where I paid a Visit to Monsieur Sanguin desiring him to make use of his Interest in my behalf to obtain a Commission in the Army which had always been my profession It was at that time strongly discoursed at Court that four new Companies were to be establish'd which were to belong to the Ordnance to wit one of Germans one of Poles one of Swedes and one of Hussars but this Project being laid aside for that time my Journey prov'd fruitless Nevertheless we did not live without hopes to see the War soon re-kindled because the Spaniards refus'd to give satisfaction to our King concerning his pretensions upon Alost Several Conferences were held upon this account at Courtray whither both Kings had sent their Deputies to treat about it and compose the difference in an amicable way Lewis the Great had also proposed to leave it to the Arbitration of his Britannick Majesty but the Spaniards did not think fit to accept of it This made the King to order his Troops to enter in an Hostile manner the Spanish Territories which proved very troublesome to the Spaniards notwithstanding which the Prince of Orange who had his particular design did by the great Influence he had upon that Court disswade them from giving us due satisfaction Thus it came to an open Rupture by the Seige of Luxemburgh Whilst the French were busied in making their Lines of Circumvallation the Prince of Chirnay who was then Governour of the Place thinking himself in a condition to defend the place against us caus'd his Musick to play upon the Walls for a Bravado to shew how little he valu'd our Approach But it was not long before he found his mistake for he was attack'd with such vigour that he was glad to come to a capitulation The Dutch who were earnestly press'd by the Prince of Orange to relieve the Place finding themselves either not in a condition to undertake it or being not dispos'd at that time to follow his advice remain'd only Spectators of the Conquest of this place without meddling in the least in the matter The Spaniards were not alone extreamly sensible of the loss of this place but the Emperor bore as great a share in it as any finding that our King thereby had considerably extended his Conquests upon the Rhine considering especially that he had made himself Master of Strasburgh before as being a dependance on Alsace But the War in which the Emperor was at that time engag'd against the Turks not leaving the least room for the Imperial Court to flatter themselves with hopes to act with any success at the same time upon the Rhine it was resolv'd at the Dyet of the Empire to accept of the Twenty Years Truce offer'd by his most Christian Majesty Not long after my return home from Paris my Father dy'd in the 89th Year of his Age. Just before his Death he recommended my Sister to my Care and desir'd me to pardon all what was pass'd and to take the same care of her as if she never had committed any thing against me I promis'd him to do what he desir'd and it has not been my fault that she has not reap'd the Fruits of my Promise since Whilst he lay sick I sent for a Physician living at Montreville who refus'd to come asking my Servant What I meant by sending to him whether I intended to play the Fool with him it being well known that I understood more in Physick than all the Country Doctors thereabouts and upon this occasion I cannot forbear to tell you how it came to pass that I acquir'd the Reputation of a famous Physician One time being at Tours to look after a Law Suit I was engag'd in at that time against my Sister a certain young Woman one of the most confiderable of the whole City being Sister to the Chanter or chief manager of the Musick in the Cathedral there had a Swelling which all the Physicians there did not know what to make of Some were of opinion it was a species of the King's-Evil and that it must be laid open Her Parents were very unwilling to cónsent to the opening of it because it was just upon the Knee and consequently might prove of dangerous consequence by reason of the conjunction of many Nerves near that place Hearing by chance somebody talk of it one day I had the curiosity to go and see her because I had made my observations in Germany that they us'd frequently to cure swellings upon the Knee by simple Fomentations I no sooner cast my Eyes upon the Swelling but I found that it was one of the same kind which made me tell them that if they would trust to my skill I did not question but to cure her Her Parents having given their consent I got my Remedy prepar'd and apply'd it to the Tumour She found some relief the same day after the first application and to be short the Remedy succeeded so well and its effect was so quick and stupendious that it was not long before she could walk abroad again This Cure being perform'd upon a Person of note at Tours I got such a Reputation by it that I was look'd upon there as one of the most skilful Physicians of the Country The best of all was that one of the Physicians of the City happen'd to be seiz'd with a violent Cholick proceeding from the Gravel in the Kidnies and after he had try'd all his own Remedies sent one of his Acquaintance to me to desire my Advice I went to see him and finding what was the true cause of his Distemper I gave him a certain Remedy which I had formerly seen prepar'd at Berlin which I order'd him to take as they commonly do in Germany The Composition was made of Vitriol about half the bigness of a large Pea of a certain dose of Chrystal mineral and half an ounce of Black Radish Seeds the outward Rind of which is black but the inside as white as a Turnip This I infus'd in White-wine and so gave it to the Patient This was the whole foundation of my Doctorship But this Remedy as simple as it appears succeeded as well as the former which made me to be cry'd up all over the City of Tours for one of the most able Physicians they had seen a great while so that I verily believe if I had been put to it I might have got a very good livelihood by the practice of Physick there So true it is that outward appearances are very deceitful and that a slender accident sometimes proves of great consequence For the Nuns of Beaumont sent one to Compliment me immediately after who told me that being fully perswaded of my extraordinary ability in Physick they hop'd I would come and pay them a Visit but I civilly excus'd it It was much about this time that the destruction of the Protestant Religion in France was warmly debated at Court The King who at present saw all his Dominions enjoy the fruits of
vexed to the Heart not so much for the loss of my Money as that the whole Set would be spoil'd which made me engage two of the Seamen to follow with their Boat promising each of them a Reward of a Lewis d'or provided they could save her Two of the Ships Crew undertook the Task and took the Mare but in lieu of bringing her to me they put her ashoar in some place which was out of our sight and then return'd to the Ship pretending they had seen her drowned before their Eyes before they were able to come near enough to save her I did not in the least mistrust them and being come at Night into the Inn on the other side of the Water the River being about half a League over there we went to Supper in company with an unknown Person who seem'd to be a Man of Fashion Finding both me and my Spouse much discompos'd he ask'd us the reason of it and I frankly told him that it was the loss of my Coach Mare that troubl'd me He ask'd me what kind of Mare she was and what Harness she had Having given him as exact a description as I could of both he told me I need not vex my self any further for he was sure she was not drowned as they had made me believe and that he would put me in a way to have her again that he had seen her with two Seamen who would have sold her to him The next thing I ask'd him was what kind of Fellows these Seamen were he spoke of whom he describ'd to me so exactly and with so many Circumstances that I did not in the least question but they were the same whom I had sent after the Mare Then I discover'd to him what my thoughts were concerning the matter and advis'd with him what way I had best to take to recover my Mare we were both of the same opinion to go to the Judges of Rotterdam and to desire that Justice might be done me upon this Account Accordingly we cross'd the Water next Morning early and meeting with the two Seamen there I told them to avoid all suspicion of their being discover'd that I was come over the Water only to look for some Papers I had left at my Lodgings I went to an Acquaintance of Mr. Gueverdin's living at Rotterdam to whom I had Letters of recommendation from the said Merchant Having given him an exact Account of the whole matter he went with me to a Magistrate of that City to desire him to grant us a Warrant for the Apprehending of these Rogues but he refus'd to do it alledging that it was against their Custom to grant a Warrant without hearing first the Evidences Mr. Gueverdin's Friend represented to him that such a delay would prove dangerous and chargeable to me and that being a Stranger they might in that respect dispense with these Formalities That I was ready to give caution for all Damages and Expences in case I was found in the wrong of it But this not being prevailing enough with the Judge my Friend advis'd me to go streight ways with him to the Hague and to make our Applications to one of the Judges of a Superiour Court whom he knew very well and who would perhaps not be so scrupulous as the other with this resolution we went into the Shuit which was to carry us to Delft where we found a Fellow smoaking Tobacco The Master of the Shuit told him that if he would smoak he must do it without not in the place where the Company sat but the Fellow ridiculing the Master of the Shuit he told him again that he should not smoak any more there it being contrary to their Orders and if he would not believe him he would shew them to him immediately With that he went to his Trunk and brought forth the Printed Orders at which the other laugh'd look'd just at them and so threw them into the Water In the mean while the Women made a great noise telling the Master that they were choak'd up with the smoak of the Tobacco which made the Master snatch the Pipe out of his Mouth which he threw into the Canal telling him that such Fellows who would not be ruil'd must be thus serv'd The smoaker to revenge himself took a Knife out of his Pocket and cut the Face of the Servant belonging to the Shuit who had taken his Masters part This occasion'd a great disorder in the Shuit which was with much ado appeas'd by the intercession of the Company The wound at the same time happen'd not to prove dangerous which made the Master appear careless in the matter but he was no sooner come to Delft but he made his Complaints against the Fellow who was seized immediately and we being oblig'd to appear as Witnesses it was some time before we could take Boat again for the Hague I had not been many Hours there when I happen'd to meet with the same Person with whom I had supp'd the night before and who had given me the first account of my Mare He went with us before the Judge who without any further exception granted us the Warrant which the Judge of Rotterdam had refus'd us As we pass'd through Delft in our return from the Hague we were inform'd that the Magistrates of that City had taken a short but just way of proceding with the Fellow who cut the Servants Cheek whom they had Condemn'd to the Rasphuis a place where Vagabonds are employ'd in all manner of slavish work which with them is look'd upon as a punishment equivalent to that of the Gallies in other Countries After our return to Rotterdam Mr. Gueverden's Friend soon procur'd me a sufficient number of the Shuits Attendance who marched along with us to the Tolhuis where they seiz'd the two Sea-men who were much surpris'd at this unexpected Compliment especially when they saw me come in immediately after I upbraided them with their Knavery and what troubles they had put me to so they gave me my Mare again thinking to be acquitted thus of all Accounts but I brought them in an after-reckoning which they were forced to pay to the full at the Rasphuis This may serve as an instance how exactly and impartially Justice is Administred in that Country and of what consequence it would be to us if we would tread in their Footsteps this being the only means to prevent many of these Rogueries which are committed every day among us After I came to Antwerp I met with another Adventure tho' of a different nature from this Some Hollanders among whom indeed you may meet with as great Sharpers and Rogues as any are in France had kept close to me in my Journey having got intelligence at Amsterdam by what means I know not that I had good store of ready cash about me One of them who had followed me at a little distance seeing me engag'd in discourse with a Friend of mine whom I met accidentally in the Street made
Ireland I met my two Kinsmen at the appointed day and place and we embark'd immediately in a Vessel at Samur which carried us in two days to Nants The Duke de Chauness to whom I paid a Visit told me That those Officers who came lately out of Catalonia were gone two Days before to Pimboouf from whence they intended to go forward with the first fair Wind to Brest where Monsieur de Chateau Renault lay ready to set Still with a good Fleet and that we must not neglect a Minutes time if we intended to take the opportunity of this Fleet to be transported into Ireland We follow'd his Advice as much as possibly we could and embark'd the next Morning early in hopes to meet with these Cataloniaâ—â— Officers still at Pimboouf but they had not carry'd there at all but had immediately after their arrival hired another Vessel to carry them forthwith to Brest for fear they should lose the advantage of the Wind which blew very fair for them And the Sequel proved that they had been much in the right for within four and twenty Hours after the Wind chop'd about and continued contrary to us for twelve Days together all which time we were forced to spend in vain and with a great deal of impatience at last the Wind turn'd on our side and you may believe we would not lose a Minute so with a fair Gale we sailed for Brest but were no sooner arrived there but that to our great Surprize we understood that the Fleet commanded by Monsieur de Chateau Renault had set Sail for Ireland the very Night before our arrival there This Fleet had on Board above two Hundred French Officers besides a great quantity of Provision and Ammunition all which was intended to support the War in Ireland The Earl of Tyrconnel who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for the King of Great Britain at the time of the great Revolution in England had not sided with his Enemies as most of the English and Scotch had done but behaved himself like a faithful Subject and by his Conduct preserved the Kingdom of Ireland in his Master's Obedience not without hopes this might prove a means for him to recover his other two Kingdoms For this purpose as soon as he got intelligence of what had happened in England he had given Commissions to most of the Catholick Gentlemen of the Country to raise Men for their King's Service and those who were sensible that their Ruine depended on that of their Royal Master shew'd a great deal of Zeal to give him the utmost of their Assistance A great Number of the Inhabitants of that Kingdom who were Protestants foreseeing that the War was likely to be carried on with extraordinary Animosity in that Kingdom and fearing not without reason that the Irish would take this opportunity to take satisfaction from them for a great many Affronts and Damages received from the Protestants whilst they were the strongest Party retired in time into England with their Effects But those who had their Estates in Land were forced to stay behind and promised to be faithful to the King Most of these last lived in the North of Ireland about Londonderry and Iniskilling which were as yet in the Hands of the Protestants but the Earl of Tyrconnel who did put but a slender confidence in their Faith ordered some Catholick Regiments thither to keep a watchful Eye over them But the implacable hatred which has always been most conspicuous in that Kingdom betwixt the Catholicks and the Protestants began soon to break out into great Disorders To remedy which my Lord Montjoy an Irish Protestant Lord whose Estate lay thereabouts did all he could to perswade the Earl of Tyrconnel that he had taken wrong Measures thus to discover to all the World the Diffidence he had of the Protestant Party and that it would be much safer for him to leave the Defence of these two Places to the Protestants alone than to two Parties which would be always thwarting one another being of so contrary a Principle tho at the same time it was certain that he underhand fomented these Divisions among them Nevertheless the Earl of Tyrconnel follow'd his Advice but no sooner had he withdrawn the Catholick Troops from thence but the Protestants thereabouts revolted unanimously against the King of Great Britain The Earl gave immediate notice of it to his Master in France and positively told him in his Letter That his Presence was absolutely necessary in Ireland He sent word also That he shrewdly suspected the Lord Montjoy's Conduct especially since his two Sons were gone over with their Regiment to the Enemy and that his Opinion was it would not be long before he would follow in Person unless he were prevented His Advice was to send for him into France under pretence that the King would consult with him concerning some Matters of great Moment relating to that Kingdom and to secure him there It was also contrived that the Earl of Tyrconnel should give my Lord Montjoy Letters to the King of Great Britain in which he should recommend his Conduct and Zeal for the King's Interest the better to disguise their design against him which notwithstanding all the fair Contents of these Recommendatory Letters was to be put in execution immediately after his Arrival in France The King of England did communicate Tyrconnel's Letter and Advice to our King who was of Opinion that he ought to follow the Earls Counsel and appear in Person in Ireland promising him powerful assistance both of Men and Money besides all other Necessaries for the carrying on of this Enterprize Accordingly my Lord Montjoy being sent for came to St. Germains freighted with sham Letters of Recommendation from the Earl of Tyrconnel to the King of England with whom he had a long Conference and it was observed that the King managed the matter so well on his side that my Lord did not in the least mistrust what was likely to befall him But very few days were pass'd before he was undeceiv'd in the matter for no sooner had his Britanick Majesty had a full account from his own Mouth concerning the true State of the Kingdom of Ireland which was the only thing he wanted to know at that time but he caus'd him to be secur'd and carried to the Bastile where at first he had liberty granted him to walk in the Court but afterwards was confin'd to a Room under Lock and Key because the Prince of Orange King William III. had confin'd Hamilton to a close Prison The King of England took along with him for Ireland Monsieur Rose an experienc'd Officer who was to Command his Army there and our King furnish'd him with several other Officers of Note they being most of all wanted in Ireland It is somewhat strange to relate but nevertheless very true that tho' there were many among the Irish who had serv'd before yet were they generally such Novices in the Art of War that
him order'd me to get every thing ready to go along with him into England where he was to buy some Horses for the Cardinal Monsieur de Bordeaux having recommended him to his Eminency as one the best skill'd in Horses of any Man living which indeed was no more than the Truth there being scarce any body who excell'd him in this point To be short our Journey proved very unfortunate We came to Calais just after the Packet-boat was sailed for England so that we were under a necessity to lay hold of the next conveniency of a Vessel bound for London Thus by the Intrigues of a mischievous Tongue I saw my self disappointed of the hopes of making my Fortune near the King But as one ill fortune seldom comes alone we were not long after in most eminent danger of having been Shipwrack'd For the Wind blowing very hard from the South-West we were drove e'en upon the Sands in sight of Pettem on the Dutch Coast Having refreshed our selves a little on shoar we returned on board and being got clear by the help of the Tide we were soon after by a most violent Tempest forced upon the Coast of Norway The Tempest was so terrible that for four or five Days together we were not able to distinguish Day from Night till the fury of the Storm being somewhat abated the Seamen descry'd at a great distance the City of Bergen the Capital of the Kingdom of Norway The Ship having suffered considerable Damage in the late Tempest it was resolved to take the Harbour which being done the Ship was fain to be laid up in order to be Refitted The great Frost which happen'd in a few days after and which render'd that Port unpassable made us take up our Quarters there for the whole Winter and we lodged at the House of a French Merchant living in that City As he had good Correspondence in France we took this opportunity to let our Friends there know what was befallen us and he being inform'd by some of his Correspendents of my Fathers Quality was very desirous to marry me to his only Daughter This Merchant passing for a vast Rich Man in this Country my Father who hop'd to have found a means to make my Fortune did give ear to his Proposition and the Daughter shew'd much more inclination to me than to any of that Country but I had not the same favourable Sentiments for her Person her whole disposition appearing to me as savage as the Country she Inhabited it being impossible to give you a true Idea of the unpoliteness of the Inhabitants of that Country for most of them run away at the very sight of a Stranger and to me they appear'd at a distance more like Bears than Men. My Father did all he could to move this squeamishness of mine telling me that a Man of Fortune must pass by abundance of those Matters to meliorate his Condition but to little purpose Nevertheless I should questionless have found it a hard task to have got rid of my intended Spouse if her Father had proved as rich as we at first Imagined But when my Father began to sound the bottom and what Portion he intended to give his Daughter we found that there was not much ready Cash his Riches consisting chiefly in his Book Debts and some Lands in Norway In the mean while my Father was gone so far as to be almost past retreating the only pretext he had left to gain time was that he was unwilling to conclude the Matter without the advice of his Relations Thus the business protracting and the Spring coming on we got on board again in order to pursue our Voyage Thus I saw my self delivered from a Country where I was afraid I should have ended my Days among the Bears for to speak Truth I could see nothing else there but these Beasts and Sorcerers The last are so common in that Country as with us the shooe-makers or any other Artificers They sell Wind to the Masters of Ships just as they are ready to set sail and that not in private as forbidden Commodities us'd to be dispos'd of in other places but in Publick no otherwise than as if they sold you one of the Products of their Country Our Master of the Ship purchas'd some as well as the rest which indeed could not but surprize me to a high degree to see those People so void of all fear of offending God Almighty as to put their Confidence in and to sacrifice to the Devil Being at last safely arrived at Gravesend we got ashoar making the best of our way to London upon some Hackney-Horses which our Host there had provided for us The first thing we did was to visit Monsieur De Bordeaux who received us very kindly and would needs have us stay with him in his House For being a great Gallant he used to pay frequent Visits to the Ladies so that for five or six Months together I did little else but spend my time in visiting with him I had a most peculiar Genius for the English Tongue which in a Years time I knew as well as if I had been a Native of that Kingdom Mounsieur de Bordeaux had at that time a Mistriss a Knight's Lady whose Husband having conceiv'd some Jealousie at their Conversation had left her and as it was given out was gone to Rome to visit all the Cities of Italy to satisfie his Curiosity which had been always bent to Travelling But about three Months after my arrival as Monsieur de Bordeaux and I were coming one day from visiting this Lady a Musquetoon was discharg'd at our Coach the Bullets of which passed from before where the Coachman's Seat is through the Coach where the Footmen are commonly plac'd without doing any harm but to wound the Coachman Monsieur de Bordeaux and I having not receiv'd the least Hurt and the Footmen also having escap'd the danger because they had to their good Fortune just a Moment before left the Coach and were walking by There was no body that could give the least account of the Author of this intended Murther some suspected the same to proceed from a certain Person who bore the Character of an Envoy of the Prince of Conde in London others gave out that this Lady's Husband being return'd out of Italy intended to bestow this upon us as a Recompence for the Pains we had taken to dignifie him with Horns the last indeed seem'd to be the most probable In the mean while I did nothing but lose time without the least prospect of Advancement in this Country when a sudden Accident happen'd which prov'd to my advantage For one Crible who was come out of France with Monsieur de Bordeaux in the Quality of Secretary stabb'd his Butler with a Knife and was forc'd to fly the Country to avoid punishment Monsieur de Bordeaux after he had for some time resided in England in the Quality of an Envoy Extraordinary from France was of
the absence of his General He ordered two Hundred French Horse to swim over the River with express Orders to their Commander to Nail up the Cannon of a Battery which gall'd his Souldiers which was bravely executed before the Turks were able to prevent it The Infidels having been convinc'd by this Action that they could not expect any great success on that side where the French were Posted resolved to lay a Bridge over the River near the German Quarter on which they were at work all that night knowing that the Imperialists had been extreamly fatigu'd all the Campaign they did not question but to surprize them which succeeded so well that twelve Thousand pass'd the River before the Imperialists had any notice of it So that being Charg'd furiously by the Turks they were brought into Confusion The Duke de la Fevillade was no sooner advertis'd of what had happen'd upon the Right Wing but he march'd straight to their Relief and at the same time Commanded a Detachment to ruine their Bridge to prevent the rest from passing the River that way This Detachment which was in no small danger of having been over-powered by the Enemy was seconded so seasonably by fresh Forces that notwithstanding the vigorous Resistance made by the Enemy they broke the Bridge The swiftness of the Current did indeed contribute much to the executing of their Design for as soon as they had broke down some part of it the rest was carried away by the violence of the Stream The Turks being now without any hopes of being seconded he Charg'd them at his ease and the Imperialists had thereby leasure given them to rally so that these 12000 Turks were no longer able to stand the brunt but betook themselves to Flight the most of them were drowned as they were endeavouring to re-pass the River very few of them that were on this side escaping with their Lives This Victory prov'd the occasion of the following Peace betwixt these two Empires The most were of opinion that it would be for the Emperor's Interest to pursue his Victory but it seems he had conceiv'd such a Jealousie at the bravery the French shew'd in that Days Action that setting aside all other Considerations he thought it best to send them forthwith back which induc'd him to conclude a Truce with the Turks for a good many Years The Prince of Courland was likewise Discharg'd with his Troops but they were not disbanded by their Prince partly because the Muscovites were in motion upon the Frontiers and partly because there was great appearance of a Rupture betwixt Holland and the Bishop of Munster and the Duke of Courland the Father of him who brought me along with him out of France did wisely consider that he might treat about these Troops with either of these two Parties in case he should have no occasion for them himself Knowing my self a Stranger in this Country I thought it to be my Interest to look about for some Friend whose Authority might be able to support me in a Court where as well as in all others Strangers are not look'd upon with a good Eye if they are preferr'd before the Natives It was upon this account I made my Addresses to the Governour of the young Prince whose Name was Vanaubin and who besides this was President of the Council He was a Person of great Integrity and very obliging and I must own that I met with a very kind Reception from him He had two very handsom Daughters who learn'd to Dance from a French Master who came every day to their House The Prince had a Niece whose Name was Princess Sophia Emilia she us'd often to come and see these two young Ladies with whom she frequently pass'd her time in Dancing The Dancing Master having told her once that he saw a certain Frenchman go into Vanaubin's House who Danc'd very well the Princess was no sooner Inform'd that it was the Cornet belonging to her Cousins Guards but she sent me word that I should come to wait on her Vanaubin seeing one of her Servants speak to me ask'd what he wanted with me and having told him without the least reserve what Errand he came upon he was the first who advis'd me to go immediately because perhaps the Princess Sophia had a mind to Dance with me And it prov'd just as he told me for she so much delighted in Dancing that as often as she went to Monsieur Vanaubin's Daughters she would be sure to let me know that I might not fail to be there In the mean while the Muscovites began to give every day more and more Umbrage to this Court which made Vanaubin who had heard me say that one of the Chief Ministers of the Czar was my Countryman advise the Duke to send me into Muscovy My Commission was to endeavour to prevent an Invasion from the Muscovites by the assistance of this Minister He was a Frenchman by Birth his Name was Desjardins being Cousin German to Madamoiselle Desjardins who has made her self known in France by several of her pieces of Gallantry He very favourably receiv'd my Proposition and a Truce was concluded betwixt these two States for two Years during which time the Differences about the Limits might be brought to a fair Accommodation it being impossible to be done at present because the Czar was somewhat crazed at that time After my return from Muscovy the Duke shew'd himself so extreamly well satisfy'd with my Negotiation that he dispatch'd me forthwith into Holland to offer to the States General who were Engag'd in a War with the Bishop of Munster the same 4000 Men that were not long before return'd out of Hungary They did not think fit to accept of them being in hopes of a considerable Succour from his Most Christian Majesty who soon after sent them some Forces under the Command of Lieutenant General de Pondelles I had Orders sent me to offer them likewise to the Bishop of Munster in my return from Holland but the Bishop foreseeing that by the powerful Assistance of France he would soon be oblig'd to make Peace with the Dutch and knowing besides that they were not offer'd to him till after they had been refus'd by them he gave us many thanks for our kind offers This Journey proving thus fruitless I return'd into Courland where in a little while after there happen'd an Accident which oblig'd me to leave that Country The Count de Ossane was fallen in Love with the before mention'd Princess Sophia whom he desir'd in Marriage The Duke her Unkle did not disapprove of the Match but she could not love the Count and did not stick to shew her aversion to him to all the World She would sometimes make me take particular notice of his odd Behaviour One Day the Count perceiving that we talk'd together concerning him he stay'd till I had left the Princess and then ask'd me what it was she had told me I answer'd that we had talk'd nothing but
endeavour to obstruct our design We consummated the Match in a few days after which being soon come to the knowledge of her Brothers who happen'd at that time to be in the Country of Cleves they return'd with all speed to Altenoe and threatned no less than Death to me neither did their Malice end in Threats for they indeavour'd by all means possible to make me hated by my Spouse in hopes that when they had executed their design which was to take her away from me she might be the sooner disposed to consent to a dissolution of the Marriage This will perhaps appear somewhat strange to most People it being scarce to be imagined how they could pitch upon such a resolution since their Sisters Honour must needs suffer by it But besides that Self-interest made them blind to all other considerations it is to be observ'd that in those Parts if a young Lady happens to have a mischance she is not look'd upon much the worse for such a miscarriage they being not so Nice in that point as we are and provided she prove Virtuous afterwards the Husband never takes notice of what is past I for my part did make no great account upon what I heard told concerning the Threatning Language of my Brothers-in-law all the Answer I gave to those that spoke of it to me was that if they did assault me I did not question to make my party good with them This being told them again they were more exasperated against me than ever so that having got notice that I was one time gone abroad the youngest Brother who was the most violent against me pitch'd upon this as the most seasonable opportunity to enter my House believing that the Servants would not dare to oppose him But my Gentleman to whom I had given express Orders to let neither of the two Brothers nor any of their acquaintance come into the House seeing that they opened the door to him and that he was making the best of his way to his Sister's Chamber drew his Sword to oppose him crying out aloud to the rest of the Servants to come to his assistance their Master's Honour lying now at stake My Brother-in-law was almost Drunk when he entred the House so that being hurried on by the violence of his Passion and the hot fumes of the Wine he run himself upon my Gentleman's Sword and fell immediately upon the Ground wallowing in his own Blood He had brought about seven or eight Troopers and Servants along with him who seeing him in this condition took him up and carried him to the next Chirurgeon who provided him a Bed he being so Weak as not to be sent without great danger to his own House The People who had always a particular kindness for that Family surrounded my House and forcing the Doors laid hold on my Gentleman whom they abused beat and carried to Prison My Brother-in-law dying within two days after my Gentleman was accused of Murther which put me hard to it for I look'd upon it as Barbarous to see my Servant Die having been Faithful to me and on the other hand I was unwilling to disoblige my Spouse who had engag'd me not to solicite his pardon I pitch'd therefore upon a Medium so as to avoid displeasing her and at the same time to preserve a Person whose Misfortune proceeded only from having been too Faithful to me I found means to get a Copy of what had been Deposed against him which I sent to the Marquess de Beauveau Depence who was my intimate Friend and in great Esteem with the Elector I begg'd of him to speak to the Elector in my behalf and to represent to him that I had Espoused my Wife upon his Recommendation and that if my Servant must suffer Death for having defended his Master's Honour I could not expect for the future to live in security my self The Elector being inform'd exactly of what had pass'd discoursed the matter with Monsieur Fuchs President of his Council who being of the same Opinion with the Elector that my Servant's Misfortune had happen'd rather by a Mischance than any intended Malice he sent Orders to the Prison-keeper to let him go before Sentence could pass against him Monsieur Depence order'd me at the same time to send him forthwith back into France without letting him as much as enter my House This being his Electoral Highnesses express Command who had Pardon'd him upon this Condition Accordingly I furnished him with what was necessary for his Journey and gave him besides this a good Gratuity for the Service he had done me but in lieu of returning into France where he was born he went to Brussels where he had a Brother living who was Married in that place The late Monsieur Frankenstein my Father-in-law had after the Death of my Wife's Mother Married a young Lady of Quality out of Denmark who was a Cousin German of his first Wife but much handsomer than she at least as I have heard it said for I never saw my Mother-in-law She had got such an ascendant over my Father-in-law that he endowed her with all that he could nay even with more than he ought to have done for he presented her with Jewels Pearls and other such like things to a great value which had been my Mother-in-laws and which she with his consent had left by her last Will to my Spouse This last Lady had been so cunning as to alter most of them so as scarce to be known again hoping to defraud my Wife of them by this means but some few Years before I was Married to my Spouse my Father-in-Law happen'd to die whilst to her Misfortune she was just absent and in Denmark having left her Jewels and a good Sum of Gold which she had pick'd up since her Marriage in a Cabinet The Eldest of my Wife's Brothers who knew of the matter and was much dissatisfied at my Father's over-easiness had not Charity enough to give her notice of his sickness but did not send her the least word till after he was Dead and whilst she was upon her Journey out of Denmark he laid hold of all what she had hoarded up in the Cabinet which at her return she found empty This occasioned a Law-suit betwixt them but wanting evidence to prove the Matter against him she was advised to let the Matter remain in suspence My Brother-in-law being of a weak Constitution and Consumptive besides he resolved never to Marry knowing that Marrying would be the readiest way to hasten him to his Grave yet he could not escape his destiny for it was not long after my Marriage before he took his bed and finding his Malady encrease past remedy he was desirous to be reconcil'd to his Sister She being sent for and come to his Bed-side he express'd his sorrow for what was past and at the same time delivered to her all the Jewels and other precious Movables he found in the Cabinet telling her that she need not
but they not obeying my Commands were all made Prisoners of War and the Swedes finding among them a Serjeant and four common Soldiers who had Deserted they Hang'd them in sight of their Army They then carried on their Trenches towards the Bridge-Gate and threw in a great quantity of Bombs which Consumed our Magazine of Forrage which was laid up in a place which formerly had been a Church belonging to the Recollects whom my Father-in-law had Chas'd from thence whilst he was Governour of the place I was hardly put to it to provide for our Horses which made me take all what I could meet with of Forrage in the Inns or Private Houses This and the fear of the Bombs which had already ruin'd many Houses proved the occasion of a Tumult among the Inhabitants of whom I was fain to Imprison some to keep the rest in awe I took care to inform the Elector at Court of what had pass'd who sent me word that I should Defend my self to the last they being resolv'd to Relieve me in good time Accordingly the Elector Marched to our Relief of which Coningsmark had no sooner notice but he rais'd the Seige after twelve days opening the Trenches But before he March'd off he Dismantled the two Forts which he had taken and the Elector who had notice given him of the raising of the Siege returned to Berlin the rest of the Campaign being spent without any considerable Action After the Campaign was over I made my Appearance at Court to receive some Instructions from his Electoral Highness and to give him an Account concerning what had pass'd during the Siege of Altenoe I was not forgetful to represent to him That the Catholicks had shewn the greatest Zeal for his Service in the Defence of the Place whereas the others had been very remiss in their Duties I told him that if he would be pleas'd to Annul what had been done by my Father-in-law when he was Governour of the Place and would Restore the Recollects the Church that was taken from them this would be a means to encrease their Affection towards him and to engage them for ever in his Interest My perswasions prov'd so successful that the Elector did not only grant what I had desired but also restored to them the great Church which my Father-in-law had taken from them and given it to the Lutherans I was extreamly well satisfy'd with what I had done in behalf of the Catholicks there but what rejoyced me infinitely more was that my Spouse did assure me she found in her self a great inclination to be Converted to our Faith She was Educated in the same Religion her Father profess'd who was the second of that Family since they turn'd Hereticks her Grandfather and the whole Family having been always good Catholicks till my Wifes Grandfather chang'd his Religion This happy Inclination I could attribute to nothing else but a peculiar Mercy from God not but that I had often discours'd her upon this Subject but it was a considerable time ago having of late desisted from it because I found her not in the least disposed to hearken to my Advice in this point But her intended Conversion was likely to have prov'd almost Fatal to us both because I mistook my choice in the Person to whose care I committed the management of it For I pitch'd upon a Jacobin Friar who instead of being a Man of Virtue and Piety as I thought him to have been was for teaching my Spouse quite another Lesson than what I intended he should do She told me how he had managed his Business with her which made me under hand give notice of his Misbehaviour to his Superiour without mentioning a word of it further either to himself or any body else for fear of bringing a Scandal upon our Religion But my Spouse took the thing quite otherwise for imagining that all the rest would prove like him I found her quite averse to pursue her former good Inclinations I had much ado to perswad 〈…〉 her that the misbehaviour of a particular Person ought not to stain the Reputation of all others of the same Religion That there had been a Judas among the Apostles themselves and that therefore the rest had been never the less Holy and Acceptable to God This may serve as a warning to those who are entrusted with the care of sending abroad Missionaries or other Persons for the Conversion of Hereticks to be sure to choose such as are of an untainted Life because the least Tresspass in them is apt to produce great Scandal especially if it be of the same Nature with this At last my Wife being overcome by my perswasions and the Instructions of a Religious Person of a far different Temper from the Jacobin Friar she renounc'd Lutheranism and was reconcil'd to that Church which her Grandfather had abandon'd We were now busie in the Blockade of Stetin all the Avenues of which were closely guarded by our Troops notwithstanding which the Swedes found means to throw a Re-inforcement of 600 Men into the place being guided by a Peasant who Conducted them cross the Marshes through ways which were at another time quite Impassible But notwithstanding this the Garison diminished considerably every day partly by Famine partly by their frequent Sallies The Swedes therefore made a second Attempt to throw in another Re-inforcement into the place but the Elector's Troops being better upon their guard since the first Relief most of them were made Prisoners before they could enter the Town The Guide as ill Fortune would have it was among these last who had a Halter for his Reward Our Elector kept also a Correspondence in the place by which means he hoped to make himself Master of it without being obliged to employ his whole Force against it The Chief of this Conspiracy was a certain Brazier of which there are a great many in that Town It was agreed he should set the Magazine of Amunition on Fire which he did accordingly together with one of the best Mills belonging to the Town but being discovered he with two more of his Accomplices were hang'd for their pains The Besieg'd who were very strong within and headed by a Governour who perfectly well understood his Trade made frequent Sallies upon us in one of which they made themselves Masters of the Fort of Almea where there was a Garrison of 600 Men who were all made Prisoners of War Coningsmark advanc'd likewise to the relief of the Place but finding it impossible to raise the Blockade he directed his March towards Altenoe and the Elector fearing lest he should attempt a second time the Siege of that place sent me thither with a reinforcement of 600 Men. Coningsmark advanc'd towards the Town by the way of the Bank which leads along the River up to the two Forts which he had built in the last Siege without attempting any thing further his Business being only to consume the Forage on that side as he did
whether it was she or not She answer'd me immediately ja Her which is as much as Yes Master so that the thing being now beyond all question the Commissary gave the signal to his Clerk to fetch his Emissaries who lay conceal'd in a neighbouring Alley The Woman at first refus'd to deliver the Key under pretence that she had forgot it in the place from whence she came last offering at the same time to go and fetch it But seeing the Emissaries appear and that the Commissary order'd his Clerk to go and fetch a Lock-smith to pick the Lock she threw her self at his Feet and deliver'd the Key After we were enter'd the Room the Commissary examin'd the Chamber-maid the Dutch Woman a young Wench of about fifteen Years of Age and the Woman of the House each of them separately having before order'd his Followers to take care they should not speak to one another I supply'd the place of an Interpreter to my Wife's Chamber-Maid from whom and what was depos'd by the rest I learn'd the whole matter as I have related it just now They were all carried to Prison except my Wife's Chamber-Maid and the Commissary would likewise have seiz'd upon the Furniture of the House which indeed was none of the worst if the Landlord under pretence of some Rent due to him had not prevented it so a Guard was set in the House as it is usual upon such like occasions After our Chamber-Maid was got with us in the Inn again and had given us an exact account of the whole matter Mr. Gouteux whose advise I took in every thing before was of opinion to lay an Action against the Abbot whom he knew to be very Rich and that he would rather part with some Money than expose himself in a Law Suit of this nature His advice being look'd upon as very feiseable we resolv'd to follow it and thus I enter'd my Action against him in the Chamber-Maid's Name He was so alarm'd at it that he immediately engag'd one Mr. Van Gangel another Banker of Paris to speak with Mr. Gouteux to interceed with me not to proceed any further against him Mr. Van Gangel offer'd likewise a small Present in hopes the Chamber-Maid would take it in lieu of Satisfaction but I would not let her accept his Offer After several Interviews I was at last prevail'd upon to accept of a hundred Lewis dor's for her use whereas if we had stood it out to the last I believe we might have had a much greater Summ. Before this last Adventure happen'd to us I went to pay a Visit to Madam Sanguin whom I have mention'd before to know from her whether my Father were as yet living and what was become of my Sister I went thither in my Coach and I may say it without Vanity that there are not two finer Coach Horses in all Paris than those two I had at that time in the Coach Her Porter had liv'd with the old Mr. de Bordeaux and had seen me there a thousand times nevertheless when my Footman told him my Name he did not in the least think it was I being prepossess'd with the opinion that I was no more among the living I call'd to him my self to come nearer to the Coach which when he had done and heard me speak he was in the greatest surprise in the World to find it was my self having forgot my Physiognomy by reason of my long absence tho' the Wound which I had receiv'd in the Face at the Battle of Dunkirk made me very remarkable But Madam Sanguin herself was more surpriz'd than her Porter and told my Footman who spoke to her that it could not be because I had been dead many Years ago and when I approach'd her I found her as much amaz'd as if my Ghost had appear'd to her She ask'd me three or four times whether it were possible that it was I and whether it was I indeed After I had given her reiterated assurances that it was I indeed she then told me that it was not my long absence alone but something more real which had occasion'd her surprize to see me alive She then told me how my Sister having taken a resolution to Marry did not only give it out that about two Years after my departure out of France I had been beheaded at Metz for Coining but that also to confirm the truth of it she had produc'd a Certificate sign'd by four Soldiers who pretending to have belong'd to the same Company had testifi'd the whole truth of the matter which she had caus'd to be Register'd in due form I having formerly had so many proofs of the malicious inclinations of my Sister was not much surpriz'd at what Madam Sanguin told me and I desir'd her at the same time to give me a further account of what was become of her since She answer'd me that soon after she had got such an ascendant over my Father who was very old that she perswaded him to sell his Estate which he had actually done to one Mr. Barriar who paid him 28000 Livers for it that she had put the greatest part of it out upon Bonds under her Name and the rest she had brought up with her to Paris in hopes to catch some body or other that she had plaid the part of a Lady of Quality there so long till all her ready Money being spent she had been forc'd to dispose of all her Bonds except one of 14000 Livers due to her from the Baron d'Aunais a Gentleman of Normandy near Alenson that she had endeavour'd to dispose of that likewise but could not meet with a Purchaser because the Baron's Affairs were look'd upon to be but in an ill posture That the Baron dy'd soon after and leaving more Debts than Effects to pay them she had lost her 14000 Livers that my Father who had liv'd of late near Alenson had spent what was remaining by degrees and had left so little now as to be reduc'd to a degree of Poverty These were very unwelcome Tydings to me and to add to my Affliction I was also inform'd that my Brother by the Mother's side had consum'd his Estate of about 300 pounds per Annum which made me alter my resolution of setling my self in that Country Madam Sanguin having given me a relation of the present condition of my Family she was very desirous to understand from my own Mouth what Fortune had attended me since my departure out of France I told her among other things in what manner I had made my Fortune in Germany at which she appear'd extreamly well satisfy'd and pay'd a Visit to my Spouse the next day I took then a resolution to make the Province of Languedock the Seat of my Fortune after I had taken a turn to Bordeaux whither I was oblig'd to go first to look after a Debt due to me from a Person unto whom I had lent a Summ of Money whilst I was in the Brandenburgh Service I
opinion with the Neighbouring Gentry and had declar'd that there were a thousand Circumstances to be observ'd in her Carriage which had not the least Affinity with those belonging to a Person of a noble Birth whether German or French Thus they would by all means make my Wife a Servant of the Burgo-Master Wyntges And to make up the Story it was related with a great deal of confidence that after I had Married her I had the good fortune by many good Offices and the readiness I always shew'd to the Burgo-Master to be serviceable to him upon all occasions to get such an ascendant over him after some Years were pass'd that he trusted me with the whole management of his Affairs That at last the Burgo-Master having undertaken a Journey and left us absolute Masters of his House in his absence we had taken that opportunity to seize upon all his Jewels and Gold and so to retire first into Flanders and from thence into France it being the easiest thing in the World to convey any thing secretly out of Holland by reason of the conveniency of the Carriage if there is no mistrust in the case That which confirm'd them in this opinion was as they said that a Servant of mine whom I had brought along with me out of Holland had told to some of his Acquaintance at Loudun that in my Journey I was sorely afraid of being pursu'd which was the reason I never took the great Road as I was coming into France and that he had observ'd even in Flanders that I had caus'd some Countrymen to cut down several Trees which hindred my passage through some by Roads It was further reported that the Burgo-Master Wyntges did ever since make a most exact enquiry after me and was at last by chance given to understand that there was a certain Merchant at Amsterdam whose Name was Guicherit and who could tell him some Tydings of me That my sudden arrival and Settlement near Loudun together with the repute of my vast Riches both in Jewels and Money having made me be look'd upon by the People no otherwise than if I had been possess'd of all the Treasures of Croesus and that the noise of these Riches being at last come to the Ears of some belonging to Guicherit's Family they had first canvass'd the matter among themselves and at last imparted the whole to Guicherit at Amsterdam It was likewise related that the Burgo-Master having got some scent of the matter he found out Guicherit and having enquir'd of him what he wanted to know concerning my present condition he had prevail'd with him to undertake this Journey to Loudun after he had first engag'd him to write to his Brother who was then one of the Consistory of Loudun and is now a Refugee in Holland Those that were the contrivers of this Story had likewise fram'd several Circumstances to make it pass the more current and as a Story never loses by telling so every body did add to it what he found most suitable to his own guess or opinion I verily believe that if it were possible for me to know but half what was laid to my charge and the various Discourses that were had upon that Subject and how I acted my part in Holland I say it would questionless furnish me with matter sufficient for a good large old fashion'd Romance But after all these malicious Reflections and Threats the whole matter came to nothing and my Adversaries were Eye-witness of my living among them undisturb'd For Guicherit upon whose return they had founded all their Hopes never came afterwards to Loudun and no body ever attempted to make any enquiry after my Affairs since the Memorandum sent by the Danish Ambassadour They began then to look at one another not knowing what to make of it and if they had not been prepossess'd with a strong prejudice against me it had been easie for them to judge that all these Discourses were founded upon false suppositions But as a malicious Tongue is so far from retracting that it rather heaps Calumnies upon Calumnies so they contriv'd a way to unriddle the matter after their own Head For it was not long before it was rumour'd about that soon after Guicherit was return'd to Amsterdam the Burgo-Master Wyntges happen'd to die at Hoorn and that his Estate being divided among several Heirs they were so well satisfi'd with that vast Treasure he had left among them that they did not think fit to make up a Purse among them to prosecute me at so great a distance and that neither of them had thought it worth his while to do it upon his own particular account Thus I escap'd the whole danger by being made a Country talk for some time which indeed I little valu'd at that time tho' afterwards I was at several times made sensible of the ill effects of it These Titles of Vagabond and Sharper which they had been pleas'd to bestow upon me having made very odd Impressions upon a great many People who at least believ'd some part of what they heard so generally reported It was questionless this which encourag'd the Head Keeper of the Duke of Tremoville to write me a Rhodomontado Letter under pretence that I had hunted in his Master's Lordship This was true in effect but it was done with the Duke's consent who knew I would not abuse his Favour and that a considerable time ago I had belong'd to and been conversant in his Family which had made him write to me that I might Hunt in his Jurisdiction when where and as often as I pleas'd I took particular care not to give him the least reason of Complaint but whether it was that his Head-keeper look'd upon me as an inconsiderable Fellow by reason of these beforemention'd Discourses or whether he was set on by a neighbouring Gentleman with whom I had a Law Suit and who was a particular Acquaintance of his he writ to me in such haughty terms as if he had been the Duke himself and I one of his under-Keepers I answered him that I found he had copied this Letter after one of those his Master us'd to write to him and many other smart Reflections He being a Gentleman by Birth found himself so much affronted at it that he made his Complaints to the Marshals of France who sent me a Summons to appear before them at Paris But the thing having reach'd the Duke de Tremoville's Ear and being unwilling to have him expos'd before the Marshals of France he chid him in my presence telling him that he had forc'd this Reply from me by his own Impertinency and after he had perus'd the Letter he had writ to me he told him that he ought not to have writ such a Letter to the worst Gentleman of the whole Province So having commanded him to ask my pardon the matter was compos'd betwixt our selves In the mean while I began to grow weary of the Country which made me undertake a Journey to Paris
Peace and Tranquility without the least fear of being disturb'd in it for the future being resolv'd to lay hold of this juncture to give the finishing stroak to the Hugonot Party The King had for a considerable time before given them such evident marks of his Displeasure and aversion to them that there were very few in France who did not foresee their Ruin except themselves The King's aversion to them was so generally known and taken notice of all over the Kingdom that many of the Roman Catholicks made it their business to affront the Protestants upon the least occasion either out of a preposterous Zeal or to curry favour with the Intendants of the Provinces who encourag'd them under hand pursuant to the Orders they had receiv'd from Court to favour as much as possibly could be done those who should shew themselves Zealots and Instrumental in the destruction of a Religion which was look'd upon as directly opposite to the Interest of the State Upon this occasion I cannot but relate what was done on this account by a certain Priest in our Neighbourhood who profess'd himself always a great Zealot against the Protestants and by his Divices was likely to have prov'd the ruine of a great many People I had about that time a Servant a very simple and foolish Fellow who after he went from me liv'd in the same Quality with one of the Bailiffs of the Marshalsea of Loudun whose Name was Cesvet Besnard This Fellow happen'd to have an amorous Intrigue with his Master's Daughter which I think I may say without injustice to truth One day as he went to Confession to the Carmelite Fryars whose Monastery was not far from the Bailiffs House he happen'd to pitch upon a Confessor who being an acquaintance of his Masters did exaggerate his Crime to the highest degree and among other things told him that besides God's Vengeance which he had drawn upon him it was no less than Death by the Law for a Servant to kiss his Master's Daughter These words made so strong an Impression upon this simple Fellow that believing himself every moment in danger of being hang'd he told to another Servant of mine as likewise to his Father that it was high time for him to go away at such a distance as that no body might hear any further tydings of him being sensible that he had deserv'd Death and living in continual fear lest God should deservedly punish him for his Crime The Carmelite Fryar his Confessor having got notice in what manner his words had wrought upon the simplicity of this poor Wretch and willing to oblige his Neighbour Cesvet by removing from his Daughter an Object which in all likelihood would bring her in time to shame and confusion perswaded the Fellow to go to Gardelupe in quality of a Servant to the Carmelite Fryars there This poor Wretch who had nothing to trust to and being a Peasants Son and accustom'd to all manner of hardship soon accepted his offer and being by the Carmelite furnish'd with all things necessary for his Voyage and embark'd in a good Bottom went to Gardelupe without giving notice to any body whither he was to go In the mean while the words he had spoke to my Servant and his Father were canvass'd about and going from one to another at last came to the knowledge of this my neighbouring Priest of whom I spoke just now His Name was d'Arsac Prior of Ternai he had a Nephew a Gentleman of that Country of whom I shall have occasion to say something anon This Priest considering with himself what Crime it could be that had made the Fellow utter these words concluded at last that it could be no less than a Sacrilege to expiate which he had been sent to Rome to receive his absolution there what confirm'd him in this conjecture was that he had understood this Fellow had been a Servant to a certain Hugonot whose Name was Chateigneraie Being strongly possess'd with this Fancy he concluded further that this simple Wretch had taken out of his Mouth the Consecrated Host he had receiv'd at Christmas Eve which he had carried to his Master who with some other Hugonots had as he imagin'd made some strange use of it The worst of all was that this Priest did not relate this as being the Product of his own Brains but as if it had been told him thus by others He at last consulted about the matter with the Father Jesuits of Loudun who having related the matter to the Curate of the Parish a turbulent Spirit and a declar'd Enemy of the Protestants he gave information of it before a Judge The Servant having receiv'd Intelligence questionless by the means of the Carmelites how his Master la Chateigneraie was accus'd of a Crime of which he was altogether innocent and that he was in danger of his Life writ two Letters from Gardelupe one to his Father the other to the Curate of the Parish of Arsai who was his God-Father in which he declar'd that his Master la Chateigneraie was absolutely innocent and what Crime had been committed was betwixt him and the Bailiffs Daughter His Father sent the Letter to the owner of the Farm in which he liv'd in the Town of Renton who being a Hugonot carried it to Madam Bourgneuf who was a Catholick and Lady of the Mannour there Cesvet and his Kindred having understood out of this Letter that this poor Fellow was at Gardelupe join'd their Interest with all the Zealous Catholicks of that City to obtain an Order for the bringing over of him from that Island in hopes to improve his simplicity to their advantage and either by Threats or Perswasions to make him change his tune when they had him in Prison Thus was this unfortunate Wretch re-conducted into France with the first Vessel that came from thence his Arms and Leâ—s Fetter'd and had a Dungeon an gn'd him for his Lodgings The Judges of Loudun upon the bare deposition of the Prior examin'd him concerning what was laid to his charge Being confronted with the Priest he confess'd that before his departure he had spoke these Words I have related before but deny'd positively that it had been upon that account as it was interpreted by the Prior and upon whose Evidence he stood accus'd The Judges urg'd him to declare without equivocation what it was that had induc'd him to express himself in these Terms to which he answer'd that the same hdd been occasion'd by some Expressions which his Father Confessor had us'd to him upon another Subject which had terrify'd him to that degree as to have spoken the said Words The Judges then sent for the Father Confessor to know whether he had confess'd the truth as to that point but he excus'd himself and would not discover what had been confess'd to him But Mrs. Cesvet the Bailiff's Wife began to be very uneasie about her Daughter for fear of a further discovery of the matter which made her advise with
to defend himself and his Right upon the Bishoprick of Cologne by force of Arms. For tho' his Holiness being prepossess'd with prejudice and passion had excluded him from his pretensions upon this Arch-Bishoprick our King who was resolv'd to maintain the Cardinal in his Right did not think fit he should rest satisfied with this determination of the Pope For which reason he sent a considerable number of his Troops to his assistance most of which were put in Garrisons in the places of Strength in his possession who were also provided with able French Governors and Commanders Thus the War began to be rekindl'd upon the Rhine at the same time when on another side vast preparations were making for a descent in England which produc'd that famous Revolution which soon after happen'd in that Kingdom It is to be observ'd that the Prince of Orange finding the English Nation extreamly dissatify'd with their King not only as he was a Catholick but because they were sensible he endeavour'd to settle that Religion there in opposition to the establish'd Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and willing to improve this opportunity made a descent upon the English Coast with a good Army where he was receiv'd with open Arms. For not only many of the Ministers and others belonging to his Britannick Majesty's Court but also most of the chief Officers of his Army life his Party and sided with the Prince The King himself f 〈…〉 t lâ—st into his â—ands who was put under a Guard but in such a manner that he might make his escape whenever he pleas'd The reason of which seem'd to be that the Prince had taken a resolution to prepare his way to the Throne without making use of any violent means and that he believ'd the King's presence might prove an obstacle to his Intentions Thus this Monarch made his escape out of England and came into France where the Queen his Spouse was arriv'd before him with the Prince of Wales under the Conduct of the Count de Lausun This young Prince who was then but a sucking Child had ever since he came out of his Mother's Womb been an Instance of the frailty of all humane Affairs and that we are born to sufferings in this World For it had been given out by some that he was a suppositious Child by others that he was indeed the Queen's Son but begotten by a Priest The Prince of Orange who had laid the Foundation of this Revolution ever since the time he found the King of England bent upon the establishing of the Catholick Religion in that Kingdom had engag'd in his Quarrel several Princes and States who being jealous of the Glory of France and the prosperity of our King's Arms were willing to favour a design which they knew would embroil the Kingdom of England After the Prince had succeeded in his design even beyond the Expectation of those who had sided with him all the Protestant States in Europe acknowledg'd him for King of Great Brittain and tho' it might have been reasonably expected that the Interest of the Catholick Religion which then lay at Stake should have been prevailing enough with the Emperor and Spain to prefer it before the Jealousie they had conceiv'd at the greatness of France yet they follow'd in this point without delay the footsteps of the Protestant Princes This was like the Alarm to our King who having order'd his Troops to besiege Philipsburgh and some other Places in the Palatinate this prov'd the occasion of the late War betwixt France and the Confederates who tho' of very different Sentiments both in point of Religion and States Interest enter'd into a League to carry on the War against and obstruct the growing greatness of our King The Imperialists were so successful as to make themselves Masters of the whole Electorate of Cologne the next following Campaign and besides this besieg'd the City of Mayence the Capital of the Arch-Bishoprick which bears that Name under the Conduct of the Duke of Lorrain the Imperial General The Dauphin had towards the latter end of the last Year made himself Master of this place without any resistance after he had taken Philipsburgh but it cost the Imperial Army a Siege of six Weeks besides a great many of their best Men before they could bring the French Garrison to a Capitulation and it was generally believ'd that they would have been forc'd to raise the Siege if the place had been sufficiently provided with every thing requisite for a long and vigorous defence I told you before upon what account it was I did not think fit to serve at the Siege of Luxenburgh but the case being alter'd since and finding there was probability enough that the War which was likely to spread over the greatest part of Europe would not come to a sudden period I once more left the Country and no sooner appear'd at Court but I offer'd my Service to the Marquess de Louvois being introduc'd to him by the Marquess de Livri This Gentleman told the Chief Minister in what Quality I had serv'd in Germany and I had brought my Commissions along with me which stood me in good stead For the Marquiss de Louvois desir'd to see them and after he had perus'd them he told me the King intended to make me a Leiutenant Colonel over a German Regiment But it was not very long before he chang'd his resolution for the very next time I came to pay my respects to this Minister of State he told me that the King's intention was to send me into Ireland and that instead of a Lieutenant Colonel's Commission I should be made Brigadeer of Horse Two Kinsmen of mine whose Names were Vignol and Forest had much about the same time taken Service in the King's Army and the Regiments they serv'd in were then in France but understanding that I was to go into Ireland they had so much kindness for me as to desire likewise to be employ'd in that Kingdom I did all I could to disswade them from it I represented to them that there was but little likelihood of any considerable advantage in the Irish Service at so great a distance from home but all in vain for they were resolv'd I should owe them this Obligation that they had sacrific'd their Interest to our Friendship The Marquess de Louvois having granted their Request the first had a Captain 's Commission bestow'd upon him the Second of a Lieutenant both of Horse Thus we set out all three together from Paris and I appointed them a certain day when without fail they were to be at Samur because I had receiv'd positive Orders from the Chief Minister not to carry above twice four and twenty Hours at my own home and to proceed from thence forthwith in my Journey to Nants where I should meet with many more Officers who had serv'd in the King's Army in Catalonia and were now order'd as well as my self to embark with all possible speed for
intercept the Convoys which must go that way to Hamilton's Camp The Eldest Son of my Lord Blare who was then scarce Twenty Years of Age commanded in the Fort the Garrison of which consisted only of two Companies of Dragoons notwithstanding which he defended himself two Days against four Thousand Men who Attack'd him vigorously but in vain For General Rose having thereby time given him to advance to the Relief of the place the Enemies upon notice of it retired from before it From thence General Rose marched to Hamilton's Quarters and after he had taken a view of the whole Place and all the Avenues leading to it it was agreed that the best thing they could do at present for their Royal Master's Service was to take care that no Relief might be thrown into the Place He told Hamilton that his Opinion was Major General Kirk would try his utmost to relieve it by the way of the River They had made themselves Masters of the Fort of Culmore the Year before which lying at the Entrance of the River of Londonderry it commands one side and they erected a Battery on the opposite Shoar to hinder the approach of the Enemies Fleet. All along on both sides of the River several Entrenchments were made for the conveniency of the Infantry who were to ply them as they pass'd by with small Shot But looking upon all this as not sufficient to stop the Enemies Passage it was resolved to make a strong Sâ—accado or Boom cross the River to stop the Ships which otherwise might perhaps by the Advantage of a strong side endeavour to get into the Town But the Engineers who were employed in perfecting it were so little skill'd in what they had undertaken that the Piles which were ramm'd into the bottom of the River were carried away twice by the violence of the Tide and Current the third time it was attempted with somewhat better Success but could only be secured at both ends with Wooden Piles the want of which was secured in the middle part of it by strong Ropes which Defect stood the Enemy in great stead as they advanc'd with their Ships to the Relief of the Place In the mean while those within were driven to the utmost Extremity notwithstanding which his late Britannick Majesty's Council who look'd upon it as much more Glorious to take it by force than to reduce it by Famine sent Orders to Hamilton to open the Trenches before it He obey'd these Orders but the Attack was carried on against that part of the Town where it was of most difficult Access This was occasioned by the Obstinacy of the Chief Engineer who being no great Conjurer in his Art yet would not hearken to the Advice of the rest The Besieged made frequent Sallies with so much Bravery and Conduct that no more could have been expected from a well Disciplin'd Garrison In one of these Sallies they kill'd Monsieur Pusignan a French Marshal du Camp an experienced and brave Officer And the same Fate attended Monsieur de Monmont in another Sally He was a Person who had an equal share of Courage and Conduct and who had formerly been Captain of the Guards to our King and served in the Quality of a Lieutenant-General under King James He might have been saved if the Irish Troops who were appointed to serve him had done their Duty but instead of coming to his Relief at the Signal given as was agreed betwixt them they did not stir from their Post General Rose had met with a great deal of Vexation since his coming into this Country but the loss of these two brave Officers was a great addition to his former Disappointments He therefore gave an Account to the late King of England how Matters went in the Camp desiring him to take his Advice into due Consideration by which means he might be made sensible that he was not served as he ought to be And to give General Rose his due he spoke nothing more than was true in effect for the Irish were generally very negligent in their Duty which furnish'd the Enemy with many a fair Opportunity to fall upon them with great success and those who had the supream Administration of Affairs under King James acted so disorderly in every thing that one would have imagined no otherwise but that they did it on purpose to make us miscarry in the Siege Sometimes they had Powder and sometimes none and if they had Powder perhaps they wanted Matches if they had Matches they wanted Powder and thus it was with all other things in proportion To make up the Matter Hamilton Attack'd a Mill which the Besieged had Fortify'd at some distance from the Town on which he made use of more Horse than Foot tho' it be evident that the last were much more useful for that Enterprize than the first which was the reason he was forced to retire with the loss of a great many of his Men. Whilst things stood thus in the Camp the Governour of Londonderry died partly of the incredible Fatigue he underwent daily partly as it was supposed for Vexation to see the Inhabitants reduced to the highest degree of Misery A certain Minister of the English Church who had signaliz'd himself Walker during the Siege being put in his place did acquit himself with a great deal of Honour in this Station He made frequent Sallies upon the Besiegers and among the rest gall'd them extreamly from an Entrenchment which his Predecessor had caused to be made upon that side where it looks towards the Sea Those who work'd in the Trenches finding themselves continually annoy'd by the Fire of the Besieged Hamilton order'd it to be Attack'd The Management of it was committed to the Conduct of the Marquess de Angleurs a French Officer who had formerly been likewise a Captain of the King's Guards and served in this Expedition in the Quality of a Marshal du Camp He marched in Person at the Head of several brave French Officers sustained by some Irish Troops and was dangerously wounded notwithstanding which he would not quit his Post but continued to give the necessary Orders till they were Masters of the Entrenchment But this stood the Besiegers in no great stead the Besieged being of an Invincible Courage By this time Major-General Kirk was come to the Entrance of the River and being sensible that these brave Fellows who were not to be Conquered by the Sword Dagger or Fatigues must at last buckle to Famine if they were not speedily reliev'd he contrived a Stratagem to draw General Rose from thence another way He ordered three Thousand Men to Land at about Ten Miles distance from the Mouth of the River who having strongly Entrench'd themselves in a small Island were to be joined by 5000 Iniskilling Men with a design to fall upon General Rose whilst Major General Kirk should endeavour to open his Passage by the way of the River and to force the Boom General Rose who gave a
bottom of their Design I was so far from contradicting them that I told neither them nor the E. of S .... one Word of what I thought After these two French Ministers were gone I stay'd for some time longer with the E. who reassumed the former Discourse and at last came to what concerned me in particular He delivered to me my Commission of Lieutenant General pursuant to the Orders he had received from the Pr. and told me That he would take effectual care to get a Warrant for the receiving of the Money After I return'd to my Lodging I began afresh to ruminate upon my present Circumstances and considering my present Condition I did not see how I could avoid to confide my self to some Body or other tho' according to the Rules of Prudence I was sensible I ought to trust no Body with the Secret but my self There happened just at that time to Lodge a certain French Man at the same Ordinary where I lodged who had been a considerable time in London His Brother who had lived there before him had sent for him out of France to assist him in managing his Business which for the most part was the Barbadoes Trade But his Brother happening to die just at the beginning of this last Revolution in England he stay'd behind till such time he could draw off all his Effects He was then just making every thing ready for his Journey into France for which purpose he had obtained a Pass from the Prince of Orange King William III. I had always look'd upon him as a very Honest Gentleman and had found him very affectionate for our King's Service and a true Catholick all which induced me to ask him the same Question I had ask'd before of the Chevalier de Fourbin's Lieutenant to wit Whether he would oblige me so far as to carry a Letter from me to the Marquess de Louvois in France I told him that I remembred to have heard him say several times that he had Business of great consequence with that Minister which if it were so I durst engage this would be a means for him to have a very favourable Audience He told me that he would do it with all his Heart and to the utmost of his power so that I resolved to give Intelligence to this Minister of all what had pass'd and how I was likely to be sent shortly into Ireland with the Marshal de Schombergh desiring to receive his Commands whether after I came into Ireland I should take the first opportunity to go over to his Britannick Majesty's Camp But just the same Night as I was going to write this Letter a Thought came into my Head which made me delay Writing for that time till I might have the opportunity to try whether my Project would succeed or not I told you before that the English Court were buoyed up with strong hopes by some of the French Protestants that their Brethren in the Province of Poictou had form'd a strong Party there to favour a Descent from England I judged therefore I might make good use of this to my advantage iâ— I could insinuate to them That considering my present Circumstances I should be able to do them much greater Service in that Country if they would be pleased to dispatch me thither than if I were employed in the Irish Service If I succeeded in this Project I was sure to be sent back into France without the least danger on my side where I did not question to meet with all imaginable incouragement as a Recompence for the Service I had done our King in making my self Master of a Secret which they scarce would have been able to discover in time without my assistance After I had ruminated upon the Matter all that Night and part of the next Morning the first thing I did was to try how this Proposition would relish with the E. of S .... and my Lord L ..... with whom I used to Dine almost every Day I gave them a short Account of what I had heard the two French Ministers propose to the E. of S ... and took this opportunity to enlarge further upon that Subject and what Service I believed I was able to do in the Province of Poictou They answered immediately that I need not question in the least but that I should meet with sufficient Encouragement from the English Court in this design that they would advise me to speak about it to the E. of S ... and they would go along with me to him to back this Project which they look'd upon as of the greatest consequence to the State and the most prejudicial that could be thought of to the Enemy I told them again that if they had a mind the thing should answer expectation they must be very careful not to let it take vent and therefore desired them not to Communicate this Secret to any body Living not even to the D ... of S ...... himself because said I he has a particular fancy for me to go along with him to Ireland And as to the last I spoke indeed no more than the Truth For whether it was that he wanted good Horse Officers or whether he really had conceived a better opinion of my ability than of some others he would frequently tell me that he rely'd much upon the good service I was likely to do him in disciplining several Regiments of new rais'd Troops which were to go over with him shortly into Ireland I had no other reason in the World but to believe what he said was spoken with a Sincere intention to oblige me whereas I am certain it vexed me as often as I heard him say so I having not the least inclination at that time to serve against the King my Master what I had done formerly was owing to an absolute necessity and the ill Circumstances of my Affairs in France which had forced me from thence to seek for refuge in another place The Earl of P. .... and my Lord L. ..... having promised secresie I went the next day to wait on the Earl of S. .... and as I had spent the greatest part of that night in ruminating all the Circumstances of the matter I was to propose to him I told him that the longer I considered of what these Ministers had offered the other day the more feasible it appear'd to me and that this had induced me to take a Resolution to do all the Service I was capable of to encourage the Design That I had many Friends and Relations in that Province and that I was of Opinion if the English Court thought fit to make use of my Service thereabouts I could influence the Arrier-Ban who were extreamly harrassed and dissatisfied with being forced to Guard the Sea-Coasts every Summer and that I did not question by my Persuasions to bring them over to join with us in case of a Descent considering especially that many among them were Protestants who would lend me a helping hand to
certain Merchant whose Name was Launai who formerly knew me very well being a Factor for a Merchant of Loudun whose Name was Moret was very ready to supply me with it After I had given them the Money I desired each of them to make a memorandum what reason had made him leave France in what Quality he had serv'd there and since in England under His Britannick Majesty All these memorandums I desired 'em to leave with the before mention'd Officer who came frequently to see me and was to deliver 'em to me before my departure The Officer took effectual Care to get me all these memorandums but finding that the Pr. ... was not so forward as I had expected to dispatch me into France I sent one of my Servants thither to carry and deliver them to the Marquess de Louvois with several other Letters I took the opportunity of the Pass of a French Gentleman of my Acquaintance who took him along with him as his Servant I sent word to the Minister That I had not receiv'd as yet any Orders to go into Poictou but that I believed it would not be long before I should receive my last Dispatches and that therefore if he would send me his Commands I would be ready to receive them at Calais My Servant was so successful in his Journey that he passed unmolested and delivered my Letters to the Marquis de Louvois in which among other things I gave him an Account of what I had done for these French Officers with an Intention to be Serviceable to his Majesty and I was so fortunate that not one of all the Letters I gave him miscarried and Fortune continued to smile upon me for some time longer for at last I receiv'd Orders from the Earl of S .... to begin my Journey He made me at the same time a Present of two hundred Guineas from the Pr .... and told me that this was not intended as a Present but only to defray the Charges of my Journey for the present because all my Money had been taken from me at the time when I was taken at Sea About two Days before my Departure a certain French Protestant whose Name was Christian and who was sent as a Spy into England by the Marquiss de Louvois came to desire me to take a Niece of his along with me into France He told me that since I had but three Servants and my Pass expressed four she might pass very well for one for provided I had no more than my number no notice would be taken whether they were Men or Women I was not very fond to accept of what he proposed to me being afraid that this young Woman might prove more troublesome to me than all the rest and that consequently I might repent of it at leisure when it was too late I was not ignorant that most of our Refugees in England were an odd sort of People and that it was the safest way to have little or nothing to do with them Christian began to perceive where the Shooe pinched and guessing at the reason of it shewed me a Letter written by the Marquiss de Louvois's own Hand asking me whether I knew it I had no sooner cast my Eye upon it but I told him Since he had shew'd me so fair a Pledge I would not only take care of his Niece but of any thing else he should desire me that might be for his Service He desir'd me to take a Supper with him the next Night which I did and after we had drunk a merry Cup I observ'd him ogling his Niece which made me shrewdly suspect there was more Familiarity betwixt them than there is commonly betwixt an Uncle and a Niece He was so vain as to talk likewise to me concerning what Business he was employ'd in by the Marquess de Louvois which was also a shrewd guess to me that he was not extraordinarily Qualified for such an Employment and that it could not be long before he would be betray'd as in effect it happened not long after for he was taken up and Committed to Prison by the Prince of Orange's King William's Orders THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN BAPTIST De La Fontaine Kt. LIB VI. HAving thus far settled my Business in England and every thing being got ready for my Journey into France I left London and took the Niece of Christian along with me Before my Departure it was agreed upon betwixt the Earl of S .... and me that I was to receive further Instructions from the Pr .... by his means that I was to send him word from time to time of what News of moment there was in France and he was to do the like to me from England It was so agreed betwixt us how to direct our Letters so as that they might pass securely without the least Suspicion The Earl of L .... who was all along of our Cabal was also privy to this and the Earl of S .... ordered me to direct all my Letters I was to send to him to a certain Gentleman of my Lord L ... Acquaintance and Recommendation I left also my Commission with him not for fear of any danger on my side but because I could appear the more close and prudent in my whole Conduct I told them that it was my constant Opinion People could not be too careful in matters of this nature because if a Man had taken his Measures well and the same were thwarted or spoiled by some siâ—ister Accident that could not be foreseen by Humane Prudence he had however this Comfort that is was by Mischance and not through his own Neglect That I considered if perhaps I should be narrowly searched either at Dover or else at my first coming into France it must turn to our great Prejudice if any thing should be found about me which might give the Enemy an infight into what we designed and ought to keep concealed is that it would be much the safer way to send my Papers after me by the Master of the Packet-Boat who might deliver them into my own Hands if I were still at Dover and if I were not I would take care to send word from Calais where they should direct my Letters as safely as to my self I got very well to Calais nothing of moment happening to me in this Journey I was no sooner got out of the Packet-Boat but those that kept Guard near the Port took my Name and the Sign of the Iâ—â— where I was to Lodge in writing My design was to go further to pay a visit to Monsieur de Laubanie then Commander in chief at Calais but whilst I was Dressing my self he sent one of his Servants to me who brought me a Letter from the Marquiss de Louvois directed to me which had been inclosed to the said Monsieur de Laubanie with express Orders to deliver it to me immediately after my Arrival there This was an Answer to the several Letters I had sent him out of England He told
preferable to all the rest that is he was a very pious Man and he used frequently to discourse to me upon that point so that it was my own fault if I did not follow his good Counsel The Marquiss de Louvois when he first spoke to me about him had given me a very different Character of him from what I found him to be for he told me that he did not rely much upon his ability but what he did was meerly upon the recommendation of the Princess of Conti unto whom he could not deny such a favour But whoever knows the true Character of this Minister cannot but be sensible that it is his constant Maxim to prefer the King's Service before all the Recommendations in the World so that the more I ponder the matter the more I am perswaded there was some mystery in it But however it be I received Orders from the Marquess de Louvois to prepare for my immediate departure and he told me in person that he wou'd not have me tarry at all at Paris and no more than three days at my own house in the Country because the King 's present Service required more than ordinary dispatch I took this opportunity to rid my hands of my female Companion of whom I have spoken before and told Monsieur de Vaux that he must be ready by the next morning early He told me it was impossible for him so to do he having neither Horses nor Money and desired me therefore to allow him only two days to provide himself with both and to dispatch some other Business of consequence after which he would without delay go along with me Considering that the Marquess de Louvois was not likely to be inform'd whether we tarried a day longer or not I thought I could not very well refuse him so reasonable a request not imagining that ever it would come to his knowledge But whether this Minister had taken particular care to be inform'd of what I did and how strict I would be in observing his Orders or whether Monsieur de Vaux himself had given him notice how complaisant I had been to him I can't tell but certain it is that the very next day after he writ me a very severe Letter about it Thus I was forced to get immediately on Horseback and I agreed with Monsieur de Vaux to stay two days for him at Samur to expect his coming there and that if he did not come by that time I intended to proceed alone in my Journey without as much as calling at my own Home Yet being very desirous to see my Family I sent word to my Spouse to come and meet me at Samur with our Children at a prefix'd time where I might enjoy them for a little while without losing any opportunity of proceeding in my Journey Accordingly my Spouse with our whole Family met me at the appointed Time and Place and inform'd me how one whose Name was des Isles Montaut had put her under a great perplexity having told her whilst I was a prisoner in England that I had engaged my self in the Service of the Prince of Orange K. William III. and that if she had followed his Advice she must have made a strange piece of Work of it which both she and I might have repented of since This des Isles Montaut was a Counsellor of Loudun a Man of no Estate but of a considerable share of Wit if designing and tricking may be called by that name By this means he had got together above Fifty thousand Crowns which he had squeez'd out of the Widows and Orphans and was therefore but in a very slender Repute as to his Honesty all over that Province As Charity is almost banish'd from the Race of Mankind and that most People take much more pains to divulge the Defects of their Neighbours than to hide them I had his Character told me the very first time I came to Loudun But trusting more to my own skill than to others I was so inveigled by the outward appearance of his modest and civil Behaviour he being a great master in the Art of Dissimulation that I took all what I had heard of him for malicious inventions He was one of the first who shew'd the most eagerness to perswade me to settle in that Country and took a great deal of pains to find out an Estate fit for my purpose he being the person who made the Bargain for the Estate I am now possess'd of of which I had a very good penny-worth For such was his feign'd honesty that the Person from whom I was to buy the Estate having promised him fifty Pistoles if the Bargain succeeded he told me of it before we agreed about the Purchase After I was put into possession of the Estate he offer'd himself to be my Seneshal or Chief Judge of that Precinct belonging to my Jurisdiction which I easily granted him he having not given me the least occasion hitherto to change the good Opinion I had conceived before of his Honesty I told him however as I was going to invest him with it that if I should have consulted the common Vogue of the People I ought not to have put him in this place nay I ought not to have admitted him to come into my House and that therefore I desired him so to behave himself in it both in respect to my self and others whose Business he was to manage that he might give by his fair dealing the Lye to all his Adversaries He answer'd me in such a manner as did not a little encrease in me the good Opinion I had conceived of him before inspite of the ill reputation he had amongst the People For he told me that he was not in the least surprized at the malicious Aspersions his Enemies did put upon him since he knew that our Saviour himself could not escape the censure of his Adversaries and that he only begg'd of me to suspend my Judgment and not to condemn him before I was convinced by his future Behaviour of the truth of what they had laid to his Charge By these Insinuations he at last got such an ascendant over me that I entirely confided in his honesty and scarce ever did any thing without taking first his advice Then it was he began to play his parts for he perswaded me to purchase several Farms which were not far from my Seat but in lieu of letting me have a Penny-worth as he pretended they were he made me purchase them at an excessive rate for he used to make his Bargain before hand with those that were to sell that in case he could get them such a Sum he was to have such a share for himself by which means he got above ten Thousand Livres of my Money But he served me a worse Trick than all this for he perswaded me to put out a Sum of thirty three thousand Livres to a certain Merchant of Samur whose Name was du Montiere from whom he had
de Louvois dictates certain Letters to Monsieur de la Fontaine to be sent into England p. 250 265. resolves to sacrifice him to the Interest of the State p. 278 M. MAyence besieged and taken by the Duke of Lorain p. 151 Malet a Protestant Councellor a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 313 317 320 The Duke of Mazarin a devout Person p. 240. he gives a Dowry to Monsieur de la Fontaine's Daughter p. 362 Maux Sub-dean of Liege p. 147. My Lord Melfort p. 157 The Countess of Meru in disguise p. 340 Minister a Protestant Minister defends Londonderry p. 186 Some Ministers of Poictou propose â— rising in that Province p. 188 Monmont a French Officer of note killed p. 185 My Lord Montjoy committed to the Bastile p. 155 The Countess of Montperoux p. 336 337 Insolence of a Musqueteer p. 57. is condemned to death and pardoned p. 58 The Bishop of Munster quits the French Party p. 76 N. A Nephew of the Marquess de Castanaga thrown into the Dungeon p. 361 Niccoburgh a Captain of a Dutch Man of War p. 167 Norway full of Bears and Sorcerers p. 9 O. FRench Protestant Officers enter into the service of the Prince of Orange p. 202 The Roman Catholick Officers refuse that service Ibid. they are not able to get into Ireland p. 249. are ordered to return into France p. 250. they come to Paris p. 267. The Prince of Orange makes a Descent upon England p. 149. puts a Guard upon King James Ibid. his prodigious Success p. 150. made King of England p. 171. The Count de Ossane in Love with the Princess of Courland p. 55. he fights with and is wounded by Monsieur de la Fontaine p. 56. he leaves that Court Ibid. P. THE Elector Palatine quits the French Party p. 76 Don Pantaleon de la fights with Colonel Gerard. p. 13. escapes out of Prison by the assistance of Madam Mohun p. 14. is delivered up into Custody p. 15. is Beheaded Ibid. Picard a Captain of a French Frigat is taken after a brave resistance p. 168 Port Lowis p. 243. The East-India-House near it p. 243 Prancourt a Swiss and a French Spy in England deceives the French Court p. 220. is Imprisoned in the Bastile p. 221 The Prince of Wales taken for a Supposititious Child even before his Birth p. 150 Some Prisoners delivered by force p. 45. Prisoners made at the Battle of Fleurus are conducted to Vincennes p. 313 The Protestants retire out of Ireland into England p. 154 Pusignon a French Officer of note killed in Ireland p. 185 Q. MOnsieur de Quesne commands the French Fleeâ— p. 178 the King grants him the free exercise of his Religion Ibid. R. RAS a Physician and pretended Magician a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 314 Rasfeld the Brandenburgh General besieges Locknits p. 79. obtains a Victory Ibid. Recollects their Church restored to them at Altenoe p. 81 Riperda marries Mrs. Caravas p. 63 Rochelle its Fortifications p. 252 Rose an old Servant of Monsieur de la Fontaine's Father p. 121 Rose Commander in chief of the French Troops in Ireland p. 155 184 185 S. SAlisbury animosity of the Mobb against the French p. 176 La Salle Governor of the Cittadel of Liege p. 149 The Marshal de Schombergh General of the English Forces p. 177. formerly General in Portugal p. 177 made Count de Mertola p. 180. General of the French Army in Catalonia p. 177. is made Marshal of France Ibid raises the Siege of Maestricht Ibid. he leaves France on the account of his Religion p. 178. retires to the Court of Brandenburgh p. 179. from thence to Holland ibid. is made Duke and Peer of England p. 180 The Shout of Zwoll takes up a Priest whilst he was saying Mass in a private place p. 87. is threatned by the French Soldiers in Garrison there ibid. the rising of the Mob about his House p. 88 he is deposed p. 89 Mock-Sieges in the Thuelleries p. 4 Soldiers Ravish a young Wench and set Fire to the House p. 161 Sewell an English-man a Prisoner in the Bastile p. 290 makes his Escape p. 291 Stetin block'd up p. 83. is besieged p. 84 is forced to surrender p. 85 T. THE Earl of Tyrconnel p. 153 154 The Earl of Torrington Admiral of England p 168 he chooses rather to quit his Places at Court than to change his Religion ibid The Count de Tourville Vice-Admiral of France enters Brest p 171 Treaty betwixt France and Cromwel p. 12 A Treatise of the Bastile promised to be publish'd p. 361 The Marshal de Turenne p. 74. he pursues the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 75. a great General p. 77 V. ONE English Vessel fights and takes two French Frigats at once p. 173 A Valet du Chambre of Monsieur de la Fontaine plays several Pranks in the Bastile p. 315. he betrays his Master p. 347. gets out of the Bastile p. 349 he pretends that his Master is mad p. 355 Monsieur de Vaux joint Surveyer with Monsieur de la Fontaine p 228 Monsieur de la Vienne first Groom of the King's Bed-Chamber p 215 216 The Marquess de Ville Governor of Brussels p. 97 Villeroy a Lorrain Officer Imprisoned in the Bastile p. 293. he fancies himself to be tormented by a Spirit p 316 317 318 Monsieur Voile Controler of the Mint sent to the Bastile p. 286. he is released by means of a good Sum of Money p. 289 W. MOnsieur de Webbenum one of the States General p 64 Wrangel the Sweedish General takes several Places from the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 78. he loses a Battle p. 79. his death ibid. Z. ZWoll Mutiny of the Roman Catholicks of that City p. 87 88