs over the Shoulders with my Cane at which he was so surpriz'd that he did not so much as offer to put his hand to his Sword In the mean time he took another method to revenge himself and gets an order to have me before the Mareschals of France and did not question I suppose but according to their usual severity I should have been sent to Prison But I having acquainted the Mareschal de Villeroy of the matter before whom that Court was held and also that such a fellow as he had not a right to summon before them he could have no Audience there but was referred back to the common course of Justice and there I had been before hand with him by the advice of a cunning fellow I employ'd so that he was surpriz'd when coming to get a Warrant for me he found himself arrested by vertue of a Judgment I had obtain'd against him in the same Case Madam de Vitri was but ill pleas'd with me on this account and had told some of my Friends that I had so little respect for her as to abuse one of her Servants that she had always had a great respect for me but she would never forgive me this as long as she liv'd I desir'd them to inform her that I was provok'd to it by his sawcy language that it was true I might have consider'd that I ought not to have been provok'd by any thing such a fellow could say but one is not always Master of ones passion besides a Man ought always to have regard to his own honour and if I had fail'd in that yet I desir'd her to consider that having a Sword by my side I ought so much the less to bear such affronts as those Another would perhaps have thought these excuses reasonable but Monsieur Theodore having a greater influence upon her than I she was not at all moderated but continued as furious as ever I did not much trouble my head with it having the satisfaction of the general approbation in what I had done Indeed I dare say she govern'd herself more by her humour than her reason as appear'd soon after in her selling her Land for half the value to Monsieur de Boisfranc Intendant of the houshold to the Duke of Orleans this enrag'd all her Relations against her and the report went that to make Mr. Theodore amends for the affront I had put upon him she gave him good part of the Money Monsieur
must tell one story which is very pleasant of what happenâ—d to an Intendant He had got a Mistress in a Town where the King and the whole Court lodg'd and happening to be there when the Quarter-master General came to the Town he made friends to have that House exempted this Intendant had the misfortune to be a little like the Messieurs du Garrot that is to make but a very indifferent figure which made the Quarter-master not knowing who he was tell him by way of banter Yes yes he should be excus'd indeed and why not but at the same time taking his Chalk markt that House as he had done the others The Intendant was not discourag'd but persisted in his suit hoping to do it without discovering himself for he was then incognito he spoke to him again and desir'd him to exempt that Lady assuring him that if he knew her he would think it worth his while but finding that he did not take much notice of that he told him his quality and that it might lye in his way to return his kindness The Quarter-master understanding his character askt his pardon that he had not done it at first and immediately granted his desire both on account of the Lady and also of his quality A little before this just such an adventure happen'd to me A Gentleman of my acquaintaâ—ce who had some business with the President de Bretonvilliers writ to me to wait upon him from him I went to him to his fine Country House in the Isle de Nostre Dame and the Porter telling me he was in his Chamber I went cross the Court-yard to go up to him I did not know him in the least whether he was old or young or what manner of man he was however I happen'd to light on him as I was going up the stairs with a wooden Candlestick in his hand just as if he had been going down into the Celler I askt him which was the Presidents Chamber he told me he was the man and if my business was to speak with him I need go no further I was so surpriz'd with this sudden reply that I stood like one that had been caught in some ill fact but he very civilly helpt me out of my confusion himself asking me if there was any thing he could serve me in so that finding he was not affronted I soon recover'd my self One would infer from what I have said that the President was no very gentile man that I should mistake him so but I must say this to his advantage that he was a person of a great deal of Honour This accident introduc'd me into his acquaintance and was the occasion that we were afterwards very familiar and this I can say of my own knowledge of him that tho every body now adays seem to regard nothing but their own interest yet I have seen him do those things which show him of a truly generous disposition tho he was Son of one of the Farmers of the Kings Revenues a sort of people not very famous for their Honesty or Generosity It is not every body would so easily have past by such a mistake especially when a man is surpriz'd in any figure below his character of which I had a proof a little before that in another case going to see a Councellor of the Inquests call'd Machaut who liv'd in La Rue Michael de Comte I had a little process before him and going by accident by his door I took that opportunity to ask him if he would please to give himself the trouble to examine it He that open'd the door told me he was at home and desir'd me to walk in and he would tell him there was one to speak with him I did so and coming to a door that lookt into the Garden I open'd it and thro it I saw a man in his Drawers with a Night Cap on hard at work till he sweat again Who should this be but my Lawyer who was a mighty great Florist and one indeed that seem'd fitter to set Tulips than to try Causes I lookt on him a good while before he turn'd about he was so intent upon what he was a doing but at last being forc'd to raise himself up to take breath a little he spy'd me and coming up briskly askt me who I would speak with I told him with Mr. de Machaut little thinking I spoke to him himself but he presently made me know it asking me more briskly than before What I would have with him Give him a Brief said I with a little heat not being very well pleas'd to be us'd so Give it me then said he in the same tone he began with forâ— I am the person you would speak with and that you shall know soon enough to teach you to take a better time to speak to your Judge Nothing could be pleasanter than our conversation for my Cause being but a trifling matter that I did not much care which way it went I did not spare him at all 't would have made any body laugh to hear us However tho I was now so much affronted I gave him my Brief and he vouchsaf'd to read it and he was no sooner come to my Name in it but immediately changing both his countenance and his stile he askt me what Family I was of and if I was not of such and such a Family and a kin to such and such naming their qualities and offices more than ever I had heard of tho I thought I knew perfectly all the Preferments had belong'd to any of our Family however I answer'd yes to all the sooner to be rid of his enquiry upon which he embrac'd me and told me that we were Relations and began to reckon up our Genealogy in such a manner that for my life I could make nothing at all of it however I confirm'd every thing he desir'd and so from that time forward he would needs call me Cousin telling me tho I should not mention to any body that I had spoken to him before the judgment of my Suit because if the adverse party should hear of it 't were enough to make them reflect on him I told him that he might be satisfy'd I would not and so we parted as good friends as any in the world and four or five days after he dispatcht my Cause tho 't was almost a Proverb of him that to put a Cause into his hands was the only way to have it never ended But in mentioning of Monsieur Hautefort I am insensibly engag'd in stories which I had not design'd and am gone off from the story of the Dauphins Marriage which I intended and which perhaps may be as entertaining as any to those who are pleas'd to hear of the motions of great persons which is a humor much in fashion now The Princess being arriv'd at Sermaises and the King and the Dauphin at Chalons 't was resolv'd the first interview should be about the midâ—way In the mean
condition to the Woman I once lov'd above the world Yet would she not accept of them tho they were of the value of 2 or 300 Pistoles but sent them back again with orders to leave them with Monsieur and Madam if I should persist to refuse them Thus ended this affair which I should have repented a thousand times that I mist if I had an Estate to have made that Woman happy But Reason coming to the assistance of my Jealousy which my passion might perhaps have conquer'd in time I began to reflect seriously on the consequences of such a Marriage and the miserable condition I must have left a Wife and Children in after my death Upon all which I concluded that it was infinitely the best as it was and that she had escap'd a misfortune which it had been a pity a person of her merit should have ever prov'd I had no design to live all my days at Monsieurs and Madam so that now I thought it was high time to take my leave But they who still continuâ—d their civility would keep me tho it was by meer force I made all the pretences possible and told them that I had business of moment at Paris which I must necessarily attend but all in vain for they took them all for Excuses and caus'd the Saddles of my Horses to be laid out of the way that when I insisted upon leaving 'em and was just a going the Saddles were no where to be found I perceiv'd the consequence and that it would be in vain to resist their kindness I told 'em then I would consent to stay if they would fix the time how long and after that would not stop me They nam'd eight days in which time as if they had known what should happen or had resolv'd I should be at a Wedding tho not my own fell out the Marriage of their Daughter who after all that I have mention'd of her was yet so fortunate as to meet with a Husband of a very plentiful fortune and one who not only loves but dotes on her and admires her My time was just expiring when the very day before I was to go about 3 or 4 a Clock in the afternoon Monsieur and Madam had word brought them that there was a strange Gentleman without who desir'd to speak with them The Servants had order to pray him to walk in and immediately there enters the Room a man of a very good Mien but whom I guest the first minute to be a Foreigner by his Dress I was not mistaken it seems for he was a Swiss and that we all knew well enough assoon as he began to speak He told Monsieur and Madam in a language half French and half gibberish that he was their most humble Servant before ever he saw them and that upon the account of their good character but now since he had the honour to kiss their hands he design'd himself a far greater honour if they pleas'd to permit him to render them his most humble Services This Compliment was a little strain'd I fancy'd but yet he deliver'd it with something of that air as made me have a better opinion of him than I had of those Countrymen of his who took Biroche's Puppets for young Devils and for his sake I might have been induc'd to believe that there were some men of Wit amongst the Swiss as amongst other Nations if it had not been for what happenâ—d afterwards which chang'd my mind or at least made me conclude that if they had wit 't was afâ—er their own fashion and was not attended with very much honour For after the Compliment I told you of he desir'd to discourse Monsieur and Madam in private where he told them that having seen Madamoiselle their Daughter he was fallen desperately in love with her and that if they would give consent to his marrying of her he should be extreamly oblig'd to them that he might perhaps have done this without asking them leave but he knew his duty better than that came to tho he was a Foreigner and particularly the respect which was due to persons of their rank and merit That he did not ask what they would give with their Daughter because he chose rather out of a prinâ—iâ—le of honour to marry without Portion and make tâ—â— Fortune of a Woman he lov'd That he had 〈…〉 Land but he had a Company of Foot which was as good to him as an Estate and 50000 Livres besides he had in ready Money That tho 't was true he met with her in a place from whence others might make some scruple of taking a Wife yet he was not apt to believe ill of any and so it could never enter into his head that some reports he had heard of her were any thing but calumnies That if there should be something true in them he was sensible a poor young Girl was naturally weak and a failure in one of them was not minded in his Country tho a marry'd Woman who transgrest the Rules of Honour was infinitely blam'd because she had a Husband to supply all her necessities and a Gallant upon that account was intolerable In fine that there were some censorious people in the world whom he could not approve who because a Woman had committed a fault once and afterwards had been seen to use a little gaiety more than ordinary in mens company concluded presently that she was lewd and abandon'd and Lewdness indeed was never to be forgiven He added a great deal more of this nature to prove that what ever a woman did before Marriage signify'd nothing and urg'd it from the practice of several very honest Gentlemen whom he would have nam'd if they had not been too many to enumerate however he would instance he said in two or three who perhaps they might know as the Count du Bours a Collonel of Horse St. Quintin and Mountfabes The first marry'd a Woman that had a Child by his Father the second marry'd a Cast Mistress of the Duke of Espernon and the third one of so notorious a Character that she had a Tryal before the Parliament Yet there was none that could deny but the two first were men of Honour and if the other was not esteemed such it 't was his own fault and not his Wives that these were French but for his own Countrymen he scarce knew one that had not done the same that Monsieur Stoup took his Wife from a place where he had been himself witness of her Vertue and yet he liv'd in great esteem here and in his own Country and was in favour with the King who had conferr'd several Honours upon him that tho at first Madam Stoup's reputation was a little call'd in question yet now she was no less respected than if she had never kept company with any but Dutchesses and Ladies of the first quality That Madam Renold Wife to a Captain in the Swiss Guards was one of the same Character which she tok