to go about to serve a Prince who flatters me with imaginary honours whilst in effect he dishonours me Yes I hope to find a happier Fortune in Barbary than in my native Countrey and I believe that the Inhabitants of that Countrey will not have so much cruelty for me as my Wife and my own Prince have shewed me in Italy Yes yes I renounce thee for my wife since thou wilt be a whore and I am resolv'd to fly thy presence eternally that the world may not believe I consent to thy disorders I confess I need not complain of thee because it is my self I ought to blame for all my misfortunes having been sufficiently warned by my friends and kindred of all that I have suffer'd by thee and the dishonour thou wouldst bring me But in fine since my destiny has sent this for my ruine I run very willingly to it and do not thou think to escape punishment which will come upon thee one day when thou dream'st not of it and although the chastisements of Adulterers is like thine deferr'd yet it is sure to come go God will revenge me and punish thee He finish'd his Letter to the Countess in these words without Subscription and sent it with another to his Brother-in-law writ in these terms THere is nothing I should less have credited than that Brothers born of an illustrious Bloud would have served as Rascals in the prostitution of their own Sister There is no body either in Mantua or Casal that is ignorant of this It is now become the Fame of your Family and the onely thing by which it is taken notice of but I am very much displeased to have my reputation ingaged in it For as for yours I deride it since you have been so base to offer up to the Duke what no longer belong'd to you That opinion of yours That Princes can make no Cuckolds resembles that Gold which covers Pills to cheat sick people I have alwayes lookt upon it as such and I have indur'd as much as I can but this minute that I have not gold enough left me to cover such great Pills as are preserib'd to me I have no more Patience and must complain since the Duke is pleased I shall this day begin to run over the World like a poor Pilgrim and miserable banish'd man to the end that he may enjoy your Sister in quiet I resign my wife willingly to his Highness and the shame to you till now you have acted the part of Rascals and serv'd the shameful desires of my wife Now take to your selves the employment of serving your Sister This is all shall be said to you from him that gives you absolutely his share in the shame that you may possess it all he flyes from the company of a prostituted adulterous woman and from the Pimps her Brothers understand me as well as I understand both of you These were the last Letters which the Earl writ to Casal with which the Duke lookt upon himself so sensibly offended having got them both into his hands that he swore in the Countesses presence to be revenged Many were of opinion that he was quickly after that satisfied in his vengeance he intended on the Earl because that minute he made his Oath he dispatch'd many Letters giving order to follow him and to learn what was become of him of whom since that time there was no news heard which was the cause so many believ'd he was kill'd by the Dukes Orders but I cannot believe this last common opinion because that Prince had not so black a soul and I rather think he was satisfied enough with ordering him to be punish'd only by sending him far enough off his State some were of opinion that he went into Swede and under a disguize chang'd his Religion and became a Lutheran and some believe he lives at this day in some little place he purchas'd with those thousand Pistols which the Duke sent him by Bills of Exchange for his Voyage into Persia Others pretend he has been seen in Portugall not five years since which is not certified credibly But whatever is become of him there has not any thing been heard of him since that time and at Casal there is nothing spoken of him good or bad and therefore we will talk no more of him but here conclude the life of that unfortunate Husband Let us now return to that poor Princess almost forsaken by her husband in all things but outward shewâ— who seeing her self thus treated by the Duke her Husband for the low of an infamous woman and one so much below her in Birth that there is no other comparison between them to be made but what is given between that of a Prince and a slave so that it was very difficult for her to hinder her self from loudly complaining of the Countess and the more by seeing every day her husbands affection grow colder for her and increase to that wicked woman who alone possess'd his heart This afflicted Duchess was desperate at all the abominable tricks which from day to day were plaid the Earl beyond the Seas onely to leave his wife at more Liberty with the Duke and her affliction was very much increased when she was inform'd of his despair which had caused him to renounce absolutely the serving that Court any more and never to return to Casâ—l nor yet into any part of Italy and since she heard by the whispering murmurs of the Courtiers that the Duke angry at this procedure of the Earl had resolv'd to pursue him in revenge where-ever he went in pity to this poor Lord she went to ask his pardon of the Duke and to that effect she set before his eyes the example of Daâ—id driven from his Kingdom not so much by the persecution of Absalom his son as the decree of Heaven to punish him for Adultery which he had committed with Bathsheba and that horrid execrable and barbarous murther of Uriah her husband adding That that Prophet had not so violently persecuted Uriah as his Highness had pursued the Earl nor had liv'd so long a time in Adultery with Bathsheba as he had liv'd with the Countess The Duke angry at these solicitations rose up from the bed where he was sitting whil'st the Duchess was talking to him and walking to the Chamber-door gave her no other answer than this Madam that which men believ'd in the Old Testament to be a sin all Princes account this day a gallantry and saying this he went away The Duchess seeing all her words unprofitable and work'd nothing upon the heart of the Duke which was harder than any rock to all Counsels that were given him to take him off his scandalous living she resolv'd at last to try another way and employ greater strengths than her own though she wenâ— far to fetch them She knew very well the veneration of the Duke for the Senate of Venice and she had often heard him profess his considerable Obligations to that
his Person or Fortune and so while all this past she shut her eyes and took no notice at all and though one day she hid her self to watch their actions yet she could discover nothing between them but testimonies of a Friendship which reason allows of But since the Love of these two persons was become the general discourse the Duchess consulted many times very seriously with the Marquis Arigone who very farre from approving this too violent inclination as many others did who were well enough oleas'd to let the Duke freely pursue his inclinations He on the contrary forgot nothing to let them see they ought to have prevented him the Marquess was press'd on by these reasons In Mantua there dwelt a widow that was one of the most considerable women of that place who was mother to one of the most fair and agreeable young Ladys of all that State This woman who was not very rich in worldly goods suiting her self to her fortune liv'd onely in the quality of a Gentlewoman and not like a great Lady The Marquis who had a passionate kindness for her let no occasion pass of diverting his melancholly hours at her house and as she was not very cruel to him she granted him willingly those Favours that Love demands without expecting interest imagining that the Marquess who was naturally very grateful would not fail for the Mothers sake who granted him all things to serve the Daughter to his Highness the Duke and this opportunity pleas'd the Marquess very well of shewing himself grateful to the kind Widow in procuring the Love of the Duke for her Daughter and also of testifying his Affection to his Prince in bringing to him one of the most Accomplish'd young Women amongst his Subjects but since he fear'd it a thing impossible to do so long as this passion of the Dukes to the Lady Margaret continued he tryed all wayes to stifle it but unprofitably because the Duke was so insensible for all other Women as well Maids as Wives that neither the handsome nor ugly work'd any effect upon him for he us'd them both so indifferently they had no reason to be jealous of one another The Lady Margaret was the only Favourite and the most lov'd and what beauty soever hapned to be in the Dukes presence he had eyes for none but she One day the Marquess imagining that it was impossible for the Duke to see that fine young Lady of his Acquaintance and not fall in love with her carryed him to her Mothers house who had invited him to that purpose and had spar'd for no Cost nor Ornament to set off the Beauty of her Daughter but all was to no purpose and though the Marquess and the Mother left this young Lady and the Duke alone two houres together in a Chamber the Duke sate by her as if she had not been there without speaking one obliging word to her The insensibility of this Duke was as a Dagger to the heart of this young Lady and in truth What is more vexatious to a Woman then to see that all the arts she has us'd to gain a heart signifie so little in the end The Marquiss quickly perceiv'd that the Duke was not very well pleas'd in the place where he had brought him therefore in returning home to the Palace he begun to praise her extreamly the Duke although he seemed to take no notice and yet nevertheless forc't by the Marquess to speak of that Ladies Beauty he came from said to the Marquess My Lord This Lady is faire enough for you who sees her every day but not for me who never saw her before and looks not upon her so often as you do The Marquess reply'd Your Highness must then see her often that you may think her fairer than now you do The Duke answer'd smiling If I should see her once more certainly I should think her more ugly then I do now The poor Marquess was mad at this and especially when the Duke whil'st they were talking turn'd about and shew'd him the Lady Margaret who they met in the Street See there my Lord Marquess said he there is the fairest amongst all that are faire Whil'st these things past the Dutchess growing angry to see her Son so far gone in Love with the Lady Margaret carryed by some unknown Politick reasons and perhaps at the earnest Solicitations of the Marquess sent the Mother and the Daughter away to Casal yet with all the Civility imaginable and with a particular Promise to Marry her very suddenly as indeed it happen'd soon after The Duke express'd no great signs publickly of resentment for her going away hiding his trouble without all doubt very prudently to take all suspition from the Court Till then it was believ'd by most that nothing but vertue had pass'd between this Lady and the Duke but others that lookt nearer into the business and could see farther into matters of Love believ'd the contrary not being able to imagine how Vertue could subsist with so great a Liberty and that a young Girle who desir'd nothing more then the heart of a Prince could refuse him any thing The Duke certainly was not without desires nor the young Lady without a good will the youth of them both and the great liberty allowed them gave strange causes of suspition In fine believe who will that all their time was spent in saying their Chapelets and their Pater-nosters for my part I never will Some time before the parture of the Lady Margaret the Duke had many long and private Conferences with her where there wanted no Tears on both sides at that cruel separation as a Waiting-Woman observ'd he could not forbear promising to Write to her till he had the opportunity of going to visit her at Casal which he gave her his Word should be very suddenly These Protestations of the Dukes rais'd her Heart a little which was so sunk with the Fears and Troubles of a cruel Absence she was to suffer and gave he courage to ask his Highness a word or two under his Hand every moneth at least which Favour she demanded of him in these Words If your Highness will please to Write to me once every moneth it will give me every day a Paradice The Duke embracing her said with all the tenderness of a passionate heart go and believe that nothing in the World shall ever be capable to carry me from loving you She was scarce arriv'd at Casal but the Duke writ a Letter to her as well for his own satisfaction as for the contentment of her he Lov'd it was thus MARGARET My Heart THis is the first Letter which I write to you with one of those Pens that are guided by Love I address to you whom I alone adore as the onely and first object of my Love To tell you how sensible I am of your absence you must aâ—ke this Heart which thinks more of you then of it self I do not sware it to you the Words of
condemn the Church for tolerating and permitting adultery But the Duke inform'd of all these things caused it to be told the Cardinal Leomelini That he would teach him to speak if he would not learn to hold his tongue For all this his Eminence chang'd not his note who being not accustomed to tongue injuries repeated always the same song and very far from hearkning to peace or to seek it the more that he saw himself threatned he repeated his complaints the more to the Pope and his Cardinals But the Pope Alexander understanding the affairs of the World nor being ignorant how he ought to treat with a Sovereign Prince went not so hastily to work and press'd not so much to undertake a Prince who had merited so well from the holy Chair nor however at least for no other subject but a woman he well knowing that the Duke was not the onely Adulterer and that that business would reflect upon many Princes who lived in the same disorder and therefore he gave not much ear to the Cardinal Leomelini no more than to the other Cardinals who undertook this business to the Pope not for any hate they had to the Duke but because they were set on by this Cardinal The Pope at last seeing himself pressed and not to be wanting in his duty of Pastour ordered the Cardinal grand Penetencier to write to Miroglio Bishop of Casal that he should proceed against the Countess by the ordinary wayes in the like cases that is to say to refuse her the Communion at Easter and in case that she sought not to mend and change her life to put an end to that great scandal after he had given her all those fatherly corrections to which his charge oblig'd him he should proceed to Excommunication or the other Ecclesiastical Censures which the Councils command to be used in such kind of Cases The Penetencier fail'd not to obey the order that was given him to write but not in the manner which the Cardinal Leomelini desired because he writ to that Prelate in gentle terms commanding to behave himself in this affair with great Prudence with a sutable zeal which did not sute with the designs and desires of that Eminence The Bishop had no sooner received that Letter but he communicated it to the Duke and the Countess who derided it and the more because the Bishop himself laught at it too who would not do any thing against the pleasure of two persons who had given him his Bishoprick This Prelate taking his leave at the end of that discourse the Duke taking him by the hand said in his ear My Lord write to the Cardinal Penitentier That when the Pope Chaser all the Bawdy Houses out of Rome we will drive the Countess from hence It is true he said that more to rally with the Bishop then for any other reason because he knew very well that those words would not go so far as Rome though as I believe he had not much car'd or not at all if they had nay if they had been told to his Holiness The Bishop return'd a Letter to Rome full of good and solid choice Reasons which shew'd the necessity there was for the good of the Church that they should shut their eyes to those disorders not to enrage the Duke for if they did so he fear'd he might do worse and might proceed to trouble and punish the repose of the Clergy in effect he was not deceiv'd for if ever it had happen'd that the Countess had receiv'd that discontent of being struck by any censure of the Church the Duke who would also have lookt upon himself as injur'd had without doubt molested the Clergy and the Bishop for Princes never want Reason to make Criminals and since Ecclesiastical Men will not acknowledg themselves Subjects to them and particularly the Bishops who look upon themselves as exempt from owning that Title but it is a great abuse and they deceive themselves grosly The Answer of this Prelate hapned I know not by which way to be communicated to the Cardinal Leomelini who presently began to murmur against that Bishop as he did against the Duke not sparing him even in the Consistory of the Cardinals and saying all the ill things he could of him though falsly For to speak truth this Prelate had alwayes behaved himself like an honest man and has no vices that are worthy of reproches What dissimulation soever the Holy Father shew'd yet he was nevertheless sensibly touched with the Advertisements he every day received of the Scandalous Life of the Duke and the Countess and therefore mov'd with Zeale and Compassion he made many Prayers be offered in every Church to the end that it would please God to touch the Heart of that Prince and draw him from his obstinate hardness of heart in going on in so infamous a Sin as that was in which he had so long â—iv'd But at last making reflection upon the duty he was oblig'd to as Soveraign Pastor of the Church he saw well that to hold his Peace would not be to acquit himself well on the other side also as he would not proceed in that business with rigor against that Prince he resolved being combated with his Duty and his Fear to employ the most gentle remedies and to imploy in them Persons also vertuâ—…s indowed with Piety He sent to that purpose the Father Câ—…eri Alapuchin to Mantua and Casal he was a Person celebrated as well for the fairness of his carriage as the excellence of his vertue with Fatherly instructions setting before him the Service he should do both to God and the Church and that he should Merit very much from the Holy Chair if he could overcome the Spirit of this Duke and obtain any Victory over that of the Countess to make them leave off this Scandalous Life so much to the Scandal of the whole Church This good Father Capuchin guessing the hardness of the hearts of Adulterers felt in himself some repugnance for this Imployment despairing of ever conquering the Obstination â—… the Duke or to move his heart which Sin had made harder then a Diamond nevertheless without reply to the Pope he received that Commission which his Holiness impos'd upon him with a ready and as humble obedience which belongs to that Order of Capuchins and is so sutable to their Habit in a word with a Capuchins Obedience and with Promises To do all in â—… Power to serve his Holiness and the Church faithfully he would spare no Cares to procure the Salvation of the Soules of the Duke and the Countess The Pope in giving this good Father his Blessing commanded him that if peradventure he perceived that his Charitable Remonstrances and Fatherly Corrections had no effect and that by mild wayes he should work nothing upon the Heart of that Prince that he should proceed to some kind of Rigor and Threatning in the behalfe of the Holy Chair and yet withal that he should not fail to
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 Louise 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 more of the Army than of any thing else to the great astonishment of all the World who could not enough admire how a Man could be so 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 desive was kindled towards her and in the Mornings when he rose out of bed he was more passionately in Love with her then at night when he went to bed to this Countess the Fire of his Amorous passion was re-kindled at those times that others make use of for their repose From that time the Duke fail'd not one day of that Summer to Visit 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 Bravos 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 quality in the Court she wore them without
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 her 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 Governour 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 cars 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 Freuch who costed up and down the Countrey every moment They went out of the great rode