heightned it by the variety The Chevalier in his first visits endeavour'd strongly to gain an interest in Madam Mazarins affections but not meeting with the success he desir'd he had not the patience to wait longer for it but all on the sudden broke off his amorous Addresses In a short time after I design'd to entertain the Queen of Sueden at a Consort of Musick and at the same time to take a little recreation as necessary for my self whose Element was Action and my greatest delight to set others at work My Sister and Brother were pretty good Friends then and though I knew both cold enough towards me I was so far from resenting it in the least that I told them with all sincerity my humour being uncapable of dissimulation I was not troubled at the care they both took to avoid seeing me The matter rested not there but my Musick applauded by every body else was so jeer'd by my Brother that he told me the Voices and the Airs were the pityfullest in the World and the Symphony worse My Sister though she said not a word confirm'd by her looks the censure he had past This anger'd me so that I fell out with them both being unwilling to be made their sport and their laughing-stock or to allow my Brother the satisfaction of the pleasure he took in provoking me by his crossness and contradictions Things being at this pass they plotted privately to go together into France and never let me know it till three days before they set out which they did without bidding me adieu The greater love we have for any person the more we resent an injury done by him I was both surpriz'd and griev'd at their absence and willing to know the cause of it I received a Letter from each of them wherein they told me with very good words that they had great business in France which call'd them thither but that my ill humour made them hasten their Journey yet they would come back again without fail if I desir'd to see them for which Madam Mazarin gave me her word To satisfie my curosity I expected their return without giving my self the displeasure of reading out their kind thoughts of me Soon after my Brothers arrival at Paris he marry'd a Kinswoman of Madam de Montespagne call'd Mademoiselle de Siange whose beauty assisted with the Kings perswasions brought him under a Yoke he never exprest any inclination for Madam Mazarin not thinking her self safe at Nevers where she staid and fearing the Duke her Husband might make use of his right and attempt something against her liberty she went to the Abby-Royal within ten Leagues of Paris where she continued till the King sent for her to know what she desir'd having at her arrival answer'd his Majesty she desir'd only a Pension to live handsomely in Italy she obtain'd it without difficulty The Chevalier de Lorrain in her absence accompanied us to some houses of Pleasure of the Constables where we commonly went a hunting Having spent some time in those Country sports we return'd to Rome where the Walks the Collations and sumptuous Treats given us sometimes in the Vineyards of the Family of Borghese sometimes at Montalto and sometimes in other places contributed not a little to our pleasure to continue which we resolv'd to treat one another by turns every Sunday Cardinal Chigi Prince Savelli the Chevalier de Lorrain the Dukes Sforza and Basanello who was the Constables Cousin being of the company so that we past the Carnaval with more pleasure than usual Pippa Acciaioli having obtain'd leave of the Pope to present an Opera About the end of the Spring Madam Mazarin performed her promise and I had the pleasure to see her again after nine Months absence more beautiful than ever But this satisfaction had like to have cost me dear for having taken Physick that day I got so strange a Collick by going abroad the day I had been purged that had it lasted a little longer it had certainly made an end of me I was so ill the most stony heart would have pitied me yet the Constable was not in the least mov'd at it at least in appearance having with wonderful tranquility and unconcern'd repose heard me groan frightfully a whole Night My Sister appear'd as little concern'd as the Constable while his Brother and all those about me exprest their sorrow for my pain they only excepted who were my nearest Relations who never troubled themselves for what should become of me However the violence of my Disease yielded at last to the strength of the Remedies us'd which effectually cur'd me Then it was the Chevalier de Lorrain presented me from Monsieur a full hunting Equipage of the value of a thousand Pistols garnish'd with an infinite deal of Ribbands the finest and richest in Paris which his Royal Highness had sent him to present me with Having been pleas'd to accept of a Present I had made his Highness of Gloves and other Toys not worth the speaking of The Chevalier procur'd me this Present who had not done him any service nor lent him any thing as was falsly reported it being certain he never wanted Money and was extreamly displeas'd with me for going about to borrow some to pay him my loosings at play The following Summer intending to take the pleasure of bathing my Brother Madam Mazarin and I went to Sebaron a passage very dangerous through the rapidity of the stream where the violence of the Water carry'd me with such force I had been certainly drown'd had I not been help'd by a Turkish Maid-servant that Monsieur Rospigliosi General of the Popes Galleys in Candy had bestowed on me She was more strong than big and with my Brothers assistance drew me out of the danger I was in This made us chuse a place of more safety in the Tyber near which we caused a Cabbin to be made to undress us in from whence we had a Gallery that reach'd just to the bathing place all made up of Canes Leaves and Boughs with admirable art The Autumn we spent in the Country and the Carnaval in seeing Operas as we us'd to do though not with equal pleasure the Constable of a long tme not having the same complaisance tenderness and esteem for me as formerly he seldom spoke to me and when he did it was in such Language I could have wish'd rather he had not spoken at all to me The Count Sermino his Brother formerly known by the name of the Abbot Colonna who had several times compos'd our differences and by his prudence hinder'd them from breaking out is a witness of my sufferings Not able to endure any longer such sensible displeasures and injuries I apply'd my thoughts to find out a remedy My Sister and I in the time of our bathings and walks had contracted a stricter amity than ever I resolv'd to take the advantage of the tenderness she had profest for me and earnestly pray'd her not to return into
taste of the pleasures I enjoy'd and heightned their sweetness and made those sensible expressions of Love the King honoured me with more charming than ever Nor was it a small addition to my happiness that the Queen Mother gave me constant evidences of a particular esteem for me and that my Uncle was much kinder than before The Excess of my prosperity made my satisfaction imperfect and I could have wish'd my self some little misfortune that I might the better relish the happiness I enjoyed It was not long ere I had my desire and fortune with a Witness granted my Request Being return'd to Paris our time was wholly taken up in divertisements which made this the pleasantest part of my Life His Majesty to make our delights durable commanded all those of our Company being the principal Lords and Ladies of the Court to treat us by turns which though in the Country was perform'd with the highest magnificence Love is the life of such Entertainments and there was not one of the Lords of the company but had his ingagement the Grand Master spar'd no cost to regale my Sister Hortensia the Marquess Richlieu was no less careful to please Mademoiselle de la Motte Augencourt Maid of Honour to the Queen The Marquess d'Alvy was in love with Mademoiselle Touillons our Confident who was also Maid of Honour to the Queen and afterwards marryed to the Marquess not to speak of the rest as deeply engag'd It would take up a Volume to tell you what happen'd in those Gallant Treats and the Divertisments that attended them I shall content my self with the Relation of a single adventure to demonstrate the Gallantry of his Majesty and how well he knew to take his occasion to shew it It was as I remember at Bois le Vicont where as I was walking very fast under a row of Trees His Majesty would give me His Hand and having hit mine a little with the Pommel of His Sword He presently drew it out of the Scabbard and threw it away in a manner no words are capable to express These Pleasures had lasted a pretty while and 't was now time I should taste of ill fortune who had so long enjoy'd good but my misfortune was greater than I desir'd and in a time I least expected it The Spaniards no less weary of War than the French had as I said before sent Don Antonio Pimental into France to make an Overture of Peace and the Treaty of Marriage with the Princess Margaret when almost concluded being broken off at his arrival France cast her Eyes on the Infanta of Spain whom the World look'd upon as the only means to make Peace between the two Crowns and restore Christendom to general repose It was not likely the King should have Love for a Princess he knew only by Report but the Picture of that charming Lady being come into France produc'd in the Affections of that Monarch the effect a sight of the Original would have wrought and presently inspir'd into him an ardent desire to compleat the Allyance propos'd which the Charms of the Infanta would have made him embrace though the Queen Mother's perswasions and the Cardinal 's and even Reasons of State had been wanting to press him to it Before the Court made ready for that famous Expedition which restor'd Peace to these Puissant Monarchies His Eminence began his Journey and would have us with him to remove me from the Kings presence as fearing my stay at Court might obstruct his designs This part of my Life offers my Pen a large field to enlarge upon by discovering the favourable inclination his Majesty had for me answerable to the general Report that hath past of it But my modesty forbids it and will not allow me to speak of the trouble that Prince was in at my departure having retir'd to Chantilly for eight days whence he incessantly sent Courriers to me the first whereof was a Musketeer who brought me five Letters from him all very long But I cannot pass in silence the grief I had at parting nothing having over gone so near me as this separation I thought the most exquisite torments pleasures if compar'd with the afflictions of so cruel an absence that was to put an end to hopes so glorious and make all my high and tender Ideas vanish into nothing I wish'd for Death as the sole Remedy of my Misfortune and the Condition I was then in was such as cannot be exprest There are few so unfortunate to have no hope of relief All the comfort I had was my hope the Treaty might be dissolv'd the Obstacles of Peace appearing so great and that the ill success of the Treaty might turn to my advantage but the Ministers of the Crowns surmounted all difficulties nothing remaining invinsible but my misfortune My Uncle being gone to Burdeaux to attend the coming of Don Lewis de Haro chief Minister of Spain and the Court being shortly after arriv'd there he sent us to Rochell with leave to take our pleasure of walking over all the Country of Aunis But solitude being more suitable to the sadness of my thoughts I chose for my residence the Castle of Brouage a place destitute of divertisement and where my Sisters and the rest of my Company could not as at Auris go every Day to a Play as if I had fancy'd all the World obliged to share in my sorrow and the pleasures of others to be my Crimes All my divertisements in this Fortress was reading some Letters received by the Post and the kindness of my Sister Hortensia who often quitted my Sister Mariana to bear me company Then it was the Bishop of Trejus arriv'd there from my Uncle to propose to me Marriage with the Constable Colonna who had for that purpose sent to his Eminence at the Conference the Marquess Angeleli a Gentleman of Bologna to make the Proposal to my Uncle and at the same time engage Don Lewis de Haro to obtain from his Catholick Majesty the permission necessary for the Constable being his Subject to marry me The Bishop of Trejus fail'd not to represent it to me as the most advantageous Match in Rome the Constable being equally illustrious for Nobility and Fortune and with very great earnestness desiring me in Marriage before any other Any one but I would have been comforted with a Proposal of such advantage but the grief I was in had so fill'd me with disdain that the pressing Instances of the Bishop did but enrage me and forc'd me to answer him He might have sav'd himself the trouble of his Journey if he had nothing else to propose to me but my leaving France and that my Uncle before I left Court to go along with him had given me his word he would never force me to marry against my Inclination The Bishop return'd with this Answer to my Uncle who having a great desire to see my Sisters was already dispos'd to send for them and had done it but that the fear
I was in of being left alone and the requests of my Governess prevail'd to the contrary The Peace being made and the Kings Marriage concluded his Eminence sent our Governess orders to bring us to Paris where we arriv'd some Days before the Court remov'd from Burdeaux and Prince Charles of Lorrain a Person equally Gallant and Handsome began to make Love to me His Passion was as pleasing to me as to my Governess who very well knew the honesty of his designs But my Sisters were not pleas'd with his Assiduities and being often oblig'd to follow me to the Tuilleryes they grew weary of those continual walks and as we seldom pardon the least defect in those we have no inclination for the amorous Prince fell often under their Censure insomuch that the Respects he paid me and the esteem I could not deny his merit were usally made the subject of their Raillery The Duke of Lorrain having discover'd his Nephews design and fearing this Prince being his lawful Successor might by the Marriage he intended espouse the Cardinals Interest and receive from his Eminence advantages to the prejudice of the Duke not only forbad him further address to me but pretended to me himself but to very small purpose being too old to supply the place of a young Prince or rationally expect his waiting on me at the Tuilleryes should have the success the assiduities of his Nephew might have met with While this new Lover was making his Court to me the King arriv'd at Fountainbleau and the Cardinal sent for us thither from Paris to kiss the new Queens Hand I quickly foresaw how dearly I should buy this new Honour and must confess I had much ado to perswade my self to receive it expecting my Wounds for which absence was the best Remedy would bleed afresh at sight of the King I could not imagin the King would have received me with the indifference he did and I must acknowledge I never took any thing so much to heart which made me wish every moment I might have leave to return to Paris 'T is an ordinary fault of our Sex not to endure to hear others commended though very deserving if the Praises be given by one we love to a Person who robs us of his affection 'T is the greatest of torments And the King frequently put me to it I was to be pitied the more that I could not complain of him or disapprove a proceeding my Reason excus'd And the orders my Uncle had given me never to speak on that Subject left me no colour of blaming him Yet all these considerations but augmented my grief and the impatience I had to find an occasion to tell the King my Mind who received my Complaints so ill I resolv'd never more to acquaint him with my troubles But my Disease wanted remedy and in search of cure I removed from my sight all Objects capable to foment my Passion and studied all plausible pretenses to stifle it I earnestly pray'd my Sister in whom I had great Confidence to speak all the ill she could invent of the King which was a hard Task for any much more for one of her age I shunn'd Company and quitted the Court then at Vincennes and came thither as seldom as possible There it was my Uncle fell ill and finding himself grow worse and worse daily he resolv'd to have me marry'd to the Constable who still desir'd it with much Constancy and Affection His Eminence finding me willing writ to the Marquess Angeleli then at Bruxelles who had made the first Overture of this Marriage to my Uncle at the Conference at Burdeaux The Marquess came into France and being a person of Gallant and agreeable deportment he made so good use of it in favour of the Constable and the Customes of Italy that I made it my request to the Bishop of Trejus to solicit my Uncle to conclude the Treaty of my Marriage which his Eminence did some Days before the conclusion of the Treaty of Marriage of my Sister Hortensia with the Duke Mazarin and soon after finished the course of his Heroick Life in a death equally illustrious His Majesty having been pleased to honour him with all possible expressions of esteem and affection Having done right to his memory the King was so far from lessening the kindness he had for us it seem'd to increase not a Night passing but he came into our Apartment attended with the greatest part of the Court than which none was ever more rich or more splendid or had greater Affairs in hand Amidst the divertisements of the time my Heart was full of cares and disquiet the Articles which the Constable should have sent under his Hand being not come 't was generally believed this delay proceeded from the change of Affairs by the death of my Uncle and His Majesty was pleas'd to offer me several Matches among the highest Nobility of his Court But being as much concern'd to keep my word with the Constable as I was to see my great hopes all vanish I answer'd the King if the Constable had alter'd his Mind I would spend the rest of my Days in a Covent A few Days after the Courrier arriv'd with the Articles expected in pursuance whereof we began to celebrate the Ceremonies of my Marriage in the Kings Chappel where Mass was said by the Arch-Bishop of Amasia now Patriarch of Jerusalem who made me a Present of very great value on the part of his Nephew the Constable in whose Name the Marquess Angeleli took me by the Hand This Ceremony being over I was treated as a Princess Stranger and as such I had the priviledge of sitting on a Tabourette in the Queens presence This was the begining of this affair which was to end in my departure I solicited it with a great deal of earnestness and could not be at rest till I was on my way I had taken my Resolution and thought it requisite to execute it speedily As I took leave of their Majesties the King had the goodness to assure me he would always allow me a place in his thoughts and that he would favour me with his affection where ever I went With that I went away accompanied by the Patriarch of Jerusalem the Marquess Angeleli and our Governess attended with Fifty of the Guards whom his Eminence had before his death order'd to conduct me safe to Millan where the Constable was to receive me I pass by the Accidents of our Journey as not worth relating The Constable came to meet me accompanied with the Marquess de los Balbaces his Cousin This Gentleman making as if he were the Constable who follow'd him to observe how I would receive him advanc'd to salute me but appearing very different from the Idea I had of the Constable I receiv'd his Complement with a little surprize and very coldly and turning on the sudden towards my Maid Hortensia I told her if that same were the Husband provided me he might go look out another
the apparent danger of my Life I took a resolution to avoid for the future all occasions of exposing my self to the like by bearing any other The Constables consent being necessary to make valid a resolution of this nature I press'd him for it and obtained it having ever since found him in that particular a Man of his word Having made this agreement all my care was to recover my health to go pass another Carnaval at Venice As soon as I had gather'd strength we set forwards on our Journey leaving our third Child to the care of the Marchioness de los Balbaces the second being at Rome and the eldest with us I had spent this Carnaval with a great deal of pleasure had it not been for my jealousie of the Constable who went in search of reparation abroad for the loss incurr'd at home by our late agreement And I must confess I was not a little concern'd his keeping his word with me should cost me so dear There were at Venice many excellent Opera's particularly that of Titus which I saw very often being extreamly pleas'd with the sweetness of the Voices and excellency of the Actors especially a Musitian of his Highnesses call'd Cavagninro and one of my Maids who did wonders not to speak of the Comedy which was one of the best that ever was acted The Carnaval being over the Constable went to Rome with my Brother to dispatch some Affairs At his return which was within three weeks I spoke to him of going to Millan where I desir'd to be at the Infanta's arrival I was more troubled to quit Venice at this time than formerly as having more acquaintance there and being of opinion it was the pleasantest City in the World and of the choicest divertisements but the more unwilling I appear'd to leave it the more did the Constable hasten our departure so that we set out in the hottest of Summer At Millan I did my endeavour to pass my time as pleasantly as possible to which the Marquess de los Balbaces and his Lady contributed not a little We spent the day in walking and sumptuous Collations and the night in Musick prepar'd for us at The Place Marine the pleasantest of that Town A while after our company was increas'd by the addition of some persons of quality which came to us from Venice and Turin from whence his Royal Highness had sent us one of the principal Lords of his Court with several Gentlemen his Friends to complement the Empress who arriv'd there about the end of Autumn I kiss'd her hand having waited on her in a Spanish Dress and in deep moorning for Cardinal Colonna who dy'd at Final of a Sickness he fell into attending this Prince Her Majesty received me with very great kindness telling me I appeared by my Deportment and the air of my Countenance to be what my Habit promis'd A Complement whereby she intended to give me the advantage over the Ladies of all other Nations there being no doubt but she look'd upon the fashion her self appear'd in the most excellent and preferrable to all others She continued her Journey for Vienna but the Constable was not dispos'd to wait on her thither though I very much desir'd it He hath a Soul so generous I should do him wrong should I impute his not going to his fear of expence necessary for such a Journey The truth is the Love he had had for me was very much diminish'd and too weak to incline him to so much complaisance I propos'd to him then that we should pass another Carnaval at Venice which I was assur'd he would not deny me though I was sensible his inclinations for the place prevail'd with him more than my request for going thither We set forwards on our Journey and though I found in that City the same divertisements as formerly they did not please me so well being now very much alter'd and perpetually tormented with my jealousie of the Constable which the stories I heard of him did but too clearly justifie I was so grieved that others took advantage of my politick Barrenness that I found my self already in a very sorrowful condition And as if I had not had reason enough to torment my self with jealousies abroad Fortune provided me a new occasion at home by a Marchioness who lodg'd with us Her Youth and her Beauty drew the Eyes of all towards her and amongst the rest the Constable was of her admirers Had I not made that conjecture by his looks his sighs and assiduities had been sufficient to convince me I had too much reason to make that Interpretation my resentment though conceal'd was great but that of the President Donaville whom my Brother had taken with him to Rome was greater who look'd upon the Constables addresses as no small Obstacle to the happy success of his passion rival'd also by Quaranta Lupuli a Man of excellent parts natural and acquired and a most affectionate Lover powerful advantages for obtaining of Love The Winter as well as the Carnaval being over we went for Rome by the way of Bologna where the Cardinal Legat gave us in his Pallace a splendid Entertainment The Marchioness traveling with us found the number of her Lovers increase by the way but the most passionate and he who evidenc'd his fidelity by a Sacrifice very unusual in our days was Quaranta who extremely concern'd to see his Love slighted and fancying others more successful abandon'd himself so to jealousie and grief that within a days Journey of Bologna in his way to Rome whither he intended to bear us company he fell into a violent Fever which quickly ended his days We continued our Journey and at our arrival at Rome had the news of his death The Marchioness wept but many tears were not to be expected from a person surrounded with the flames of so many Lovers After the death of this Lover succeeded the absence of her Husband whom she enjoy'd a very short time a military employment they had bestowed on him at Amona having call'd him away thither to live in a House of his own after seven or eight Months time spent in ours the Pastimes and Feasts we had constantly at home appear'd to me too dull for the Carnaval and desiring to spend it with more pleasure and prevent censure of the liberty I enjoy'd I resolv'd to have a Masquerade wherein I presented Clorinda and being attended with thirty or forty Gentlemen in Souldiers habit I threw about as the custom was some Verses which my Brother and a Gentleman his Friend call'd Marescotti made for the occasion The Carnaval being ended the Marchioness spoke of returning to Bologna which the Constable appear'd not concern'd at the Correspondence between them having for some time past been less than formerly A few days after we went for Millan to receive my Sister Mazarin who we heard was retir'd from Paris for some differences between her Husband and her The tenderness I always had for her made