Court as she had us'd She had a sight of Monsieur de Nemours at the Queen-Dauphins she had a sight of him at Monsieur de Cleve's where he frequently came with other Persons of Quality of his age that no notice might be taken of it but where-ever she saw him it gave her trouble and put her into some disorder which he easily perceiv'd As careful as she was to shun his looks and speak less to him than any other she could not prevent some sudden escapes of her passion that gave Monsieur de Nemours cause to believe she had more than indifferent inclination for him A Man perhaps less discerning than he could not have perceiv'd it but he had been already so often belov'd it was easie for him to know when one lov'd him He knew the Chevalier de Guise was his Rival and the Chevalier de Guise as clearly saw Monsieur de Nemours was his Not one of the whole Court but the Chevalier de Guise had made the discovery his interest render'd him more clear-sighted than the rest The knowledge they had of one anothers designs made them cross one another in all things and they could not forbear expressing their spight on every occasion though it broke not out into open enmity At the Runnings at the Ring at Combats at the Barrier and all Divertisements the King call'd them to they were always of different Parties and their emulation was so great it could not be hid Madam de Cleve could not forbear thinking frequently of the Affair with England she believ'd Monsieur de Nemours would not resist the King's Advice and the Instances of Lignerolles it troubled her to see Lignerolles was not yet return'd and she expected him every hour with the greatest impatience Her inclinations sway'd her strongly to inform her self exactly of the state of that Affair but the same thought that rais'd her Curiosity immediately suggested to her she was oblig'd to conceal it and she enquir'd only of the Beauty the Wit and Humour of Queen Elizabeth The King had one of her Pictures brought him Madam de Cleve thought it far handsomer than she hop'd to have found it and she could not forbear saying the Picture-drawer had flatter'd the Queen in drawing her so beautiful I do not think so says the Queen-Dauphin that Princess is reputed extraordinary handsome and witty and I am sure she hath been propos'd to me for an Example all my Life she must be very lovely if like Anne Bullen her Mother Never had a Lady so charming a Person or so bewitching a sweetness and lovliness in her humour I have heard say she had a singular sprightliness in her Countenance and not like the common English Beauties I think says Madam Cleve I have been told she was born in France They that fancy so are mistaken replys the Queen-Dauphin and I will tell you the Story of her in a very few words She was of a good Family in England Henry the 8th had been in love with her Mother and Sister and it was suspected she might be his Daughter She came into France with Henry the 7th's Sister who was marry'd to King Lewis the 12th This Princess being youthful and gallant was loth to leave the Court of France at the death of her Husband Anne Bullen whose love for the French Court was equal to her Mistresses resolv'd not to quit it The late King fell in love with her and she was made Maid of Honour to Queen Claudia This Queen dying the Lady Margaret the King's Sister Duchess of Alanson and since Queen of Navarr took her into her Service where she receiv'd some Tincture of the reformed Religion Afterwards she return'd into England and charm'd all that saw her she sung well and danc'd excellently They made her one of Queen Katherine's Maids of Honour and Henry the 8th fell desperately in love with her Cardinal Wolsey his Favourite and prime Minister was ill satisfi'd with the Emperour for not having favour'd his pretensions to the Papacy and to be reveng'd of him resolv'd to unite the King his Master to the French To effect this he suggested to Henry the 8th that his Marrriage with the Emperour's Aunt was Null and propos'd for a Wife to him the Duchess of Alanson whose Husband was lately dead Anne Bullen had Ambition enough to look upon the Divorce of King Henry from Katherine as a means to make way for her into the Throne She began to give the King some Impressions of the Lutheran Perswasion and engag'd the late King here to favour at Rome the Divorce of Henry in hopes of his marrying the Duchess of Alanson Cardinal wolsey to have opportunity to treat of this Affair prevailed with King Henry to send him into France on other business but he was so far from giving him power to propose that Marriage that he sent him express Order to Calais not to speak of it At his return from France Cardinal Wolsey was receiv'd with honours equal to those they would have done to the King Never did Favourite carry on Pride and Vanity to so high a Pitch He mannag'd an Enterview between the two Kings at Bulloigne Francis the 1st would have given the upper-hand to Henry the 8th but he would not take it they treated one another by turns with extraordinary Magnificence and presented each other with Habits equal to those they had caus'd to be made for themselves I have heard it said those the late King sent the King of England were of Crimson-Sattin beset all over with Pearls and Diamonds and a Robe of white Velvet embroider'd with Gold After some days stay at Bulloigne they went to Callis Anne Bullen was Lodg'd in Henry the 8th's Court with the Train of a Queen and Francis the 1st made her the same Presents and did her the same Honour as if she had been actually so At last after a Passion of nine years continuance Henry the 8th married her without staying for the dissolution of his first Marriage which he had a long time demanded at Rome The Pope hastily thunder'd Excommunications against him which provok'd the King so highly that he declar'd himself Head of the Religion and drew England after him into the Change ye now see Anne Bullen enjoy'd not her Grandeur long for when she thought it surest by the death of Queen Katherine one day as she was seeing with the whole Court a Match made by the Viscount Rochfort her Brother to run at the Ring the King was suddenly struck with so furious a jealousie that he hastily left the Show and went straight to London having left order for arresting the Queen the Viscount Rochfort and several others whom he thought Lovers or Confidents of that Princess though in appearance this jealousie of the Kings seem'd to owe its Birth to that moment the truth is it had been inspir'd into him some time before by the Viscountess Rochfort who was not able to bear with patience the great intimacy between the
were Plenipotentiaries for the King the Duke of Alva and the Prince of Orange for philip the Second the Duke and Duchess of Orleans were the Mediators The principal Articles were the Marriage of the Princess Elizabeth of France with Don Carlos the Infanta of Spain and his Majesties Sister with the Monsieur of Savoy The King during the Treaty continued upon the Frontiers where he received the first news of the Death of Queen Mary of England His Majesty forthwith dispatcht the Earl of Randan to Queen Elizabeth to congratulate with her Majesty her Assumption to the Crown she received him honourably her affairs were in so ill a posture at that time she was not a little satisfied that so great a Prince was pleased to pay his first respects to her The Court discoursed she was well read in the interest of the Court of France and the merit of those that had the honour to compose it But for none she seemed to express so great a value as the Duke of Nemours she was pleased to speak with that Honour of this Prince that the Ambassadour upon his return took the Liberty to declare he thought no Person more valuable in her esteem than the Duke And did not question upon his addresses the Queen might do him the Honour to entertain a Passion for him The King the same Evening communicated it to the Prince where he commanded the Count de Randan to give him the Relation to confirm the Duke in the respect the Queen had for him which he was pleased to conclude with his advice not to neglect the favourable opportunity that seemed to court him to so much happiness The Duke received it at first as a piece of raillery till his Majesty was pleas'd to undeceive him If Sir says the Duke in obedience to your Majesties commands and for your service I shall embark my self upon so extravagant a design as to presume a Princess whom I have never yet had the honour to know should admit me to her Royal Bed I hope your Majesty will be pleased not to divulge the vanity of the attempt till the success may justifie me to the Publick The King was pleas'd to give him his Royal word that he would depose it in the knowledge of no other Breast but the Constable's concluding with the Duke that Secresie might facilitate the design The Count advised the Duke to take a Journey for England which he refused and dispatch't Monsieur Lignerolle a sprightly Gentleman his Favourite to sound the Queens inclinations and to endeavour to fix some obligation upon her In the interim he takes a Journey for Bruxells to give a visit to the Duke of Savoy who was there with the King of Spain The death of Queen Mary gave several difficulties to the Treaty which about the end of November broke up and his Majesty return'd to Paris At last there broke forth a Beauty in the Court which drew all its Eyes upon her and I cannot without injustice rank her amongst the indifferent that could purchase such admiration in a place that was so richly stored She was of the Family of the Viscount de Chartres and one of the greatest Heiresses of France She had the misfortune to bury her Father in her infancy by which unhappy accident she was left to the Guardianship of Madam de Chartres her Mother She was a Lady of those great Accomplishments that Fortune Vertue and Merit seem'd to have conspired to compleat her fair model After her Husbands death she had for some years made her recess from Court. During her retirement she was not wanting to give her Daughter an Education suitable to her Quality in which she did not so much labour to improve her Person as her better part which she endeavour'd to embellish with Vertue which renders a Lady truly noble The generality of Mothers imagin it sufficient to forbear to discourse of the vanity of Love left their Children should be invited to stray out of the paths of Vertue Madam de Chartres was of a contrary opinion She was pleased to paint out love to her Daughter in all its shapes that she might be the better able to discern that part of her which might be the most dangerous She informs her of the little Sincerity and Candor there is in Man Their Devices their Infidelity and the Domestick Discontents Marriage often plunges those into that alter their condition On the other side she declares the Happiness and Tranquility that attends a Vertuous Wife and what Luster and Esteem Piety in a person of Birth and Beauty may purchase her And concludes in acquainting her with the difficulty to preserve it which cannot be better secured than by a diffidence in our selves and a serious application to those things that can best contribute to our happiness which is to love our Husbands and to merit a return This Lady was at that time one of the greatest Matches of France and notwithstanding she was but in her greener years she wanted not her choice of Proposals Madam de Chartres who was an ambitious Lady scarce thought the noblest worthy her consideration She having now arrived to the sixteenth year of her Age she brought her to Court The first that paid his respects to her upon her arrival was the Viscount who was not a little surprised and you cannot blame him at the Beauty of the fair Lady The delicacy of her Meen in which York and Lancaster seem'd to have contended which of the two should be the most prodigal of his Charms was the Subject of his admiration The Day following the young Lady went to a famous Italian to purchase a Set of Jewels This Gentleman came along with the Queen from Florence and he had raised himself to that prodigious wealth by his Industry that his House appeared rather to be the Palace of a Prince than the Being of a Merchant When she was there in comes the Prince of Cleve He was so transported at the sight of this young Lady that he could not dissemble his surprise Madam de Chartres could not forbear to answer the Princes discomposure with a blush after she had a little composed her self she pays her civility to the Prince suitable to the Character she apprehended he might bear The Prince beheld her with admiration but he was not able to judge who this Lady should be having never had the honour to see her before He perceived by her Person and the numerous Retinue that waited on her that she must be of eminent Quality Her youth perswaded him she might be a Maid but seeing no Mother with her and the Italian giving her the Title of Madam he knew not what to think She seemed to receive his Addresses with a disorder more than usual with young Ladies who take no small vanity in the impression their Beauty may happily make upon a stranger The Prince's applications to her gave her some impatience to retire which she suddenly did Monsieur de Cleve was
de Valentinois having discovered the design was not wanting to throw all the Rubs imaginable in the way She had so prepossest the King that when Monsieur de Anvile came to speak to him in it he was pleased to let him understand how little he approved of it He commands him to signifie as much to the Prince of Montpensier You may easily judge how poor Madam de Chartres resented this sudden Rupture whose unfortunate success gave so great an advantage to her Enemies and so much prejudice to her Daughter The Dauphin Queen was pleased to declare to Madam de Chartres the discontent she had that she could not serve her You see Madam says the Queen that my Interest is but small I stand upon so ill terms with the Queen and Madam Valentinois that it is no wonder that either they or their Dependents endeavour to disappoint all my desires I have made it my indeavours to please them 'T is true they hate me not for my own sake but my Mothers she has formerly given them some jealousie and disquiet The King had his passions before he fixt them on the Duchess of Valentinois and in the first years of his Marriage when he had no Issue and notwithstanding he loved the Duchess he was almost resolved to be divorc'd from the Queen to make room for the Queen my Mother Madam de Valentinois who was jealous of a Lady whom he had formerly loved whose Wit and Beauty were able to lessen her favour joyns her interest with that of the Constable who never wisht it as well as she that his Majesty should marry with the Sister of the Duke of Guise They possest his Majesty deceased with their Sentiments and notwithstanding that he mortally hated the Duchess of Valentinois and loved the Queen yet he laboured with them in the prevention of the Divorce But to divert all his thoughts of my Mother they married her into Scotland They did it as being nearest a Conclusion by which means they disappointed the King of England who the most coveted it This precipitation of theirs had like to have made a Rupture between the two Crowns Henry the Eighth was unsatisfied that he was disappointed of the Queen my Mother or some other French Princess they had propounded to him He has been heard to say that the Worth and Beauty of this Lady was so firmly riveted in his Royal heart the fairest of the Sex must despair ever to remove it thence 'T is true the Queen my Mother was a great but an unfortunate Beauty and that which rendered it the more remarkable was That the Widow of the Duke of Longuevile had been the ambition of three Crowns but her unhappy Fate had appointed her the meanest Lot She had plac'd her in a Kingdom where she converst with nothing but misery and trouble They are pleased to say that I resemble her but I fear in nothing but her unhappy destiny for what good fortune has prepared for me I have not faith to believe I shall enjoy Mademoiselle de Charters was pleased to reply to the Queen that these sad sentiments were ill grounded that she must not two long dwell upon them but that she ought to hope that it would one day answer its appearances No man durst farther pursue the thoughts of Madam de Chartres either fearing to incur his Majesties displeasure or despairing of success in the Affair a Prince of the Blood has miscarried in The death of the Duke of Nevers his Father which immediately followed gave him an intire liberty to gratifie his own inclinations for as soon as he could with modesty dispence with his appearance in publick he was resolved to resign up all his thoughts towards the accomplishment of this Marriage He thought himself happy that he could make his Proposals in a season that had given opportunities of disincouragement to others and some assurance to himself But that which discomposed his Joy was that he feared that his Person had not Merit enough to recommend him to her and he was resolved to prefer her happiness before his own The Chevalier of Guise had given him some jealousie but when he considered that it was rather grounded upon the Merit of that Prince than any Action of Mademoiselle de Chartres he resolved to endeavour to discover if he were so happy but to know whether she was pleased to allow the passion he had for her He had not the happiness to see her but in the Queens Apartment or some publick place so that he found it difficult to have the liberty of a free conversation At last he found out the means he discovered to her his design and the passion that obliged him first to take it up He prest her to let him have the happiness to know her Sentiments of him assuring her that those he had for her were of that nature they would render him eternally miserable if she was resolved wholly to resign up her obedience to her Mothers Will. The young Lady had a generous Soul she was sensibly touch'd with the passion of the Prince of Cleve This acknowledgment aded so great a sweetness to her Words and Answers that it gave him hopes and he began to flatter himself with the success he so much wisht for She gave an account of it to her Mother Madam de Chartres was pleased to tell her that there was that Grandeur and Worth in that Prince and he demonstrated that prudence and discretion in all his actions that in case she had an inclination for him she should not want her consent Mademoiselle de Chartres answered her Mother that she was of the number of the admirers of his eminent qualities that she could marry him with less reluctancy than another but confest the inclination she had for him was not singular The day following the Prince signified his intentions to Madam de Chartres she was pleased to consent and told him she did not doubt but that she gave her Daughter a Husband that would love her when she bestowed her upon him the Articles were concluded the King acquainted and the Match made publick The Prince of Cleve thought himself happy but not content it troubled him to see that the sentiments of Mademoiselle de Chartres were no other than the common returns due to civility and respect He had not as it is usual with the enamoured the vanity to flatter himself that she might have reserved the more obliging for a better season He only considers the terms upon which he stands with her and thinks they may justly dispence with the liberty to discover them without prejudice to her modesty Within few days he finds an opportunity to acquaint her with his resentment Is it possible says the Prince I may be once so happy as to be yours at present I cannot presume to think my self so fortunate you are pleased to treat me with a sort of kindness it neither gives me satisfaction nor content I cannot discover those convincing passions
of impatience disquiet or disorder to confirm a Lover's staggering Faith You seem to be as insensible of my Love as you would vouchsafe his whose Affection 's only grounded upon the advantages of your Fortune not you Person You will think it some injustice replies Mademoiselle de Chartres should I chide you now I know not what further proofs you can desire to receive or me to give than those I have already done Methinks you should believe as well as I my modesty ought to allow no greater I own it says the Prince that you are pleased to give me some little Symptomes with which I could rest satisfied would greater but ensue But in lieu of those you are pleased to interpose a coyness which prompts you to this cruelty I have not the happiness to make any impression either upon your Inclination or your Heart and my Company seems to be indifferently divided between your trouble and content You ought not to question it replies Mademoiselle de Chartres those often blushes I cannot hide from you ought to be a sufficient Evidence of the value I have set upon it As for your blushes Madam says the Prince they surprise me not they are but modesties bashful discoverers not the hearts but I assure you I shall presume to take no other advantage by them than what I justly may The young Lady was non-plust she understood not the distinctions the Prince had made Monsieur de Cleve on the otherside perceived too well how far she was estranged from any sentiment to his satisfaction His passion was so unhappy it could make no alteration in her The Chevalier of Guise return'd from a Journey some few days before the Wedding he having been made sensible of those insuperable difficulties that attended his design upon Mademoiselle de Chartres resolved to flatter himself no longer with the vanity of any success in it yet at the same time he could not forbear to be sensibly toucht to see her in anothers Arms. His regret was so far from extinguishing his passion it rather enflamed it more Mademoiselle de Chartres was not ignorant of the respect this Prince had for her he could not forbear at his return to let her know she was the unhappy subject of his torment though he knew she was a person of that worth and honour she could not consent to make him miserable without some pity for him which he believed she could scarce avoid though he was conscious to himself her compassion could prompt him no other thoughts but that he was so She could not conceal from Madam de Chartres her Mother the trouble this Prince's passion gave her Madam de Chartres admired and that justly too the vertue of her Daughter for never Lady had either a greater or a more natural but her admiration did not exceed her wonder that the passion of the Prince of Cleve could make no deeper an impression in her than others seem'd to do This made Madam de Chartres the more zealous to endear her Husband to her that she might make her sensible what returns she ought to make the affection he had for her even when he knew her not and to the passion he had since declared in preferring her before the whole number of her Sex and that when no other durst harbour a thought for her This Marriage was solemnized at the Louvre at night his Majesty and the two Queens attended with the whole Court were pleased to take a Treat from Madam de Chartres I need not tell you its splendor and magnificence was proportioned to the honour of their Royal Guests The Chevalier of Guise durst as little venture to distinguish himself from the rest as not to afford his assistance at the Ceremony But alas he could so little disguise his trouble and disorder it fell under the notice of all the Company Monsieur de Cleve discovered that Mademoiselle de Chartres had not changed her humour with her name He was sensible the quality of a Husband had given him the greater priviledge but not the greater place in his Ladies heart This obliged him though a Husband to treat her as a Servant for he still seem'd to wish for something beyond the bare enjoyment of her And though he seem'd to live perfectly contented yet he could not think himself intirely happy with her The passion he had for her was so violent and troublesome it disturbed his joy though he was yet happy in this that his jealousie had no share in his disquiet Never was Husband so far from taking nor Wife so far from giving it Notwithstanding she visited the Courts of both the Queens and that of Madam where and at her Brother-in-law's the Duke of Nevers whose House was the general Rendezvous she was exposed to the admiration of all the brisk and noble Youth of the Town She had a Meen that created her so great a respect and which seem'd so much a stranger to all manner of Courtship that the Marshal of St. Andre who had a passion for her notwithstanding he was the most confident and indeed the best propt with his Majesties Grace and Favour durst not presume to shew it farther than by his services Many others lay under the same unhappiness for Madam de Chartres had added to her Daughters discretion so exact a conduct in all her Actions and Deportment that she convinc'd the Court that that young Lady had a Soul so vertuous it would allow of no ill tincture The Duchess of Lorain as she was pleased to imploy her interest for the conclusion of this peace she was not wanting to contribute her endeavours for the advantage of her Son There was a Marriage concluded between him and Madam Claude the Kings second Daughter and the Month of February appointed for the Nuptials In the interim the Duke of Nemours stays at Bruxells wholly taken up with his great design for England Dispatches and Couriers pass and re-pass daily his hopes begin more and more to swell upon him In fine Monsieur Lignerolles advises him it was now time that his presence should endeavour to accomplish the thing he had so happily begun He received the news with all the joy a young ambitious Soul was capable of that saw himself so nigh being handed up into a Throne upon his single Merit His Heart was so immoveably fixt upon the Grandeur of this Fortune that he would not as much as vouchsafe to allow a thought towards the difficulties that might interpose between it and him He sends immediately to Paris his necessary Orders for a splendid Equipage that he might appear in the Court of England in luster suitable to the greatness of his design Not long after he follows himself that he might have the honour to be present at the Wedding of the Duke of Lorain He came the day before and as soon as he arrived he went to pay his respects to the King to give him an account of this Affair and receive his Majesties
News says Madam de Cleves I thought Madam de Tournon incapable either of Love or Deceit 'T is not possible any one replyes Mounsieur de Cleve should carry her self with greater dissimulation or cunning Observe that when Sancerre thought her alter'd as to him she really was so and began to love Estouteville telling him he was the only Man could make her forget the death of her Husband and for whose sake she quitted her Retirement when Sancerre thought the while it proceeded from no other Cause but a Resolution to appear less afflicted than formerly she made it matter of favour to Estouteville that she conceal'd their correspondence and seem'd oblig'd by her Father to marry him which she pretended proceeded purely from the care of her reputation when it was in truth a trick to put off Sancerre without leaving him just cause of complaint I must needs return continues Mounsieur de Cleve to see my unfortunate friend and I think you may do well to go with me to Paris 'T is high time for you to appear abroad and Receive those visits you cannot well dispence with Madam de Cleve's agreed to the proposal and return'd on the Morrow she found her self more at ease as to Mounsieur de Nemours than she formerly had been what Madam de Chartres said on her death-Bed and sorrow for the loss of her had so suspended her thoughts of him that she thought she should be no more troubled with them The same Evening she arriv'd the Queen Dauphin gave her a visit and having told her how much she shar'd in her afflictions she said to divert her from those sad thoughts she would inform her of all that had past at Court in her absence and accordingly gave her an account of several particulars But that I have most mind to acquaint you with adds she is that it is most certain Mounsieur de Nemours is passionately in Love and that he is so far from making any the most intimate friend he has his Confident in the case there is not one can guess who it is he is in love with Though he be so deeply in Love it makes him neglect if not quit the hopes of a Crown with that she gave her an account of what concern'd the matter of England What I have told you says she I had from Mounsieur de Anville who told me this morning the King had yesterday sent for Mounsieur de Nemours upon Letters receiv'd from Lignerolles who desires leave to return as not able any longer to excuse to the Queen of England the delays of Mounsieur de Nemours that the Queen begins to take it ill and that though she had not made a positive promise she had said enough to encourage the hazarding a Voyage The King read this Letter to Mounsieur de Nemours who instead of speaking seriously as he had done at first fell a laughing and scoffing at Lignerolles hopes saying all Europe would condemn his imprudence should he undertake a Voyage for England as pretending to Marriage with the Queen without assurance of success Besides adds he I could not time my business worse than to take my Iourney at this Iuncture when the King of Spain makes address to that Queen for Marriage In matter of Gallantry I confess his Catholick Majesty were no very considerable Rival but in a Treaty of Marriage I cannot think your Majesty would advise me to stand in competition with him I would on this occasion replys the King for I know he is otherwise inclin'd and were he not Queen Mary took so little pleasure in the Yoke of Spain I cannot believe her Sister will undergo it or suffer her self to be blinded with the Glittering of so many Crowns on one Head If she yield not to the splendor of so many Crowns says Mounsieur de Nemours 't is probable she will seek her happiness in Love She hath for some years lov'd my Lord Courteney Queen Mary too was in love with him and would have marry'd him and with publick consent of her Kingdom but that she knew him more taken with the youth and beauty of her Sister Elizabeth than ambitious of reigning Your Majesty knows her Jealousie of them made her clap them up Prisoners and afterwards banish my Lord Courteney and prevail'd with her at last to resolve to marry with the King of Spain Elizabeth who now possesses the Throne of her Sister will I believe shortly call home my Lord Courteney and will rather make choice of him for her Husband whom she hath lov'd and who is really amiable and hath been a great sufferer for her than of a Man she hath never seen Were Courteney alive says the King I should be of your mind but I have been certainly inform'd some days since that he is dead at Padua whither he was banished But I see adds the King as he left Mounsieur de Nemours your marriage must be made up just as the Dauphins was and Embassadors must be sent to espouse the Queen of England Mounsieur d' Anville and the Vidame who were with the King when he spoke to Nemours are clearly of opinion nothing could divert him from so great a design but the passion he is so deeply ingag'd in The Vidame who knows him best of any man living hath told Madam de Martignes he finds such a change in Mounsieur de Nemours he scarce knows him And which he most wonders at he cannot observe he hath any private Correspondence nor can he discover any secret haunts he hath or that he is missing at any time which makes the Vidame believe he holds not correspondence with the person he loves and this is the reason he thinks himself so much mistaken in Mounsieur de Nemours to see him in love with a Woman that does not love him again What a poysonous discourse was this for Madam de Cleves How could she choose but know her self the Person whose Name was not known How could she but be deeply affected with gratitude and tenderness at the News she received by a way not at all liable to suspition that this Prince she had so great an inclination for conceal'd his passion from all the World and slighted for love of her the hopes of a Crown it is impossible to describe her sentiments on this occasion and represent to the life the trouble it rais'd in her Had the Queen-Dauphin ey'd her more closely she would have easily discover'd she was concern'd at the discourse But as she had not the least suspition of the truth she proceeded without taking notice of her Mounsieur d' Anville adds she who as I told you acquainted me with all these particulars thinks I know the business better than he and hath so great an opinion of my Charms he believes me the sole person capable to cause so extraordinary alterations in Mounsieur de Nemours These last Words rais'd another kind of trouble in Madam de Cleve's very different from that she was formerly in
I am of his mind answers she and 't is very probable that no less than such a Princesse as you could make him despise the Queen of England I would confess it did I know it replys the Queen-Dauphin and I should certainly know it were it true Passions of this Nature seldom escape the discovery of those who occasion them They are the first that discern them Mounsieur de Nemours never exprest for me other than slight and superficial complaisance yet I observe so great difference between his present and former deportment towards me I dare assure you I am not the cause of that indifference he shews for the Crown of England But I am so taken with your company I forget my self and mind not the obligation I am under of seeing Madam you know the peace is in a manner concluded but 't is possible it may be News to you that the King of Spain refuses to Sign the Articles but upon condition he shall marry that Princess instead of the Prince Don Carlos his Son The King was loath to consent to it but hath done it at last and is newly gone to carry Madam the News I believe it will much trouble her what pleasure can she expect from Marrying a Man of the age and humour of the King of Spain especially she so jovial so young and so beautiful a Lady who expected to Marry a young Prince for whom unseen she had a strong inclination I question whether the King will meet with the obedience he desires in her He hath charg'd me to see her because he knows she loves me and that I have some power over her I shall from thence make another visit of a very different Nature to congratulate the Kings Sister for the conclusion of her Marriage with the Prince of Savoy who is expected in few days Never had person of the age of this Princess so great cause to rejoyce at her Marriage The Court will be more Numerous and Glorious than ever and in spight of all your affliction you must come and help us to let the Strangers see we are furnish'd with no mean Beauties Having said this the Queen-Dauphin left Madam de Cleve's and on the morrow the Marriage of Madam was in every ones Mouth The day after the King and Queens went to see Madam de Cleve Mounsieur de Nemours who had waited her return with extreme impatience and wisht passionately he might speak with her in private put off going to her till the time all company broke up and probably none would return thither that night It fell out as he had wisht and he came in as the last Visiters were taking their leaves The Princess was on her Bed the weather hot and the sight of Mounsieur de Nemours put her to a blush that made her more amiable He sat over against her with a respect and fearfulness incident only to a genuine Passion he was speechless for sometime Madam de Cleve's was as mute as he so that they were both silent a pretty while At last Mounsieur de Nemours complemented her condoleing her affliction Madam de Cleve's very glad of discourse on that subject spoke a good while of the loss she had had and told him at last though time might abate the violence of her grief she should still retain so deep an impression of it it would alter her humour 'T is true Madam replyes M. de Nemours great troubles and violent passions occasion great alterations in our tempers though I was never actually sensible of it but since my return from Flanders Many have observed in me a very great change and the Queen-Dauphin her self spoke to me of it yesterday She has indeed taken notice of it says Madam de Cleve and I think I have heard her speak of it I am not displeas'd Madam answers Mounsieur de Nemours that she hath perceiv'd it but should be very glad she were not the only Person that did so There are Persons in the World to whom we dare give no other evidences of the passion we have for them but by things that concern them not yet when we dare not make it appear we love them we are willing at least to let them see we desire not the Love of any other we are willing to let them know we look with indifference on all other Beauties though in the highest sphere and that a Crown may be too dear if to be purchas'd with no less a price than absence from her we adore Ordinarily Ladies judge of the passion had for them by the care their Servants take to attend and to please them but be they never so little amiable those are easie tasks to perform There is no great difficulty in giving our selves the pleasure to wait on them But to avoid their company for fear of discovering to the World and almost to themselves the passion we have for them that 's a difficult point the truest evidence of being really in Love is when we become quite other men than we were when we renounce our ambition and our pleasures having all our Life pursu'd the one and the other Madam de Cleve's easily understood how far she was concern'd in this discourse she thought it her duty to cut it off by an answer Presently her mind alter'd and she was of opinion it was better make as if she understood it not and give him no cause to think she took it to her self she thought she ought to speak and thought she ought to be silent this discourse did in a manner equally please and displease her It convinc'd her of the truth of all the Queen-Dauphin made her think of him she could not but look upon it as full of gallantry and respect but withall somewhat bold and a little too plain andintelligible The inclination she had for that Prince put her into a disorder it was not in her power to master the darkest expressions of a Person we love move more than the clearest declarations of a person we have no inclination for She made him no answer Mounsieur de Nemours took notice of her silence and perhaps would have taken it for no ill Omen But Mounsieur de Cleve's coming in put an end to their discourse and his visit The Prince of Cleve came in to give his Lady a further account of Sancerre but she was not very curious to know the Issue of that Adventure Her thoughts were so taken up with what she had newly heard from Mounsieur de Nemours she could scarce hide the distraction she was under Assoon as she was at liberty to Muse of what was past she saw clearly how much she had been deceiv'd when she thought her self indifferent as to Mounsieur de Nemours his discourse had made as deep Impression on her as he could wish and fully convinc'd her of the truth of his passion his actions agreeing too well with his words to leave her the least shadow of doubt She no longer flatter'd her self with hopes
of not loving him all her care was not to let him Know it she knew this would prove a very hard task having already had experience of the difficulty of it she knew there was no way of doing it but by avoiding the presence of that Prince Her being in Mourning gave her occasion of living more retyr'd than ordinary and she took that pretence not to frequent places where she might see him very sad and disconsolate she was but the death of her Mother appear'd to be the cause of it and no suspition was had of any other Mounsieur de Nemours was almost distracted he could not have a sight of her and knowing there was no finding her in Company and that she appeared not at any Divertisements at Court he could not prevail with himself to be there but pretended a great love for Hunting and made Matches for that Sport upon the days the Ladies and the rest of the Court us'd to meet at the Queen's Lodgings A slight indisposition serv'd him a long time for a pretence to keep home and absent himself from those places he knew there were no hopes to see Madam de Cleve Monsieur de Cleve was sick much about the same time During his illness Madam de Cleve stirred not out of his Chamber But when he grew better and admitted Visiters particularly Monsieur de Nemours who under pretence of being not yet fully recover'd spent there the greatest part of the day she found it was not in her power to stay there yet at his first coming she could not quit the Room 'T was so long since she had seen him she could not quickly resolve to see him no more Monsieur de Nemours had the address by discourses that appear'd altogether general but she understood well enough by the relation they had to what he had privately said to her in her Chamber to let her know he went a Hunting only for more liberty to think of her and that the reason he quitted Meetings at Court was her not being there At last but with very much ado she put in execution the resolution she had taken to quit her Husband's Chamber when Monsieur de Nemours was there who quickly perceiv'd she shunn'd him and was very much troubled at it Monsieur de Cleve did not presently take notice of his Lady's conduct in this particular but became sensible at length she went out of his Chamber when company was there He told her of it she answer'd she thought it not decent for her to be there every Evening in company with the youngest of the Court that she intreated him to allow her to live more retir'd than she had done hitherto that the virtue and presence of her Mother while she liv'd had given her priviledge in some things she thought no longer fit to be made use of by a Woman of her age Monsieur de Cleve who naturally had a great deal of kindness and complaisance for his Wife exprest it not on this occasion but told her he could by no means consent she should alter her Conduct She was upon the point of telling him it was the general report Monsieur de Nemours was in Love with her but she had not the power to mention his Name besides she thought it dis-ingenuous to disguise the truth and make use of pretences to a Person who really had a very good opinion of her A few days after the King was at the Queen's Lodgings about the time of going to take the Ring the discourse was of Horoscopes and Predictions The Company was divided in opinion what credit to be given them The Queen maintained that after so many things foretold and afterwards come accordingly to pass it was not to be doubted but there was some certainty in that Science others insisted that of an infinite number of Predictions so very few prov'd true that the truth of those few must be look'd upon as a meer effect of Chance I have heretofore says the King been very curious and inquisitive of the future but they have told me things so false and improbable that I am convinc'd they know nothing certain Not many years since there came hither a Man famous for Astrology every one went to see him and I among the rest but did not let him know who I was I took with me Monsieur de Guise and Descars and made them go in first Yet the Astrologer addrest himself to me as if he had judg'd me Master to the other two and perhaps he knew me but if he did he told me a thing no way suitable to me His Prediction was I should be kill'd in Duel He told Monsieur de Guise he should die of a Wound given him behind and Descars that he should have his Brains knockt out with the kick of a Horse Monsieur de Guise was offended at the Prediction as if it imported he would run away Descars was not well pleas'd to hear he should end his days by so unfortunate an Accident In a word we went out all three very ill satisfied with the Astrologer What may happen to Monsieur de Guise and Descars I know not but 't is very improbable I shall be kill'd in Duel The King of Spain and I have newly made peace and had we not done so I question much if we should have fought or I have sent him a Challenge as the King my Father did to Charles the Fifth When the King had given this account of the misfortune foretold should happen to him those who before defended Astrology deserted it and agreed there was no credit at all to be given to it For my part says Monsieur de Nemours aloud I of all Men living have least cause to credit it and turning himself towards Madam de Cleve near whom he stood It has been told me says he to her very softly I should be happy in the kindness of a Person for whom I should have the most violent and the most respectful Passion imaginable Judge you Madam if I have cause for any Faith in Predictions The Queen-Dauphin having heard what Monsieur de Nemours had said aloud thought what he said softly had been some false Prediction told him and ask'd him what it was he had said to Madam de Cleve Had his Wit been less ready the Question might have surpris'd him but he answer'd without any hesitation it had been foretold him he should be exalted to a Fortune so high he durst not pretend to If this be it hath been foretold you says the Queen-Dauphin smiling and thinking of the Affair with England I would not advise you to run down Astrology 't is possible you may have reasons to give in defence of it Madam de Cleve understood the Queen-Dauphin's meaning but knew withal that the Fortune Monsieur de Nemours spoke of was not that of being King of England It was now a long time since the death of her Mother and Madam de Cleve must appear abroad and make her