Licenced,  
February 22th. 1675. Henry Oldenburg.   

THE MEMOIRES OF THE DUCHESS Mazarine.  
Written in French by her Own Hand, AND Done into English by P. Porter Esq  
Together with the Reasons of her Coming into England.  
Likewise, A Letter containing a True Character of her Person and Conversation.  
The Second Impression.  
LONDON Printed, and are to be Sold by William Cademan, at the Popes-Head in the New-Exchange, and Middle-Exchange in the Strande, 1676.   

THE MEMOIRES OF THE Duchess Mazarin.  
SInce the Obligations I own you are of that Nature, that I ought to conceal nothing from you, wherein I may testify my Acknowledgements of them, I am willing to gratify you with the true Relation of my Life, being you desire it: Not that I am ignorant, how hard it is to speak discreetly of ones self. And you know how averse I am in my Nature from explaining to the World, matters wherein I am so nearly concerned; yet it is very Natural to defend one's self from Calumny; and to make appear, to those, of whom we have received considerable Services, that we are not so unworthy of their Favours, as the traducing World would make us appear to be: Nor can I spend the time of my Solitary Retreat, with more Innocence. But if what I am going to acquaint you with, seem to favour much of the Romance, impute it rather to my Destiny, than to my Inclination.  
I know the chief Glory of a Woman ought to consist, in not making herself to be publicly talked of. And those that know me, know likewise, that I never took much pleasure in things that make too much Noise. But it is not always in our choice to live our own way: And there is a kind of Fatality, even in those things that seem to depend upon the wisest Conduct. I would not trouble you with the account of my Birth, if those that envied my Uncle's Glory, had not endeavoured to tarnish the Lustre thereof: But since their Fury spared nothing that was his, It is lawful for me, to let you know, that I am descended from one of the most illustrious Families of Rome; and that my Ancestors these three hundred years have held a Rank so eminent and considerable, that I might pass my days happily, though I had never been Heiress to a first Minister of France.  
The Academy of Good Wits which began in that Country, at the Nuptials of one of our Family, made it appear in what esteem that House was in, at that time: And as a farther addition of Happiness, I had the advantage to be descended from a Father, that was one of the most accomplished and best qualified of our Family. I was but six years old when I was brought into France; and a few years after Monsieur M. rejected the Marriage of my Sister, (afterwards married to the Constable of Collonna) and conceived such a violent Passion for me, that upon a time he told Madam D Eguillon, that if he could but have the happiness to be married to me, it would not grieve him to die three Months after. The success surpassed his desire, he has married me: and yet God be thanked, he is alive still. Upon the first report of his refusing my Sister, the Cardinal was much offended; and would often say, He had rather marry me to a Servingman. But he was not the only man I had the ill Fortune to please. An Italian Eunuch, Musician to the Cardinal, was accused, for having a Kindness for me: But the truth is, That it was as much for my Sisters as for me. He was also jeered for being in love with the beautiful Statues that were in the Palace M. This man's Love certainly was unlucky, since those poor Statues were so cruelly punished for it, as well as I, though they were as little in fault. It was no fault of my Sisters, that I was not in love with something, as well as I was beloved, As she had a sincere Inclination for the King, she would have been glad to see me engaged with some such Folly. But, being extreme young and childish, I could fix to nothing. All that she could obtain from me, to oblige her, was to show some Complasance to those of my Age, that diverted me most, in our little Play-games, which then took up all my time and thoughts; though they were often interrupted by the King's Presence, who seldom stirred from our House; though he conversed amongst us with wonderful goodness. He had so much of Serious and solid, (not to say of Majesty) in all his ways, that be could not keep himself from striking through us, a most a weful Respect, even beyond his intentions. My Sister was no way disturbed at his Presence, who ever else was; And you may easily conceive that his Assiduity had Charms for those who were, cause he had none for others. As the things which Passion makes us do, seem ridiculous to those that have never known what that passion is. My Sisters, exposed her very often to our Raillery. One time amongst the rest, we Jeered her, because (he, seeing at a a distance, a Gentleman of the House, who was about the King's Stature, with his back to her, ran to him with open arms, crying, Ha' my poor Sire! An other thing that made us Sport about that time, was a Pleasantry of the Cardinals, with Madam de Bovillon, which was about six years old. The Court was then at Lafere. One day as he made sport with her about some Gallant that he said she had: at last he began to chide her for being with Child. The Resentment which she shown, diverted all so, that it was agreed she should be still told of it. They streightened her  from time to time; and they made her believe that she was growing very big.  
This continued as long as it was thought necessary, to persuade her, to the likelihood of her being with Child. Yet she would never believe any thing of it, and denied it with a great deal of heat, until the time of her Lying-in came, she found betwixt her Sheets, in the morning, a Child new born. You cannot imagine the Astonishment and Grief she was in, at this sight. Such a thing, said she, never happened to any, but to the Virgin Mary and myself; for I never felt any kind of Pain. The Queen came to condole with her, and offered to be Godmother; many came to Gossip with her, as newly brought to bed: And that which at first was but a Past-time, within doors, came to be the public Divertisement of all the Court. They pressed her hard to tell who was the Father; but all they could get from her, was only, That it could h none but the King, or the Count of Guich, because no other man but those more had ever kissed Her.  
For my part, being three years elder than her, I was infinitely proud that I knew the truth of the matter; and I could never be weary of laughing, to make people take notice that I knew it. You will hardly believe, that at those years, when there is nothing less thought of, than of reasoning upon things, I should make as serious Reflections, as I ever did of any thing of this Life. It is true, notwithstanding, that my greatest Delight was at that time, to shut myself up alone, to write  came into my head. It is not long since, some of those Papers fell into my hands: And I do assure you, I was strangely surprised to find things so far surpassing the Capacity of a little Girl. They were Doubts and Questions which I proposed to myself, upon all things, which gave me trouble to comprehend. I could never sufficiently satisfy my Fancy in deciding them: But still I sought with Obstinacy, what I could not dive into, nor find. And if in my Conduct since, I have not showed much, I have at least this Consolation, that I had a very great desire to attain to good Judgement. I Remember about that time, writing to a young Lady, for whom I had a great kindness; I began to grow weary of writing so often, I love you, in one and the same Letter; and gave her to understand, that hereafter I would only make a Cross to signify these three Words. Following this new invention, it happened some times that I writ to this Lady, letter's wherein there was nothing else to be seen but whole lines of Crosses, one after another. One of these Letters fell afterwards into the hands of some, whom it concerned to find out the Mystery; but could never find fault with so Godly a cipher. My Enfancy being passed amongst these innocent Amusements, or Pastimes, they began to talk of a Match for me. Fortune, that intended to make me the unhappiest Woman living, began to flatter me, at first, with the hopes of a Crown; and had like to have rendered the man, she destined for me, most odious to me, by the comparison of those, wherewith she first did cajole my Imagination. Yet I can truly say for myself, that those Illustrious Matches never dazzled my Fancy. And Monsieur M. dares not say, that he ever found me guilty of any Vainglory, above my condition. All the World knows how many repeated Treaties were on foot, to Match me with a great Potentate. As for the Duke of Savoy, you know what has been said in the Journey to Lions, and that that affair was broken off, upon the Cardinal's obstinate refusal, to abandon Geneva, in consideration of that Marriage. We lodged at Bell-Court; and our Chamber Windows, which opened towards the Market place, were low enough for one to get in with ease. Madam De Venel our Governess, was so used to her trade of overlooking us, that she risen even in her sleep, to see what we were doing. One Night as my Sister lay a sleep with her mouth open, Madam De Venel, after her accustomed manner, coming asleep as she was, to grope in the dark, happened to thirst her finger into her mouth, so far, that my Sister starting out of her sleep, made her Teeth almost meet in her Finger. Judge you the Amazement they both were in to find themselves in this Posture, when they were throughly awake. My Sister was in a grievous fret. The Story was told the King the next Day, and the Court had the Divertisement of Laughing at it.  
The Cardinal, whether it were through Modesty or Dissimulation shown himself as averse, as the Queen to the King's Pursuit of my Sister.  
As soon as the Marriage with Spain was concluded, nothing was so much in his thoughts as how handsomely to send her further off, fearing lest she might be a hindrance to it; a little after our return from Lions he sent us to stay for him at Fountain-Bleau; from thence he carried us to Poitiers, where he left it to her Choice, to retire, to what Place she pleased; she Chose Rochel: The Cardinal willing to wean her a little more, made Monsieur Frejus at Brovage, to propose to her the Marriage of the Constable Collonna, but she rejected it; her inclinations being not yet drawn into Italy by what drew her thither since. He had resolved to carry Madam De Bovillon and me to the Marriage; But my Sister obstinately refusing to let us go, when he sent for us, unless she might go too; he chose rather to deprive himself of the Pleasure of seeing us there, than to let her come with us. At their return from the Frontiers, we were sent for to Fountain-Bleau, where the Court then was. The King looked but coldly upon my Sister; and his Change began to make her resolve to marry into Italy. She would often pray me to tell her as many ill things of the King as I could. But besides; that it was hard to speak ill of such a Prince as he, who lived amongst us with that Familiarity and charming Sweetness; I being but ten years old then, I could not well comprehend what it was she would have: all I could do for her, Loving her tenderly, and seeing her all in Tears, was to weep for her Misfortunes with her, until she might, at my turn, bear me Company to weep mine. The Aversion the Cardinal had for liar fondness to the King, made him conceive a great unkindness for her; and as this intrigue began with her first coming into the World, it may be said, that he hardly ever loved her; My Brother's Humour was nothing more pleasing so him, and his Conduct muchless; especially since he was accused to have been of the Debauch of Roissi. One of the things which most displeased him in us, was the want of Devotion; you cannot imagine how much he was discontented at it. He left no Arguments untried, to induce us to have more. On a time complaining that we did not frequent the Church every Day; he said, We had neither Piety nor Honour: At least, (said he) If you will not do it for God's sake, do it for the World's sake.  
Though I was as much concerned in his Remonstrances, as the rest; yet either because I was the youngest, and so the less faulty; or that he saw something in my humour that pleased him better, He had for a long time as much tenderness for me, as he had aversion for them; which made him to choose me, to leave his estate and Name, to the man he should wed me to; which likewise made him more Circumspect in the care of my Education, than of the rest, and at last also more displeased when he believed I had given him cause. He was very apprehensive of my ingageing my Affections to any one; Madam de Vennel, who had directions to pry into all my Actions, would be continually speaking to me of every one that came to visit me, or were likely to engage my love, to discover by my Discourse my Thoughts of every Body; but I having no tie more to one than to another, she could never make any Discovery, and she had been in Ignorance to this hour, had not the indiscretion of my Sister made ler believe what was not. I told you that she would always press me to love something. She importuned me for some Years, to tell her if none of the Court pleased me more than another; at last being overcome with her entreaties, I told her, I saw a Youth in the house that I liked above the rest, but that I should be very sorry he should be half so pleasing in my Eye as the King was in hers. Overjoyed to have drawn this Confession from me, she asked me his Name, but I knew it not. And though she took all the pains imaginable to make me describe him, she was above two months vexing of me before she could find him our. She understood at last that it was an Italian Gentleman newly come from being Page of the great Chamber who was then but one of the sub Lieutenants in the Guards, but has been since Killed in a higher employment in Flanders. She told me his Name, and likewise made herself merry with the King about my pretended inclinations, from whom she could conceal nothing. The Cardinal knew it a little after, and believing it quite another thing than really it was, spoke to me of it in very harsh terms. It was the right way to make something of nothing; and if I were capable of ingageing myself for spite, his Reproaches might incline me to deserve them. As this Gentleman was familiar in the House, the Noise the Cardinal made about it, reached his Ear, and raised in him Thoughts which he perhaps never had before; at length he found means to make them known to me, and by my Sister's good will I should have answered his Passion, instead of despising and rejecting it. In the mean time the Cardinal's Distemper grew every day worse and worse, the desire he had to Eternize his Name, carried him above the indignation he had conceived against me. He broke his mind to the Bishop of Frejus, and desired to know his Opinion of several Persons, and which of them he thought properest for me. This Bishop won before by Monsieur M. upon promise of fifty thousand Crowns, forgot nothing that might deserve them; but he never had them: For he returned the Bond which was given him, intimating, He had a greater mind to the Bishopric of Eureux, if it could be gotten for him. But the King having disposed of it to another, notwithstanding Monsieur M. his soliciting for the space of two months. Monsieur Frejus demanded the fifty thousand Crowns, but Monsieur M. was no longer in the mind to pay them. As soon as the Marriage was concluded, he sent me a great Cabinet, wherein, amongst other Rich things, there was ten thousand Pistols in Gold. I gave great part of this Gold to my Brother and Sisters, to lessen their hatred of my Opulencies, which they could not see without Envy,  mien they made. I never put them to the trouble of ask me, for the Key was always in the Cabinet, and who would, might take, for me. One day wanting other divertisement, we threw above three hundred Pistols out at the Windows of the Palace Mazarine; to have the pleasure of seeing a Company of Servants that were in the Court to scramble and fight for them. This Prodigality being told the Cardinal, it caused so much Displeasure in him, that it is believed it hastened his end; but whether it were so or no, he died within eight days after, and left me the Richest Heiress, but the unhappiest Woman, in all Christendom. Upon the first Tidings of his Death, my Brother and my Sister, instead of being sorry, Cried to one another, God be thanked he is gone. And to tell you the Truth, I was not much more afflicted; and it is a remarkable thing, that a man of that merit, that all his Life had laboured to raise and enrich his Family, should never receive other Thanks from them, than apparent signs of hatred and aversion even after his Death.  
But if you knew with what severity he treated us, you would be less surprised at this. Never man had so sweet a behaviour abroad and in public, and so harsh and severe at home, all our humours and inclinations were point blank opposite to his. Add to this the Tyrannical Subjection we were kept in. The tenderness of our years, and the insensibility & carelessness we had for all things, to which too much plenty, and prosperity reduces most Persons of this Age, in spite of all their good Nature.  
For my own particular, Fortune has taken Care to punish my Ingratitude by those misfortunes, which have continually followed me, one in the Neck of another, ever since his Death, I know not what foreknowledge my Sister had of them; but upon the first Discontents which I fell into after my Marriage, she told me by way of Consolation, Go, go, you will be more unhappy than I. Monsieur de Lorraine, who for a long time was passionately in Love with her, made use of all his Rhetoric to persuade her to marry Him, and continued his pursuit even after the Cardinal's Death. The Queen Mother, who would by no means have her stay in France, charged Madam the Vennel to break off this Intrigue at any rate. But all their Endeavours had been fruitless, had they not been seconded by certain Reasons unknown to all the world.  
And though the King had the Generosity to give her, her Choice of any man else in France, if she could not fancy Monsieur de Lorraine, and that he seemed to be sensibly displeased at her resolution to go out of France, her evil Star Drew her into Italy against all Reason.  
The Constable who at first believed that the Amours of Kings could pot be innocent, was so much transported with joy to find the contrary in the person of my Sister, that he made little account of not being the first that had gained her heart; he left his bad Opinion that he had, which all Italians have, of the liberty which Ladies have in France, and made her live with the same freedom in Rome, since he found she used it so discreetly. In the mean time the Eunuch her Confident, who now by her absence, and the Cardinal's Death, Lived without Credit, undertook to make himself necessary about me; but besides that, my own Nature made me a stranger to all sorts of intrigues, Monsieur M. Kept too strict an Eye over all my Actions. He enraged at this Obstacle, took a Resolution to be Revenged of Monsieur M. himself.  
This man kept his access to the King with the same freedom he enjoyed when he was my Sister's Confident. He makes a great Complaint to him of the Severity Monsieur M. used towards me, That he was obliged to take my part as having been the Cardinal's Creature, and my particular Servant. That Monsieur Mazarine was jealous of all the World, And above all, of his Majesty; and he caused me to be watched very narrowly in all places where the King (who had no thoughts of me) might see me; and that besides, be took upon Him, as if he were a great Minister, and that he Threatened to banish all the Italians out of Paris.  
To all this, the King only Answered, That if what he said was true, the Duke of Mazarine was a Fool, and that though He had inherited Cardinal Mazarines' Wealth, he had not his Power; All that was true of this Report, was only that Monsieur Mazarine, being informed of this Eunuques intrigues, threatened to put him out of the Palace of Mazarine, where he had Lodgings. Not content with what he had done, he was so unwise as to boast of it before a Lady of Quality of Province called Madam de Ruz, who was, I know not how, acquainted with Monsieur Mazarine, she tells him of the ill Office that had been done him. He had a mind to place about me some Lady, who without the Name of Governant, might perform the function; and finding this Madam de Ruz very proper to act this Part, he made Choice of her, as an acknowledgement for the Intelligence she gave him; He prays her to find out some means to get herself presented to me without letting me know that he was acquainted with her; Monsieur de Frejus spoke to me of her as from himself sometime afterwards; and brought her to me up a pair of back Stairs, one day when Monsieur Mazarine was a Hunting. I was much taken with her, & as I knew, that if it were perceived that I liked her, I should not be permitted to have her; I was not willing any of the house should see her before she were received into my Family. One day, as I was alone with her, Madam de Vennel came suddenly into the Room, and broke a busk we had set to bar the Door, and shut ourselves in. Of a sudden Madam de Ruz, with a wonderful Presence of Wit, began to roll her Eyes in her head, to Weep and Cry with the Tone or a Beggar, that she was a poor Gentlewoman of Lorraine, and prayed me to take Compassion of her misery. As she had the Air of her Face extreme brisk and lively, as mod of the Provincials have, her Grimasse succeeded so well, and so disguised her, that I myself could hardly know her again. Madam de Vennel was so terribly affrighted at her, that she run as far off from her as she could, and told all about since, that she found the Devil in my Chamber. Monsieur Mazarine's Cunning Artifice in the Choice of this Woman, in a season wherein he could not yet have any Subject to Complain of any of my Actions, may suffice to instruct you with his natural Diffidence, and in what disposition of mind he Married me. As he apprehended my abode in Paris, he continually marched me about to his Lord ships, and Governments; during the first three or four years of our Marriage, I made three Journeys into Alsatia, and as many into Britain, besides several others to Nevers, Maine, Bourbon, Sedan, and other places. Having no greater delight in Paris, but the pleasure of seeing him, it was not so irksome to me, as it might be to a Person of my Age to be deprived of the divertisements of the Court. And perhaps I should never have been tired with this wandering kind of Life, if he had not too much abused my Complacency. He has often made me travel two hundred Leagues when I was big with Child, and very near my time; ray Relations and Friends were apprehensive of the Dangers to which he Exposed my Health, and endeavoured to make me sensible of them, but it was along time in vain: What would they say, If they had known that I could not once speak to any of my Domestics, but they were turned away the next day? That I could not receive two Visits successively from any one man, but he was presently forbid the House; and if I shown more kindness for any of my Maids more than for the rest, she was immediately taken away from me. If I called for my Coach, and he thought it not convenient to let me go abroad, he would laughing forbid the Coach to be made ready, and then would Droll upon it so long, till the hour was past to go where I designed. He would be content that I should see none in the world but himself. Above all, he could not endure that I should see his Kindred, nor mine own; mine, because they begun to take ray part; his own, because they did no more approve of his Conduct than mine did.  
I was a long rhyme Lodged at the Arsenal with Madam de Oradous his Cousin, without ever being permitted to see her. The Innocence of my Recreations, which were capable to put any man else of his Humour out of doubt, who had reserved any Regard for my Age, gave him as much disquiet as if they had been very Criminal. Sometimes he said, It was a sin to play with my Servants at Cock-all. At other times he said, It was a heinous Crime to go to Bed Late. Once when Monsieur Colbert, desired to know all his Grievances, & causes of Complaint against me, he could never allege any other than these two; He often said, One could not in Conscience go to Court, and much less to Plays; sometimes my Devotions were too short: In fine, his Peevishness upon my account was such, that I verily believe, if any one would seriously ask him how, and after what sort he would have me live, that he could not agree with himself about the manner. He ought indeed to have said, That knowing of what value I was, he could not be too solicitous of me: That the Conversation of the World being so Contagious, what ever Sport or Raillery's was made of him, he would endeavour to hinder my being spoiled, because he loved me more than his own proper Reputation. But if it was his love for me, that made him Treat me after this fantastical Fashion, it were to be wished for, for both our quiets, that he had honoured me with a little more of his indifference. No sooner did he perceive that I took delight in any place, but I was immediately hurried from thence, though there were never so great a reason for my stay there. We were at Maine when the News was brought of the Journey to Marsal; be had Order to be there and sent me into Britain to keep Company with his Father, who was at the meeting of the States there, while he was preparing himself at Paris for his Journey; he had intelligence from some of his Spies, (by whom I was continually beset and watched) that I passed my time there very pleasantly; he fell sick upon it, and sent for me away with all speed. His Father understanding that his Physicians advised him to go to the Waters of Bourbon, would not let me go, alleging, That a man while he drank those waters must abstain from Women. Upon this News he fell into a Swoon for vexation, and after several Couriers sent for me; his Father at last let me go; I went with him to Bourbon, where I remained a month shut up with him in a Chamber, to see him spew up his Waters, without so much as visiting Madam the Princess, who was there, and to whom he had the Honour to be Related. He could not presently be induced to believe that it was his Father that kept me from departing out of Britain; and notwithstanding all the assurance he received of it since, he maintained always, that I had been better pleased to pass my time there, than come and solace him in his sickness. It had not been hard for me to justify myself, if he would but hear me. But that he avoided still the most he could, because all the blame would be found of his side in the clearing of the matter, and he would never acknowledge himself in an Error: nothing afflicted me more than his aversion to be Informed or Convinced of a mistake, because he rook upon him the jurisdiction of treating me continually as guilty. Some time afterwards being obliged for the King's Service to go into Britain, he took such an obstinate Resolution to have me with him, and writ such strange things upon this occasion to the Abbot de Effiat his near kinsman, that I was forced to go from Paris three weeks after I was brought to Bed. Few Women of my quality would have done the like; but what would not one do for the enjoying of so great a good as Peace? And to mend the matter, he made me lodge in one of the wretchedest Villages in all that Country, and in so miserable a Cottage, that we were constrained to be out of doors all day. He always made choice of such places, because I should see no Company, also far from seeing any of the people of those Villages: those whose civility or business brought thither to see him, were forced to lie in the Fields for want of Inns; and if they displeased him never so little, he sent them of Errands, about several businesses which depended upon him in this Province. Yet we spent six months in this pleasant place, in the year 1666. Another time being alone, at Bourbon, having sent me into Britain, he understood by his Spies that I diverted myself very pleasantly with Madam de Coaquin, and that few days passed but we appointed to take the Air either at Land or by Sea: His wont disquiet seizing him, he sends for me to meet him at Nevers, where, as he said, there were very good Comedians amongst other divertisements. I began to be weary of making so many idle Journeys, I writ to Monsieur Colbert to complain; but being advised by him to go, I was much surprised to find Monsieur Mazarine upon the Road ten Leagues from Nevers, coming to Paris with my Brother, who was returning out of Italy. He would never give me any Reason why he dealt so strangely with me; we went without any farther clearing of this doubt, to confine ourselves at our Cassine, near Sedan, whither my Brother, out of Complaisance, seeing me very melancholy, accompanied us. It was there first that Monsieur Mazarine made show as if he were Jealous of him, not knowing otherwise how to be rid of him; and being unwilling to have such a Witness of his Domestic proceed, you may judge of my resentment for so base and wicked a suspicion; but if all these outrages, by hearing them related, seem hard to be endured, the manner with which he did them, was yet something more cruel and barbarous. I will give you one scantling, by which you shall judge of the rest: Being one Night with the Queen, I saw him coming towards me very pleasant, and with a constrained and affected Smile publicly made me this Compliment. Madam, I have good News to tell you, the King has just now Commanded me to go into Alsatia. Monsieur De Roquelaure who was then present, moved, as well as the rest of the Company, with this silly Affection, but more frank than the rest, could not refrain telling him, That this was fine News indeed to be told with so much Joy to a woman of my Condition. But Monsieur Mazarine disdaining to reply, went quietly out of the Room very proud of his Gallantry. The King hearing of it, was moved to pity. He took the pains to tell me himself, that my stay there should be only for three months, and kept his word with me, as he always did.  
If I did not apprehend to tire your Patience, I could tell you a thousand such little malicious tricks which he played me, without any manner of necessity, out of the mere pleasure he took to torment me. Fancy then to yourself, continual oppositions to my most innocent desires; and an Implacable hatred against all those I loved, or loved me; an undefatigable care to bring into my presence all those I hated mortally, and to corrupt those of my Servants whom I most trusted, to betray my Secrets if I had any; a studious Application to cry me down every where, and make my Actions odious to all people. In fine, all that the Malignity of the bygot Cabal could invent or practise, in a house where it had absolute Tyranny, against a simple young Woman, careless, and whose want of circumspection in her actions, gave every day new matter to her Enemies to insult over her. I boldly make use of this expression. Bygot Cabal, because I cannot think that I err against: the most strict: Rules of Christianity, when I presume that those Devotees by whose directions Monsieur Mazarine doth Regulate his Actions, are not truly so, having promoted the Dissipation of so many Millions.  
And this is the fatal Article that has made me lose all patience, and that has been the true beginning of all my misfortunes. If Monsieur Mazarine had only taken delight in overwhelming me with sadness and grief, and in exposing my Health, and my Life to his most unreasonable caprice, and in making me pass my best days in an unparalled slavery, since Heaven has been pleased to make him my Master, I should have endeavoured to allay and qualify my misfortunes by my Sighs and Tears, and my complaints to my particular Friends. But when I saw, that by his incredible Dilapidations, and profuseness, my son, who, might have been the Richest Gentleman in France, was in danger of being the poorest; there was no resisting the force of Nature, and motherly Love carried it over all other Considerations of Duty, or the moderation I proposed to myself. I saw every day vast sums go away; moveables of inestimable price, Offices, Governments; and all the Rich remains of my Uncle's Fortune, the Fruits of his Labours, and the Rewards of his Services; I saw as much sold as came to three Millions, before I took any public notice of it. And I had hardly any thing left me of Value, but my Jewels; when Monsieur Mazarine took an occasion to seize upon them, He took his opportunity to lay hold of them, one Night as I came late home from the City. Desiring to know the Reason of this Proceeding, before I went to bed, he told me, That I being of a free and liberal Nature, he was afraid I should give away some of them, and that he had not taken them from me, but with intention to return them again with the addition of others. I answered him, that it were to be wished his liberality had been as regular as mine, that I was satisfied with them I had already, and that I would not go to bed until I had them again. And seeing that to what ever I could say, he only replied with unpleasant Raillery's, expressed with a malicious Laugh, or a scorning calmness of Voice, but in reality most tart and bitter, I went out of the Room all in Despair, and passed to my Brother's Palace, extremely perplexed, not knowing what course to take.  
Madam De Bovillon whom we Presently sent for, having heard this my new occasion of complaint, told me I was well enough served, since I had suffered so much already without saying a Word. I resolved to have gone away with her in that very instant, if Madam De Belinzani whom we likewise sent for, had not hindered me, entreating me to stay until she had spoken to Monsieur Mazarine. But he had given order that none should be admitted; yet Madam De Belinzani through much obstinate pressing was suffered to come unto him, but would not give her leave to speak, nor could she get any other Answer, but that her business, could not be so urgent with him, as to oblige her to come at so unreasonable an hour; but that if she had any thing to say to him, he was going next morning to St. , and he would give her a meeting at the Cross of Nanterre. Madam De Belinzani being returned as ill satisfied, as we, at so unreasonable a Rallary; it was concluded I should go to lie at Madam De Bouvillions; the next day all my Relations being come thither about my concern, Madam the Countess was desired to acquaint the King with it. He received her very graciously. And Madam the Princess of Carignan was Commanded to come and carry me with her to the Hotel of Soisson; after staying there about two months I was obliged to return with Monsieur Manarine, even without having my Jewels restored to me, or with any other satisfaction, but to be allowed to discharge some Women which he placed about me whom I did not like, that was the only Favour I could obtain. When I pressed to have my Jewels restored, Madam the Countess was the first that told me I did very ill. The Court was always against me ever since that time. It is well known of what Consesequence that is in all manner of business. I told the King in these Terms, That I should Comfort myself to see Monsieur Mazarin so much favoured against me, if he were so in all other things, and if the little help he found in his other affairs did not make it appear that he had no other friends, but my Enemies. As this accord was rather a Triumph for him than a real accommodation, it made him too haughty, to let it be of any long continuance. An hour before my going to the Palace Mazarine I sent thither a Groom of the Chamber, whom Madam the Countess had preferred to me since my coming thither, with some of my things. Monsieur Mazarin, that knew him as well as I did, having asked him what he would have, or who he belonged to; bade him be gone about his business, without letting him stay until I came.  
This poor fellow met me about two hundred paces from my House, and told me what happened; and though Madam the Countess, who came to conduct me, perceived that this was a Just Cause of a new breach; she persuaded me to pass forward, and when she had brought me to the stair-foot, she took her leave of me, being unwilling to see Monsieur Mazarine, because he had used all his endeavours to have me removed to the Palace of Conty, as if the Hotel of Soisson where she lived, had not been as convenient, and as safe a place for me. I begun immediately to beg that this Servant might be received again into my Retinue, but all in vain, although the necessity I saw myself reduced to, by the Authority of the Powers, made me show submissions beyond my natural inclination: But I had a man to deal with, that knew how to make use of the conjuncture. Seeing then that he paid me with bald Excuses, and as bad Jests, Iresolved to leave him the second time, and to withdraw myself to my Brother's House. But Monsieur Mazarine (as you shall perceive by the sequel) had taken a course that I should not go out when I pleased, meaning to make me a Prisoner in my own house; seeing me offer to go, he threw himself in my way, and pushed me very rudely to stop my passage. But my Grief and Vexation supplying me with more than ordinary strength, I thrust by him in spite of all he could do; and though he called out to the Servants to shut all the Doors, and the Ourt-gate especially; they seeing me all in Tears, none durst obey: I was fain to go round by the Street, (wherein there was a great throng of People) in this sad condition; alone, a foot, and at noon day, to get to my accustomed Sanctuary.  
This was the Effect of that Providence, that made him wall up the door, by which there was a Communication betwixt my Brother's Palace and mine; and through which I made my escape the time before. But this precaution gave occasion to all men that knew of it, to judge that he never intended me any better usage for the future, (if I returned again to him) than I had before received at his hands; having ken such care to secure me for the time to-come.  
As soon as I came to my Brothers, I writ to the King, to give him an account of my proceeding: And Madam the Countess carried me with her to the Palace of Soissons. But after five or six days Monsieur De Louvoy came to me from the King, to propose to me to retire into some Nunnery; but Madam the Countess would not consent to that; but brought it about, that Monsieur Mazarine should be obliged to come and agree, and carry me home with him, upon condition that she would be friends with him.  
Presently after this, my Brother went away for Italy; partly to make it appear, that he did not contribute any thing to a misunderstanding betwixt Monsieur Mazarin and me; and that it should not be his fault, if we did not live peaceably together. But I enjoyed but an outside appearance of that Quietness which I hoped to have: For, notwithstanding all my Resolutions of Patience, there passed not one day for three Months, that we continued together, without some jarring and causes of disgust.  
At the end of this time, he took a fancy to go into Alsatia; and instead of gratifying me, and obliging me with his Kindness to go (as I had resolved to do) along with him: He was so ill advised, as to force me to entertain a Woman that I could no way approve of.  
This his Quarrel about a trifle, made me open my Eyes, and to think better of what course I was to take.  
My Friends had the goodness to represent to me, the little Security I must hope for, from a man of that Caprice, in a place so Remote, and where his Power was so absolute. That after what had passed betwixt us, I was a Fool to imagine I should ever be suffered to return from thence: That he had sent my Jewels before, for no other reason, but to confine himself for ever to that his Government, where he should not be obliged to give any account of his Conduct, as at Paris; and if ever I should have need of my Friends, I should be so far from them, that they could do me no other good, but unprofitably, to wish my Condition were better.  
These Considerations, that were but too apparent, and too well grounded, made me take Sanctuary once more at Madam the Countesses, the night before Monsieur Mazarine was to begin his Journey, fearing lest he would have used Violence to have forced me along with him.  
I was so full of Perplexity and Distraction, to see myself anew reduced to this Necessity, that I forgot to bring away my small Jewels, which were left me, for my daily use; and might be worth about fifty thousand Crowns; as they were the only Treasure I had left; Madam the Countess was so provident as to ask me for them, as soon as she saw me: by that means I had time enough to send for them away. He came the next day to know what I meant: Answer was made him that I meant two things; the one, Not to go into Alsatia; the other, That he should restore me my great Jewels, which he sent before unto Alsatia, and which were the first cause of our Breach. For Alsatia he would have been contented to excuse me, since he saw no great likelihood of being able to persuade me to it. But for my Jewels, he would make no peremptory answer; therefore as soon as he left us, Madam the Princess of Baden carried me to Mons. Colberts, to beseech him to seize them into his own hands. He believed I ought not to be refused that Favour: They were forced to be brought back; and they have remained ever since in his hands.  
Now the Question was, What should become of me? Monsieur Mazarine left me my Choice of going to live at the Hotel de Conty, or at the Abbey of Chelles, the only two places in the World, he knew I hated mortally, and that for very just Reasons. The Oppression of Spirit under which I lay, would not give me leave to determine which I should choose of those two places, equally odious to me: I was fain so let others choose for me; and the reasons I had against the Palace of Conty being more prevalent, the Abbey of Chelles was preferred before that of Conty.  
Here it was in this Solitude, that I had time to make Reflections upon the Duty, which my Friends told me was incumbent upon me, to desire a Separation of Goods, in favour of my poor Children, before Monsieur Mazarine had spent all; which at last I resolved to do. Though I was convinced in my own Sense, I ought to solicit it; yet the particular Reasons I had to refer all this to Monsieur Colbert's Judgement, whom I caused to be sounded upon this matter; and finding him averse to it, put a stop to all.  
Some six months afterwards Monsieur Mazarine coming out of Alsatia, made me a Visit as he passed that way, to oblige me to discharge two young women, which Madam the Countess had given me since his departure for Alsatia. I did not believe myself bound to satisfy his Desires in this particular, being I knew it was for no other reason he desired it, but out of his Animosity against her. His Resentment of this Denial put him upon petitioning the King to have me removed from thence, to some other Monastery, upon I know not what pretexts. But the real Truth was, because the Abbess of Chelles, who was his Aunt, treated me civilly; and that I was well enough satisfied with my abode there. He prevailed; and though that Abbess was, as she had cause, much offended; and gave as favourable an account of my behaviour there, as could be desired, Yet Monsieur Le Premier came to tell me, That I should oblige the King in going to the Nunnery of St. Mary's of the Bastile: And Madam De Toussi came with six Guards to conduct me.  
Some time after Monsieur Mazarine going into Britain, came thither to see me; but was presently out of all Patience, because I wore Patches, (for I had some on by chance that day) and told me he would not speak to me until I had taken them off.  
No man ever made his Demands with such unreasonable haughtiness, as deserved rather to be refused than granted; and chief, when he believed that Conscience was concerned; and that also was the reason I would not put off my Patches; to show him it was neither of my Belief nor Intention to offend God with this kind of Dress.  
After Contesting a whole hour about this in vain, he at last began to tell me his mind, notwithstanding my patches, and pressed me with as little success to go with him into Britain. I was then more inclinable to go to Law with him than to follow him. I obtained leave of his Majesty to commence my Suit, having been Conducted to Him by the Princess of Baden. But Monsieur Colbert, who was very unwilling to consent to it, for Reasons that admitted of no Answer, in any other Conjuncture, put along delay to it; until at last Madam De Coursel being put into the same Monastery with me, I obtained, by the favour of some Friends that she had at Court, leave to Commence my Suit.  
As she was a very beautiful person, and of a very pleasant humour, I had Complaisance enough for her, to join with her in playing some Tricks to the Nuns.  
The King has been told a hundred ridiculous Stories about it: That we used to put Ink into the Holy-Water-Pot to smut the good old Nuns: That we used to run through their Dormitory, at the time of their first Sleep, with a great many little Dogs, yelling and yellowing; and twenty other such Fooleries, either altogether invented, or much exaggarated. As for example, having desired them to let us have some water to wash our Feet, The Nuns consulted amongst themselves to refuse us what was necessary, and to find fault, as if we had been put in there to observe their Rule. It is true, that we filled two great Chests that were over the Dormitory, with Water, and not taking notice, that the floor was ill jointed, the water run through, and wet all the poor Nuns beds. If you were at that time at Court, you will easily remember that this accident was represented there as a mere Horse-boyes prank. It is also true, that under Colour of keeping us Company they would never suffer us to go out of their Sights. The eldest amongst the Religious women were chosen for this purpose, as being the hardest to be suborned; but we having nothing else to do but to run about, we soon tired them out one after another, and one or two of them sprained their Legs, striving to run after us. should not tell you these little odd Follies, if Monsieur Mazarine partisans had not published them before; and since they represented them as so many Crimes, I am glad you know all the enormities of them. After we had been three months in this Covent, we had Leave to to go Chelles; where I knew we should be more Civilly treated, though we could not have so many Visits; and Monsieur Mazarine Arrived the same day from Britain, that we were removed thither. Some few days after, Monsieur Mazarine comes with a Guard of threescore Horse, with pretention from Monsieur de Paris to enter the Monastery, and carry me away by force. But the Abbess not only refused him entrance, but put all the Keys of the House into my hands, to free me even from the suspicion of the evil she might have done me. With this Condition only, that I would speak to Monsieur Mazarine. I asked him what he would have? But he still replied, I was not the Abbess. I answered him, I was the Abbess for him that Day, since all the Keys of the House were in my Power, and there was no getting in for him but by my Favour. He turned his Back, and went his way. A Gentleman that Madam the Countess sent, to know how I did, Carried the News to Paris, and said, that it was reported at Chelles, that Monsieur Mazarine went off, only with design to return again in the Night. You have heard without doubt how Madam De Bovillon, Monsieur the Count, Monsieur De Bovillon, and a number of the greatest Persons about the Court got on Horseback upon this Report, to come to my Resque.  
At this Noise, they made, Madam Courcelles, and I took them for my Enemies; but our Fears was not so great but that we thought upon an expedient to hid ourselves; there was a hole in the Grate of our Parleour big enough for a great Dish to pass; and we never till then thought one could Creep through it: Yet we both got in at that Hole, but it was with so much difficulty, that if Monsieur Mazarin himself had been in that Parlour he would never suspect that place, and would have looked for us any where else, than there. But when we found our Error, the shame and confusion we were in, made us resolve to shoot that Gulf once more without Calling any body to our Aid. Madam De Courcelle got easily through, but I was above a quarter of an Hour betwixt two bars of Iron, and almost squeezed to Death without being able to get in or out. But though I was horribly pinched, I would not consent any should be Called to help us; and Madam Courcel never left tugging until she had me out. I went to thank them all, and after they had Joked a while upon Monsieur Mazarines attempt to Catch nothing, they all returned back. In the mean time I had such a Decree, as I desired in the the Court of Inquests: this Court consisted most of young men of great Wit and Eloquence, and they all strove who should be most forward to serve me. The scope of the Decretal Order was, That I should be allowed twenty thousand Livers a year. That I should live at the Palace Mazarine, and Monsieur Mazarine at the Arsenal. And what was more important? That Monsieur Mazarine should be Obliged to produce the goods or their value, which I declared he dissipated. Madam the Princess of Carignan came to put me into possession. There I found all the Servants that I had need of, already Chosen by Monsieur Mazarine; but I thanked them all for their good will. Madam the Countess who always unseasonally put me in mind of my Generosity, would fain persuade me that it was below me to exact the allowance the Parliament had Assigned me. But Monsieur Mazarine was not a man that would give me any thing without being Compelled; and I must have whereby to subsist. It is true, she asked me if I had need of money; but she could not be Ignorant of that, and were it not for my small Jewels, and the helps I had from my Brother, my Affairs had been in a very ill posture. He returned out of Italy ten days after my Decree; and although he was very angry at my Lawsuit, for those very Reasons that made Mons. Colvert to disapprove of it, and that he always foretold me that madam the Countess would forsake me as soon as she had engaged me in this business; yet I found every morning upon my Toylet more money than I needed, without ever being able truly to discover from whence it came.  
In the Interim Monsieur Mazarine removed the Suit unto the Great Chamber, for a new Trial; it was so ordered, that the King interposed in our affair to make a final accommodation betwixt us. We both Signed a Writing to the King to this effect, That Monsieur Mazarine should return to Lodge at the Palace Mazrine, but that I should have the liberty to Chose all my Servants, excepting my Gentleman of the Horse, who was to be recommended to me by Monsieur Colbert; that we should live each in their own Apartments, that I should not be obliged to follow him in any of his Journeys: And as for the separation if Goods, I desired the Ministers of State should be Arbitrator, thereof, and that we should inviolably observe serve and obey their Award. Upon the same day that I signed this Writing, I meeting Madam de Brisack at the Fair, who told me Laughing, Madam, you are plastred up again for the third time. Nor were we truly friends, for Monsieur Mazarine made it his business to thwart me in all things, of which I could instance many particularities; but one shall serve that made noise enough; I had ordered a Stage to be Erected in my own apartment, to have a Comedy Acted for some Persons of the Court. But Monsieur Mazarine caused it to be pulled down two hours before it was to be made use of, because it was a Holy Day, and a Comedy was a profane Divertisement. But all this did not hinder, but that we saw one another very Civilly every after Noon; for we neither eat, nor lay together, though Monsieur Mazarine would have it otherwise understood; but our award mentioned nothing of it.  
Nor could I see any likely hood, that our Affairs should remain long in this posture: and if happily our Affairs must be referred again to the Parliarment I was loath to expose myself to the drudgery of Soliciting, being great with Child.  
Nor was my Apprehensions vain; For, Monsieur Mazarine was soon weary of what he had done; and there upon begged of His Majesty to teat the Writings, and to Release us of our Engagements. Neither would I consent to it, but upon condition that his Majesty would never more interpose into our Business, neither one way nor other: His Majesty was Graciously pleased to pass His Word, that he w uld not, and has ever since kept His Promise. This brought us again into parliament; and our Suit was followed with more Bitternesson both sides than ever.  
Monsieur Mazarine, and his Adherents, forgot nothing since that time, that might Sully my Reputation to the World: and above all, make me hateful to His Majesty.  
The Extravagancies of Monsieur Courcelles, amongst other things, furnished them with an Admirable Invention. I had forgotten to tell you, that when I left Chelles, I prevailed so far, that I got leave for his Wife to come and live with me. She was no sooner there, but those that formerly had been instrumental to draw her away from her Husband, being glad to put her again into his Possession, found means, I know not how, to let him into the Palace Mazarine, whilst I was abroad; and managed her so, that her Husband and she went away together as good friends as ever. One day as I came to give her a Visit, she was so foolish as to deny herself, though Mr. Cavoy's Coach stood at the Door. In the first transports of my Pession, for this her Rudeness, her Husband came unluckily in the way, to whom I could not forbear saying no something of it.  
This foolish Fellow of late hankered after an occasion to fight Cavoy: and was loath it should be thought that he was Jealous of the best of his Friends, but that it was upon some other account. The most Plausible he could find, was to pretend himself every where in love with me; giving out, That his Wife had in her keeping some Letters of mine that were of Consequence, and which I had written to some Gentleman of the Court; That she put them into Cavoye's hands; and that Cavoy, like a Rascal, shown them about; but that he would force him with his Sword to restore them, as he had promised me so to do.  
Although this Story was Ridiculous enough, and as ill contrived as might be, yet it found Belief; and some were so foolish as to report it for a Truth.  
He did worse than all this; he had the Impudence to tell me to my Face of it, in the Court-Yard of the Palace Mazarine. I told him, that knowing better than any other, that all he had said was not true; I could not imagine he could have any other Design in it, but to make himself merry: and that, if I knew that he had the least intention of Fight upon this Ridiculous Pretence, I would immediately acquaint Monsieur the Count with it, who was just by, and heard some part of our Discourse.  
Coursel perceiving, by the manner and tone of my Voice, that I would not understand Raillery, made sign with a nod of his head, that it was only in jest; not daring to speak it out, because of Monsieur the Count, who joined us at the same time.  
If is easy to guests how great my amazement was, when I understood the next day that they had not only fought, but that likewise in the Accord they made amongst themselves in the Field. He had the Impudence to maintain this Fiction to the end; and to except a Woman from the Secret they had mutually promised to keep. He was so well pleased with himself, that he could not contain himself, but Brags of this Exception to all people without Exception; which made the matter public, and was the occasion that they both were sent to the Conciergery, to do Penance for one man's Folly. They were not wanting at Court in their Censures of me, upon this occasion, treating me with the Attributes of Incendary, makebate and Brutal: That I should be the occasion of cutting many other Throats, if I could.  
One of my Grooms of the Chamber being dangerously wounded about that time by some of his drunken Comrades, they had the Charity to inform the King, That this fellow was privy to all my Secrets, and that having found that he betrayed his Trust, I took course to have him assassinated. The insolent Liberty, people took to charge me with these Calumnies, obliged me to speak to the King about it. Madam the Duchess, in whose Company I went to him, told him as she entered the Room, That she brought him that Criminal, that Wicked Woman, of whom so many evil things had been told him. The King was pleased to tell me, That he never gave Credit to any of those Reports: But his manner of delivering this, was so succinct, and so far from the accustomed Civility with which he used to hear me, that all others but myself, would have doubted of the Truth of what he said; you know the Court is a land of much contradiction. The Compassion which perhaps people took of me, when they saw me shut up in a Convent, was changed into Envy, to see me appear in the Queen's withdrawing Room, and to make a much better appearance there than I had a mind to. Yet I had no other pretention, but to endeavour to make some tolerable Agreement with Monsieur Mazarine; but those by whose Counsels I regulated my Actions and Affairs, having other ends, ruined my business, by endeavouring to make their own succeed; and so abusing my simplicity, and the blind Obedience I gave to all their Advices, made me run up and down to this place, and that man, without understanding the Reason or consequence of it.  
Amidst all these Troubles and Vexations, our Suit went forward, and Monsieur Mazarine found the same Favour amongst the Old men, which I had obtained of the Young. After three months' time, I had Intelligence, That he had gained the Hearts of the great Chamber, that his Cabal carried all before them there, that he was like to have such a Decree as he desired; that although they did grant me the separation of Goods, they would not leave me that of my Bed, which I then enjoyed, and therefore was no part of my Request to them; and lastly, that the Judges could not Dispense wit● themselves from ordering me to go to Cohabit with my Husband, though they had been as favourable as they were then averss to me. If this account had been given me by people of less Credit than they from whom I had it, I might have had the liberty of publishing the Names of my Authors. But as they run a hazard in telling it, so they were cautious in exacting my Secrecy, which I will eternally keep inviolable to them. You may judge what usage I was like to have of Monsieur Mazarine, if I should be forced by Act of Parliament to return to him, after the causes of Resentments which he pretended to have against me, and have both Court and Parliament, contrary to me.  
These were the Motives that produced that strange and so much blamed Resolution, which I took, of retiring into Italy, to my Friends and Relations, seeing now no longer Refuge or Security for me in France.  
My Brother, who was at once, the nearest, the dearest, and the discreetest of my Relations, was also of the first that approved of my Resolution, and offered me all he could do to favour it. The Chevalier of Rohan, his intimate Friend, and mine, having, I know not how heard of it, spoke to us so knowingly of it, that we could not without Impudence conceal it from him, nor without some kind of Ingratitude refuse his assistance.  
My Desine was not to go directly then to Rome, but only to Milan, to see my Sister the Constable of Colonna, whither I writ to her to come, and stay for me, that she might bear me Company to Bruxelles; that from thence, as being nearer, we might with more ease, negotiate some more durable and advantageous Agreement with Monsieur Mazarine than the former had proved.  
Monsieur De Rohan begged that he might come to us thither along with my Brother, when we should be arrived there; nor could we in Civility refuse it him. I had some reasons to believe, that Monsieur Mazarine would be more easily wrought to a better accommodation, when he should once see me out of France. And the terrible rible Apprehensions I marked in him every time I threatened to be gone, would not suffer me to doubt of it.  
The Despair to which he did often reduce me, made me many times tell him, That if I were once out of of his reach, I would make him run far enough, before he should overtake me.  
But to my misfortune, he never believed I had so much courage, until he saw it. After I had taken this Resolution, I so much neglected my suit, that I have a hundred times since wondered, that those, who were concerned in it, did not perceive it. Madam the Countess, of whom I was most afraid, was the only person that had some suspicion of it, but she gave it no Credit; She came almost every day to my Brothers, where she found us always very merry in appearance, to deceive the World; she cried out upon me, because I did not solicit my business, that it was a great shame for me to let my suit be lost for want of looking after it. Some eight days before I parted, She was there when one of my Brother's Gentlemen, called Parmillac●, came to take his leave of us, He pretended to go to see his Father who (as be said) had some command in Lorraine among the Horse. But in Truth, it was to order Post Horses to be ready for me upon that Road, which I chose because it was the unlikeliest to be suspected. The sight of this man that was to begin my enterprise, put me into such disorder, that I have since wondered how the Countess did not take notice of it; she was taken up with glozing upon my Negligence in the midst of so many important Concerns. That it was not the time to stay all day in my Chamber undressed, playing upon my Guittare, and that this kind of Carelessness made her almost believe what was reported, that I intended to fly into Italy. These unprofitable Remonstrances ended in an Exhortation to me, to go with her to St. German to make my Court at least. But I prayed her excuse; having other business that concerned me nearer. It was absolutely necessary for my concerns that she should be at St. German when I parted; for if she were at Paris; in the distrust she had had of my Conduct, it had been almost impossible, but she would have suspected something of my intention.  
In fine, Wednesday the thirteenth of June in the year one thousand six Hundred and sixty eight, being the day appointed for my Departure, whilst I was putting my little Affairs in order against Night, she sent for me to go dine with at Saint German; I was about to send her word I could not go, but the, messenger was ordered to take no denial, but that I must go; which made me apprehend my Plot was discovered; but as we must always in such kind of matters presume we are not discovered, though we see never so great appearances to the Contrary, I thought it expedient to Promise, I would meet her there lest she should come herself to fetch me.  
When dinner time was over, and I did not appear, she sent to conjure me not to fail to come thither before Night. I excused myself as well as I could for breaking my Word, and bid them assure her that I would not fail to be there at Night; but ten of the Clock being passed, and no news of me, she took her Coach and came straight towards Paris. She was come above half way when she met my Brother, who left Paris at the same time I did, to impart my Design to Monsieur De Louvoy. She asked him abruptly, Where I was? But he asked her, If she had not met me? she said No: He replied coldly, That sure then I had taken the other Road; for, that he saw me come away before he took Coach.  
Monsieur Mazarine came to awake the King at three of the Clock in the morning, to beseech him that he would give order. That I should be pursued. But His Majesty had the Generosity to answer him: That he would not break the Promise he had made when he tore our Award, never to meddle with any of our Concerns, one way nor another; neither was it likely to overtake me now, being so long gone; and having taken my Measures at leisure as I had done.  
But this Answer was otherwise rendered to the world; and you have surely heard of the Verses which were made of this Subject which gins thus:  Sad Mazarine, pale and full of grief. 
And ended with this Joke upon the Revelations he had, during the Queen's great sickness, touching the King and Madam La Val●ers.  
Alas, what is become of my poor Wife?  
Know you not (quoth the King?) sure you cannot miss.  
The Angel that tells you all, has told you this.  
Monsieur Mazarine, seeing he could obtain nothing to his purpose of the King, went to Monsieur Colbert, who advised him to send some Person of Credit after me, to offer me my own Terms so I would come back. It was one Monsieur Louvier, one of the Lieutenants of the Ordinance who was sent; and you may judge from the place where he over-took me, that the King had reason to say, It was then too late to follow me.  
Whilst things passed thus at Court, I ran a strange Carreir: And I do assure you, that if I had fore-seen all the Inconveniencies that attends such a Journey, I should rather have chosen to end my days betwixt four Walls, or make myself away with Steel or Poison, than to expose my Reputation, to those Calumnies that are inevitable to all Women of my Age and Quality, that are separated from their Husbands.  
Though I had not Experience enough, nor those that were of my Counsel, forecast enough; yet I was not without many Conflicts with myself before I could absolutely come to a settled Determination: And my Irresolutions were so troublesome to me, that if you could but see them, you would more easily comprehend, that nothing but the necessity I saw myself reduced to, could hurry me to so pernicious an Enterprise.  
I can with great Truth assure you, that all my Divertisments, were but feigned since I had form this design; And that Madam the Countess was much in the wrong in reproaching me with my tranquillity of mind; I scarce took any rest, nor eat, nor drunk much for above eight days before; and I was so much troubled when I parted, that I was fain to send back from the Gate of St. Anthony, to fetch the Box in which was my money and my Jewels which I had forgotten. It is a great Truth that I never dreamt that I should ever want money, but experience hath taught me it is commonly the first thing, that is wanting, especially to those, that having always lived in great plenty of it, never know the necessity and importance of discreetly managed it.  
Nevertheless, I left the Keys of my Apartment with my Brother, that he might seize upon my Plate, Furniture and others things of Value, But he was so Careless as to let Monsieur Mazarine prevent him, upon the same token that sometime afterward he sold some of my things to Madam La Valier for a hundred thousand Franks. My Train Consisted of a maid I had but six months, called Nannon, dressed in man's apparel, as I was, a man of my Brothers called Narcissus, with whom I had no acquaintance, and a Gentleman belonging to Monsieur Rohan called Courbevil, whom I had never seen before. My Brother prayed Monsieur Rohan not to leave me until he had seen me out of Town, I parted with him without the Gate of St. Anthony, and drove on in a Goach with six Horses, to a house belonging to the Princess of Guimene his mother, ten Leagues from Paris. From thence I went six or seven Leagues in a Caleche; but these kind of Carriages were too slow for my Fears, therefore I took Horse, and Arrived at Bar, the Friday following about Noon; from thence (seeing myself out of France) I went no further than Nancy that Night. The Duke of Lorraine hearing of my Arrival, and desiring to see me, was so Civil as not to press it, when he understood I was unwilling. The Resident of France was very earnest to have me stopped there, but in vain; and the Duke, to Complete his Generosity, gave me a Lieutenant and twenty of his Guards to Conduct me into Swiszerland. We were almost every where known to be Women; and Nanon still through forgetfulness called me Madam; whether for this Reason, or that my Face gave some Cause of suspicion; the People watched us through the Keyhole, when we had shut ourselves in, and saw our long Tresses, which as soon as we were at liberty we untied, because they were very troublesome to us under our Periwigs.  
Nanon was extreme low of stature, and so unfit to be Clothed in men's Apparel, that I could never look upon her without Laughing. The Night that I lay at Nancy, where we reassumed our women's Apparel, I was so overjoyed to see myself out of danger, that I gave myself the liberty of diverting me a little at my ordinary Sports, and as I ran after her to Laugh at her, I fell on my Knee so that I hurt it, but I did not feel it then; some days after I caused a Bed to be made in a pitiful Village of the French County, to rest myself while Dinner was a preparing, but of a sudden such a grievous pain took me in that Knee, that I was not able to rise; but on I must go, therefore having been let blood by a woman for want of another Chirurgeon, I followed my Journey in a Litter till I came to Newcastle, where the people persuaded themselves, that I was Madam de Longeville; you cannot Imagine the Joy, the people expressed to see me, being not used to see Women of Quality of France, pass through their Country; nor could they comprehend that any other than the Duchess of Longeville could have business that way. I know some would have laid hold of this occasion, and made use of their kindness, to taste of the sweetness of Sovereignty, however the mistake was advantageous to me; and what I wanted in Age, I gained in quality. But this Authority seemed to me too great and too good for a Fugitive; I was also so unskilfully handled, that my pain grew worse, in so much that I had once thoughts of returning to Paris; and were it not that Milan was nearer, and that I hoped to be sooner and safer there, I had pursued my first Thoughts  
Some few days after, as I passed through a little Town of Swiszerland, where we were all like to be knocked on the Head, by our Ignorance of their Language: and to complete our happiness, we understood when we came to Altauph, that we must pass our Quarantaine there, before we should be suffered to enter the Territories of Milan. There it was my stock of Patience was quite spent. For I saw myself in a Barbarous Country, most desperately Sick, full of grievous Pain; and for Help, you shall Judge by what happened to Natcissus, whether there was much to be hoped for in that place. For he ayling something, sent for a Chirurgeon to let him Blood, they brought him a Farrier, who going to let him Blood with his Flemmes miss the Vain, and Narcissus threatening to kill him, the Fellow still answered Coldly, that he had not hurt the Artery.  
But what consummated and throughly carried my Condition, even beyond Despair, was the Division that I found in my Family, and their continual Jarring. Narcissus took it Ill, that Courbevil who had been in my Family but seven or eight Days, should take upon him to meddle with any thing without his leave; and the same reason made Nanon quarrel with them both; but while Narcissus and she Jarred in this manner, they were wholly useless to me, and did nothing but out of spite to thwart one another.  
On the other side Courbevil was very diligent to help me; and I am still persuaded, had it not been for him, I had been forced to have had my Legs cut off. And as my distressed Condition made me very thankful, and acknowledging for every little service; and commending his particular Care of me, put them two quite out of Humour; and thereupon abandoned me wholly to his Care.  
It was at the time of this Quarantine, that La Louvier over-took me; but I remitted the Deliberation of what he proposed to me, to our Arrival at Milan, whither I came some few days after, by the favour and means of the Duke of S, Brother in Law to the Constable, and Governor of that Country; He understood how I was detained at Altauph, and he remitted eighteen days of my Quarantine. My Sister and the Constable came to meet me at a House of theirs four days Journey from Milan, where we stayed some days, and thence we went to Milan, where in six weeks that we stayed there, we received nine Couriers from Paris.  
I understood that presently after my flight, the Judges had declared themselves in my favour against Monsieur Mazarine; and that the Resolution I had taken, gave at the same time both Admiration, and Pity to all reasonable people; and that Monsieur Turren himself had spoken to the King in my behalf. But things quickly changed their face by my friends joining with Monsieur Mazarine, in an Appeal against my Brother and Monsieur Rohan, who alleged in his Bill, that they had stole me away.  
I know that Monsieur Mazarine sent one after me with power to take Information, from place to place, all the Road that I passed, of all my Actions and Demeanour.  
And this perhaps is the greatest and only Obligation I own him, since this man's Depositions which are Recorded in Parliament, are undeniable Testimonies of the Innocence of my carriage, and conduct throughout this Journey, against all the Allegations and Aspersions of my Enemies. But this was not the best Story in his Bugget: I had written to my Brother, and to Monsieur Rohan before I left New castle; to my Brother to let him know where, and how I was; and to Monsieur Rohan, to thank him for the Service he did me at my coming away, in facilitating my Departure. I had commanded Narcissus to send away these Letters by the Post, but whether it was that his hatred to Courbevill reached as far as his Master that gave him me, or that it was mere negligence, he confessed at Milan that he forgot Monsieur Rohan's Letter upon the Mantletree in the Post-master's House at Newcastle, to whom he had given it in charge. La Louvier finding it as he came that way, carried it with him, and gave it to Monsieur Mazarine, who made wonderful use of it, and with such success, that it set all the World against me: And it was upon this Letter that he grounded his Request, sometime after, that I ought to forfeit all my Rights, which is never practised but against Women, convinced of the highest Infamy and Lewedness.  
I told you that Monsieur Rohan had obtained my Brother's consent to come to us to Brussels, when we should be arrived there. The Need we had of him, having made us conclude the matter so; it was natural enough to mention this to him, in a Letter that was designed principally to show him my Acknowledgements and Gratitude. This was Evidence enough for Monsieur Mazarine to prove a Confederacy betwixt us, and that the Chevalier was in love with me. But besides, that his Affections were known to the whole Court to be engaged elsewhere then, and to a Person of that Eminent Quality, that he was Banished for it: His manner of proceeding did not way show any such thing. It was truly the part of a good Friend to furnish me with means to convey myself far off, and to put me into the hands of trusty Servants; But it was no way that of a true Lover; there are very few that being favoured with a Confidence of this Nature, would be persuaded to lose fight of their Mistress in so Extrarodinary an Occasion as this.  
Notwithstanding all this, the world gave Credit to what Monsieur Mazarine would have pass for a Truth: As for my Brother, he had, as you have seen by the Story, took up a Jealousy of him, to render him suspected in all my Concerns; that by this means he might deprive me of so considerable a Support: there is nothing so innocent, but is poisoned, to maintain & carry on so detestable a Calumny; they produced Letters in verse, for want of other Evidences.  
Posterity (if happily any thing of our Business does reach it) will hardly believe that a man of my Brother's Gravity should be examined upon Interrogatories about such Trifles; and that they should be seriously discussed before so grave a Bench: That they should make such a Detestable use of so innocent a Commerce of Wit and Fancy, betwixt persons so nearly Related: To conclude, That the Esteem and Friendship I had for a Brother of a Desert and Merit so well known, and so justly due to him, and who loved me entirely well, should be made use of, as an injust Pretence, and Colour for so Black and so Cruel a Defamation.  
It will be hard to find stranger Examples of the Misfortunes of a Person of my Quality, Sex, and Age.  
The most sacred Ties of Nature and Reason, become the most horrible Crimes when Jealousy and Envy comes to descant upon them: and there is nothing impossible to a man that makes Profession of Piety and Devotion, rather than he shall be thought in the wrong; the most Innocent and Upright Persons in the World, shall be thought the most Infamous, and the most Abominable. I may perhaps be thought in Passion; but the Remembrance of so Barbarous a Wrong, and so Cruel Usage, has run me into a Superfluous Digression. For, it is very difficult to keep an even Temper in Relating such Sad and Lamentable Things.  
Nor is it easy to leave wondering that People should be so malicious as to tax me with a Business so known to the World as the Friendship and Union that was betwixt my Sister the Constable, my Brother, and myself.  
The whole Court of France have seen a Letter, which he writ from Rome sometime after our Marriages, wherein he represents to one of his Friends, his Happiness in having two Sisters whom he loved so well, living in two of the Greatest and most Famous Cities of the World, Rome and Paris. He ended his Letter with these two Verses.  
And thus I pass my days in great Delight,  
With Wise Mary, and Hortensia Bright.  
It is not unlikely, but that Monsieur Mazarine would have made use of these Verses, in his Suit, if my Sister (whom he endeavoured to gain, and set against me) had not been concerned in them as well as I: For, they are, at least, as Criminal and Faulty as the other Letter, of which he made use. My Brother writ me that other Letter to St. , where I was some days, after Monsieur Mazarine had caused the Stage to be thrown down, which I told you I had ordered to be set up in my Apartment. It begun thus:  
Thou art in thy kind without Compare,  
Chaster than Lucrece, than Venus more Fair.  
He continues it with returning me thanks for writing to him, and giving me an account of his Health; and after he goes on thus:  
Know then your kind Duke makes a damnable Rout,  
He frets, and he fumes, and he wanders about,  
And all to inquire hit Dear Mazarine out.  
He came th' other Night in a Lunatic Rage,  
And told me the Tragical Fate of your Stage.  
The Duke of Navaille, that withered sad Drivel,  
Whose Ghastly wild Looks would half fright the Devil,  
To assist your Goodman comes Thundering Pell-mell,  
And with Noise, and with Nonsense upon me he fell.  
They both joined i'th' Chorus, and opening their Throats,  
As loud as they could, with their damned Screetch-Owle Notes,  
They tried me and teized for a whole Hour long;  
And his dear Mazarine was the Burden o'th' Song.  
Your Hectoring Spouse, like a Saracen, stairs,  
Looks big, and all that,— and by is Maker he Swears,  
He'll seize you by Force, when e'er he meets you.  
And when in his Clutches but once more he gets you,  
For all your Brisk Champions he'll care not a Rope;  
He'll keep you in Spite of King, Emperor, or Pope.  
His Servant Polastron has offered his Aid,  
To join in the Plot, to have you betrayed.  
Has Sworn his Allegiance the better to warrant,  
Himself a true Squire to your newmade Knight Errand.  
In this extreme Danger, till the Tempest is o'er,  
The Protection of Lewis, I advise you implore.  
In all this Distress of his Friendship make trial;  
And shielded by his great Authority Royal,  
You need fear no Ill You'll be safely secured.  
Against an Ungrateful and Barbarous Lord.  
The rest is nothing. As I was showing this Letter to some of my Friends at Court, the Count of Grammon came and snatched it out of my hands, and carried it to the King; it was read publicly before Him, and there was none of all the Court that was any way scandalised at it, but one of the King's Chirurgeons, named Eliam: This man, who in Appearance was zealous for his Patients, hearing these Words, The Duke of Navaille, that withered sad Drivel, could not contain himself from interrupting them, and saying. That was nothing; for he was shortly to be Purged. And yet it was upon such Convincing Proofs as these, That Mons. Mazarine obtained an Order of Parliament, to Arrest me in any place where he should find me.  
All my Friends, at the same time, Signed a Paper to him, jointly praying Monsieur the Constable not to receive me into his House; but he laughed at their Folly. And they had likewise sent with them these other scandulous Letters. There came to me at the same time a particular Courier from the Countess, to excuse herself to me about this; but by word of mouth only.  
I confess my Constancy was not of strength enough to receive so great a Shock of so many Afflictions together. I fell into a deep Melancholy, and these kind of proceed leaving me no hope of an Accommodation, I left off the Thoughts of going to Bruxelles. Hereupon my Brother arrives; and instead of Comforting me, he began another Persecution against me, so much the more Cruel, because it had such a Specious Foundation.  
It was agreed, that Courbevil should be sent back as soon as I came to Milan. But he having understood the Criminal Process that was begun at Paris, in which he was made a party; he threw himself at my Feet, and represented to me, That he could not return to his Master, without carrying his Head to a Scaffold; and that having not whereby to subsist any where else, he should be utterly ruined if I discharged him my Service. This Gentleman had been so serviceable to me in my greatest Necessities, that I believed I could not abandon him without extreme Ingratitude; therefore I passed my word to him that I would not put him away, as long as he would please to stay with me. And the cruel Displeasures which I received for having kept him, have not yet persuaded me that I ought not to have given him my word to continue him in my Service.  
Narcissus and Nanon enraged because I kept him, told my Brother that he talked insolently of him; what they alleged he had said was likely enough; my Brother believed them, and would have me turn him away: But as I knew who it was that had done him this ill Office, I could neither believe it, nor discharge him. But my Resolution to keep him drove Narcissus and Nanon into despair; at last the best Expedient they could find to force me to satisfy their desire, was to give out that Courbevil was in love with me.  
My Brother, who would seem ignorant of these services, and of the Promise I gave him, and the Obligations I owed to this man, because he believed himself affronted by him, and being accustomed to receive no Denial from me, was afraid there was something extraordinary in my Obstinacy not to dismiss him: and was confirmed in this Opinion, when after highly representing to me the Report that was spread abroad, he saw I would not yield to part with him. This ridiculous Calumny instead of convincing, did rather exasperate me: And I was so nearly touched to find he gave Credit to it, that I could no longer endure him. The Constable and my Sister were first of my side, against him; but they too turned to his side at last. Then there was nothing but sending and proving betwixt us four, and I was still in the fault; and they justified themselves at my Cost.  
This kind of Life, full of Vexations and Resentments, against a Brother and a Sister whom I loved so dearly, and whose Society alone I thought sufficient to make me happy, made me at last, though late, to comprehend that we must set our Hearts upon nothing in this World.  
In the midst of these Disquiets we came to Venice, where the Constable was not well at his ease, because perhaps he saw my Sister was too well pleased to be there. He promised me great matters to induce me to go to Rome; That he would engage his Holiness should protect me; and that he would omit nothing to divert me from the deep Melancholy he saw me inclined to. Seeing myself so cruelly persecuted by my Brother, I thought it convenient, by my Complaisance, to manage the Constable's Kindness. We went all to Sienne, to Cardinal Chigies; from whence, after three Weeks stay there, my Brother having fallen out with us, returned to Venice without taking leave of us, and we steered our course towards Rome; where the heats were so Excessive, that we were forced to retire for six weeks to Marine, a house of Pleasure, belonging to my Brother-in-Law, the Constable.  
About the time we returned to Rome, my Brother came thither with a Gentleman belonging to Monsieur de Rohan, to cause (as I have been told) Courbevil to be Assassinated. I have been informed that Courbevil finding himself extreme ill at Venise, he believed himself Poisoned; and in this Belief he writ terrible Letters to Paris against my Brother: and Monsieur De Rohan, whom he believed of Intelligence with my Brother to have him turned out of my Service; that these Letters falling into Monsieur De Rohan's hands, he sent them back to my Brother, desiring him to Chastise Courbevil according to his Deserts. The indiscretion of this Courbevil, and the unpleasing Noise this Business made in the World, together with the desire I had to be at quiet, made me resolve at last to discharge Courbevil; not doubting but he would willingly acquit me of my Promise which I had given him.  
My Request to the Precedent of Champlastreux his Son, who did negotiate betwixt my Brother and me, was, That he should not press me with so much Imperiousness to this Deferrence; and that I might be allowed to go and sojourn with my Aunt Martinozzi. An Hour before Courbevil was to leave my House, my Aunt being already come to carry me with her, my Sister was in such a rage because I would no longer stay at her house, that she begun to play upon him before me, and to ask him, If he would not once more move me, and persuade me to let him stay yet this time? The man being in despair for his going away, answered her fiercely, That if I did not command him to go he would not, and that he cared for none there but me. She bade him to get him gone, and that he should understand what it was to speak to her in her own Palace with so little Respect. He went out in a great Fury, and I had reason to believe that there was some mischief intended against him; and therefore thinking myself bound to save his Life, I had him along with me to my Uncle's House, the Cardinal Mancini, from thence I went to my Aunt's House, where I stayed some time shut close up as in a Prison.  
As Melancholy as I was, I could not hold Laughing at a request she made me, to dance the Mattassin Dance, to the Sound of my Guitar to divert me from Sadness, I know not whether it was this my Refuse that did exasperate her against me; but one day as I was at the Window, she commanded me very roughly to get me from thence, That it was not the custom at Rome to stand looking out at Windows. Another time as I stood at it, she sent me her Ghostly Father to tell me That she would cause me to be haled from it be force. This Monk was so insolent in the delivery of his message, that the Tears gushed out of my Eyes. Cardinal Chigies Gentleman of the Horse, who was managing of Horses before the House, hearing me complain, came up to offer me his Service, but when I saw him, I had no power to say any more. For all that, he went and told his Lord, That I had neither eat nor drank in two days. Cardinal Chigie was troubled at it, and pitied my condition; and Cardinal Mancini telling him, that Monsieur Mazarine desired I would Retire for fifteen Days into a Monastery, wherein there was a Sister of Cardinal Mazarins; I took him at his Word. My Brother and Sister seeing the Deplorable State in which I was, began to reflect upon their passed usage to me, and could not be quiet until I had pardoned them.  
But I would not consent that my Brother should see me, yet at last they overcome me in this too; and though I saw that their Repentance could not redress the Injuries they had done my Reputation, the easiness of my Nature carried me to yield even this time, notwithstanding the just cause of Indignation which I had against them. I confess my Heart hardens at the Relation. I know nothing so Cruel in one's Life, as to see those People come boldly to us that have done us unpardonable Injuries. It is enough to be mortally affronted by them, without being persecuted with their Repentance too.  
This Reflection with many others, which I had occasion to make in my recess made me resolve to return into France, and to throw myself at Monsieur Mazarines' Feet, and rather trust to his Mercy without Capitulating, than to remain still exposed to as many more irksome, and heart breaking adventures, as I had already run through. I made my Aunt Martinozzi to write to the Princess of Conty her Daughter about it, and I was preparing to be gone as soon as the Answer was come, some few Days after Courbevil found means to let me understand, That after he had been some Days kept close at Cardina Mancinies, he was conveyed to Civita Vetchia, where he had been a Prisoner for six Weeks: and where he was like to remain (as he sent me word, long enough) unless I would please to have the goodness to solicit for him. Though I had reason never more to concern myself with him; yet because I would not leave my Work imperfect, I begged his Liberty of Francisco Vincenzo Rospigliosi, the Pope's Nephew, who thereupon commanded his Inlargment.  
In the interim, the time which I was to stay in the Convent being elapsed, Cardinal Mancini made answer to the instances; my Sister, unknown to me, had used to get me out of the Monastery, That he advised me to stay there a little longer, because it would be advantageous for me, that the Answer which was expected out of France should find me there; And this Answer was, That after I had remained two years in that Monastery, Mons. Mazarine would consider what he should do with me  
Cardinal Mancini by all means would have me submit to this Condidition; and truly in the great affliction of mind into which Mons. Mazarine's Harshness had cast me, I might have been persuaded to any thing: But my Sister would not let me stay there by no means; she caused the Queen of Sweden to be solicited to that end, who gave me her promise to receive me into her house; all the difficulty was, how I should make my Escape.  
My Sister came to see me that Afternoon I intended it; and as we were packing up to begun, and that Nanon was grown as broad as she was long, with the Farthels, that she had put round about her, every where under her ; we had Intelligence that the Queen of Sweden, by the Advice of her Counsel, had retracted the Promise she had given me. How unwelcome soever this News was, it was resolved I should make my Escape.  
My Sister begun to take her leave to be gone, and I making as if I would wait upon her down Stairs; my Aunt Mazarine used all the Arguments she had to oblige me to stay in my Chamber, because I had been Ill along time; but I was not to commit such an Error.  
My Sister's Children, not having the Liberty of coming within the Cloister, as she had, and were brought that day on purpose to amuse my Aunt in the Parlour; that we might not be pestered with her, stayed for her at the Door, which as soon as the Abbess came to open, Nanon threw herself out of it, as it were with Joy, to make much of them, and I after her. As they had no suspicion of our Design, the Lady Abbess durst not stay me by force; nor had she much time to consider of it, for I was immediately got into my Sister's Coach, and so drive away.  
My Sister had the privilege, of carring a certain number of Women with her into the Cloister, as often as she came thither; my Aunt through vexation and anger stopped two of them, that came in with her that day, though they were no way privy to our Plot: my poor old Aunt took the matter so much to heart, that she died within few Days after, of the Displeasure she had taken for my Escape.  
We caused the Coach to drive straight to Cardinal Chigies, to implore his Protection, but we found him not; he came a little after to my Sisters, and seemed very cold in the matter, fearing the Pope's Displeasure; but his Holiness made this Answer to Cardinal Mancinies' complaint, That if he had known that I was kept against my Will in the Convent, he would have come himself to fetch me out.  
Not being able yet to resolve to live in my Sister's house, I went to lodge in the street called du Cours in our paternal House, where the Roman Accadamy was ever kept. Cardinal Mancini was so angry at it, that he turned one of his Sisters out of the House, who would have incommoded me if she had stayed: But he soon after took the Opportunity of my absence, being gone to Marrine, (to my brothers-in-law) to seize, and take possession of the House: So that, I was forced at my return to take another.  
I was at length reduced to pawn my Jewels for my Subsistance: I had borrowed but three thousand Crowns upon them, when I was informed the man that lent it me was in danger of breaking. But when I went to Redeem them, I found that Madam Martinozzi had prevented me, and paid the money, but would not return the Jewels. Whereupon the Constable of Collonna taking no notice of her having them, prevailed so by his Authority and Threats to this man, that he was forced to get them back from her; since he was not to let any Body have them, but those that put them into his hands.  
Monsieur Mazarine was writ to, to redeem them; but he made answer, That there they should stay for him, that I might he deprived of all ways to subsist, the better to reduce me to my Duty.  
I was necessitated to let one Grillon, a great Friend to my Brother, and the Constable, lay down the money they lay in for, which I repaid in some small time after.  
The trouble of seeing myself reduced to the Exigency of receiving Obligations from people that might abuse me in my need, and the straight I was in, made me a little after resolve to take a journey into France, to try to get a Pension of Monsieur Mazarine.  
I went with my Brother, who was going to be married to Madamoisel De Tiange: And it is to this Alliance that I own the good Success of my Voyage. We were near six months upon the Road; when we were come to the Frontiers, we concluded that he should go before, and that I should stay behind, until he had taken the care that was necessary for my Securty in France. But our Friends havinig given us an account of the Disaster of the poor Statues that were in the Palace Mazarine, and that the Conjuncture seemed favourable, we went together as far as Nevers, where he left me, and went on towards the Court in company with Grillon who overtook us at Milan.  
As soon as Monsieur Mazarine understood that we were upon the Road coming into France, he sent Polastron, Captain of his Guards to inform himself exactly of the Course of Life we lead, who raised all the Sheriffs and Provosts about Nevers, to be aiding and assisting to the Commissary, who came to put the Order of Parliament in Execution; whereby they were Authorized to Seize and Arrest me. My Brother having complained to the King of this proceeding, his Majesty was in the mind to have sent for me by his Authority; but Monsieur Colbert judging it more for my Advantage to manage Monsieur Mazarine as much as was possible. The King sent him Command to sign an Order of Appointment that I might come quietly to my Agreement; which he did with Tears in his Eyes; perceiving that if he did not do it, the King would proceed further in my behalf.  
This Order came luckily to Nevers the same day that Monsieur Palluan, Counsellor of the Great Chamber, came thither to Arrest me. I received likewise at the same time Command to come to the Lys: my Brother was married the same day that I arrived. Whilst I was there, Monsieur Mazarine sent to make several Overtures of Agreement with me; but it was by the mediation of a wretched sort of People, in whom I could place no Confidence, or without giving me any Assurance, that he would stand to any thing that should be agreed upon. He told the King, That my Brother kept me off from coming to any Accord, and that he governed me with a Tyrannical Authority; and that if I did not stand so much in Awe of him, I should be much more Tractable. The King to clear this Doubt, sent for me three months after, by Madam Bellinzani, with an Officer, and some of his Guards, in Madam Colbert's Coach; for, my Brother had begged of the King that I should lodge at Madam Colbert's House, as a place where none should be permitted to force me to dissemble my Thoughts. Two or three days after, he commanded I should wait upon him at Madam De Mont Espan's House.  
I shall never forget his Goodness towards me; He prayed me to consider, That if he had not done better for me hitherto, it was my own Conduct that hindered him, and took from him the means; That I should truly tell him what I would have done; That if I was absolutely resolved to return again into Italy, he would cause a Pension of four and twenty thousand livers to be settled upon me: But that he advised me to stay; That he would make my Agreement as advantageous for me as I could desire; That I should not be obliged to follow Monsieur Mazarine in any of his Journeys; That he should have nothing to do with my Domestics; And that if his Caresses were odious to me, I should not be compelled to suffer them presently; That he gave me until the next day to consider of it, and give him my Answer.  
I could, easily have given him then the same Answer I made to him the next day; which was, That I could not consent to return to Monsieur Mazarine, after having endeavoured to ruin my Reputation, as he had done; and after refusing to receive me, when I sent him offers from Rome to throw myself into his Arms, without any Capitulation or bartering for Conditions, at a time when he knew me reduced to the last Extremities of Want, and necessity: That in despite of all the Precautions that should be taken against the Capriciousness of his Humour, I should be put to suffer a hundred little Injuries, with which, it would be very unfit to importune His Majesty upon all Occasions. That I accepted of the Pension with an humble and hearty Acknowledgement of His Majesty's great Favour therein.  
After such just and lawful Reasons, you will be surprised to hear that the World condemned my Resolution Extremely; but the Descants of Courtiers are very different from other men's Judgements. Amongst others, Madam De Montespan, and Madam Colbert, used all their best Arguments to persuade me to stay; and Monsieur De Lauzun asked me, What I intended to do with my two thousand four hundred Livers? That I should squander them away at the first Inn I came to, and that I should be compelled to come afterward with Shame and Confusion to ask for more, which would not be granted me. But he did not know, that my Wants had taught me how to husband my Mony. Not but that I perceived it was a thing almost impossible, long to subsist handsomely upon this inconsiderable Allowance.  
But besides that, I could get no more; and that Monsieur Mazarine would not let me live at Paris without his being with me; I thought I might, with this help, gain time to take other measures.  
Monsieur Mazarine wanting other matter to bespatter my Carriage, told the King, That I was making me a Casack to go dressed in man's Apparel. But his Majesty was pleased to tell him, That he durst pass his Word, that I intended no such thing.  
Madam Belinzany, had order with an Exempt of his Guards to conduct me to Rome, and to have two of His Guards to attend us to the Frontier.  
I received so many Civilities from the Duke of Savoy in my passage through Turin, that I even then took a Resolution, if ever I came to leave Rome, to come and take up my Recess in his Territories. I arrived at Rome three months after, and some time afterwards Grillon came thither to plunge me, in spite of all I could do, into new Troubles.  
I had made a Resolution to receive no Visits from any, during my abode in France: Grillon pretending he ought to be excepted, because of the Service he had done me at Rome, in the Redeeming my Jewels; presently after my Arrival there, came once to the Lys, in the Countess' company, to visit me. But I never would see him after. His Resentment for this Refusal transported him beyond Belief.  
While I stayed for the Commissary at Nevers, my Brother's Steward, for my better Security, got me Lodgings in one of the Towers, of a Convent that was joining to the Castle; and having but few Servants left me, he preferred to me one of my Brother's Guards, who had been turned out for some slight Fault.  
This man was very diligent in his place, to induce me to beg his pardon, in hope of which, I let him follow me to the Lys. A Rascal, a Cook of mine, to please Grillon, who had bribed him, goes and tells him, That this Wretch was very Officious, and endeavoured to render himself necessary about me; and that he had sometimes ingress into the Convent. Grillon, without further Examination, reports this Story all about, to that height, that when I came to Paris, Madam Colbert would not let this man stay in my Service within her Doors.  
Judge you in what amazement I was in, when I understood this Story, and with what Promptness I discharged my new Officer, and what my Resentments, and just indignation against this wicked Grillons villainy was; and whether I was not surprised, as I passed through Lions to see him have the impudence to offer to come again into my sight, under the pretence of bringing me a Letter from my Brother, to beg I would forget all. The indifference and neglect I shown him then, enraged him more than ever.  
When he came to Rome, he understood that Monsieur de Marsan came sometimes to see me; and after a thousand ridiculous Extravagancies that passed betwixt them, they had at last that idle Quarrel which you have heard of, wherein without much hurt to one another, they had the pleasure once more to make me the subject of people's talk. Sometime after this, my Sister determined to retire into France, pretending several Causes of Complaint against the Constable; it would be too tedious to relate the Arguments I used to dissuade her from this Journey, the displeasures the like resolution had drawn me into, made me more eloquent, but to no purpose; for the same Stars, or their influences, that drove me into Italy, drew her into France.  
As she was always sure of me, she made no difficulty, to draw me in to be of the party; and because I had no tie at Rome when she was not there, and that I believed I should lessen the dangers she was to run through, by partaking and sharing them with her, I did not stick to follow her. I only represented to her, how I should be forced to leave her as soon as we were Arrived in France. Nothing was so grievous to her, as this inavoidable necessity, and nothing persuaded me more to yield to the force of her Reasons, than to see that they brought her to consent to our separation.  
The Chevalier of Lorraine owed her greater Obligations than to fail to serve her in this occasion; for she quarrelled with all Rome, upon his and his brother's account; they were welcome in no house in Rome but at hers; and she had declared herself for them in very nice points against Cardinal Chigi and the Constable himself. Yet for all this she received no other Service from them, but huge and mighty promises of what they would do for her by their Credit in France; nor did they perform in that neither: as for her design the Chevalier thought it sufficient to tell her; That if she had no bodies Advice to guide her but her own, he should be much concerned for her, but that since Madam Mazarine was of her Counsel, she might rest upon her Conduct, since she had more Wit and more Courage than was needful for a much more hazardous Enterprise.  
He little thought then that he should be called back into France so soon as he was; if he had done what he ought, we should have been there long before him; and people would not have had occasion to say, that we followed him: but my Sister who relied wholly upon him, was forced to put off her Journey when she saw herself left in the Lurch by him. After his departure for France, she broke her mind to another person of Eminent Quality, whom she believed her friend, because she had by her kindness and Favours Obliged him to be so. But he only told her, That the Chevalier of Lorraine ought to have helped her upon this occasion. He asked me what I intended to do with myself, and whether I had persuaded my Sister to this Voyage? He can yet justify, that I made him this Answer. That I did not; that I knew I could not stay in France, neither was my intention at all to come there but under the Protection of a passport which the King of France sent my Sister for herself and her Retinue; and that my design was to retire into Savoy, as soon as I left her in a place of safety. In fine, having taken all the precaution that humane prudence could think of, against any hazard that might befall us in France, we ordered a Bark to attend us at Civita-vetchia. And upon a very fine Day in May, the Constable having told us at dinner, that he was to go twelve miles from Rome, to see his Stud, and that if he did not come home before it was late, we should not look for him that Night. My Sister would needs lay hold upon this occasion, though we had nothing in readiness to be gone. We left word that we were going to Frescati: and so took only one of her Maids, and Nanon dressed in man's Apparel, as we were under our own  in my Coach: We came to Civita-Vetchia, about two of the Clock in the morning, when all the Gates were shut; so that, we were forced to drive into the middle of a thick Wood, there to wait until our Bark were found.  
My Groom of the Chambers, who took upon him to guide us, having run up and down a great while without finding it, was fain to hire another, which he found there, for a Thousand Crowns.  
While he was thus employed, my Postilion impatient of hearing no Tidings one way or other, took one of the Coach Horses, and had the Luck to meet with our own Bark. But it was late when he came back: We were fain to walk five Mile afoot to come to it; and so got on board about three of the Clock, without having eaten or drunk since we left Rome.  
Our chiefest happiness was, that we fell into the hands of a very honest and understanding Master; any other but him, would have thrown us overboard after taking what we had, from us; for, he perceived as soon as he saw us, that we were no Beggars; and told us as much. His Crew asked us, If we had not killed the Pope? To show you how skilful he was, he managed his Way so well, that we came in eight days to Ciouta in Province, where we landed at Eleven a Clock at Night: From thence, we arrived at Marseiles, about five in the morning, a Horseback; where we found the King's Orders, and the Pastports, at the President's House.  
The Constable most luckily stayed three Days away from Rome, and therefore it was late before he suspected the Truth. There was not a Fable so horrible to be invented by the wickedness of man, but was reported of us; to that Degree that they gave it out, that we were fled into Turkey, insomuch that the Constable was fain to beg of the Pope to Excommunicate all those that should intermeddle with, or talk of us. He dispatched fourteen Courriers so many several ways after us; and one of them made such haste, that he got to Marseiles before us. There came likewise thither a little after one belonging to him, of those kind of men, whom they call Bravos in Italy.  
My Groom of the Chambers being gone I knew not whither, to get Necessaries for his Journey to Paris, whither my Sister was to send him. And we four Women were by ourselves without other Company, in that very Inn to which this man came to lodge. Nanon saw him first, and knew him presently; she quickly gave us the Alarm; we sent immediately to the Intendent, to pray him to send us some Guards, which he instantly did. My Groom of the Chamber coming back from the Town, was desired by this man to let him speak to us, which he did, very civilly exhorting us to return back to Rome: But was glad to be gone thither himself, with the only Satisfaction of having a Letter from my Sister to his Master.  
This Adventure made us go to lodge at the Intendant's house, and from thence, some few days afterwards, to Aix, where we stayed a month, and whither Madam de Grignan was so Charitable, as to send us some Shifts, adding, That we traveled like True Roman Heroines, with abundance of Jewels, but no clean Linen. From thence, we went to Mirabeau; thence to Montpellier; Whence my Sister went to Visit Monsieur de Vardes; and from Montpellier to Monfrein, where I learned that Polastron was hard by coming from Paris under pretence of being sent by Monsieur Mazarine to Compliment my Sister; But in truth, to cause me to be arrested by Virtue of his damnable Order.  
When I heard of his coming, I walked alone, away into the Garden, among the Fishponds, to let him pass by; but when he found I was not with my Sister, he would not stay, but pretends haste to go on, thinking I was gone back, and so to overtake me; but he was mistaken; for instead of following me, he went further from me.  
Thence I parted for Arles, by Water upon the Rhone; from thence I went by Land to Martigues; and after by Sea to Ni●e, and from Nice to Turim, and so on to Mommeillan.  
My Sister having taken the necessary Orders for my Security, from Monsieur L' Esdignieres, sent for me from Mommeillan to Grenoble: To which place my Brother came to us, and stayed there with us seven or eight Days: and some eight Days after we directed our Journey to Lions: And my Sister taking the Road to Paris, I took that of Chambery; where at last I found that Quiet, which I so long in vain had sought for: and where I have remained ever since, with much more Calmness and Tranquillity of mind, than a Woman as wretched, and as unhappy as myself should hope to enjoy.  
FINIS.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
Reader,  
BEing desirous to make this History complete, I have endeavoured to inform myself of the Reasons that induced the Duchess of Mazarine to come for England (the French Edition having given no further account of her Affairs, then till her coming to reside at Chambery): The Motives, as I am informed, are these: That during the Life of the late Duke of Savoy (in whose Territories she then lived with so much satisfaction, safety, and respect) She had no thoughts of removing from thence; but he being dead, she did not judge herself so secure; but that she ought in prudence to find out some other place wherein she might be at Covert from all the machinations of her Enemy's: She therefore wisely cast her eyes towards England, and considering the situation of that Country so near France, that from thence she might very Commodiously solicit her business in all peace and security; reflecting likewise upon the generosity of our King, who is rendered by all those that do him justice, to be a most obliging and compassionate Prince to all that put themselves under his Protection: And moreover, being sufficiently informed of the temper of the English Nation, whose nature it is, not only to be civil and human to all Strange rs in general, but also to Love, Venerate, and pay all imaginable honours to persons of worth and quality.  
Upon these considerations, she rosolved upon her Voyage hither, where she safely arrived in December last, and has been received by the Court of England with all the demonstrations of Honour and Civility due to her Virtues and Quality.   

THE LETTER.  
I Return you again the Memoires you were pleased to send me, by a Messenger express; fearing, lest if I should send them by the Post, they might run the same hazard, and fall into the like Inconveniencies, which at first brought them to your hands. If things so curious and well worth the intercepting, were to be found every time the Ministers of State should think fit to open the Pacquets, I should not much pity the Commissaries trouble in executing their Orders. You had reason to believe, that after the manner I had spoken to you of Madam Mazarine, I should be extremely glad to see her History. It speaks her own Genius, and is like herself all over. I have particularly observed twenty things in this Relation, that none but herself could think, or express in the manner they are penned.  
Since you say you never saw her, I will satisfy your Curiosity by endeavouring to give you a rough Draught of her Face, and Sh●pe of Body.  
She is one of those lofty Roman Beauties, no way like our Baby Visaged, and Puppetlike Faces of France; in whose Composition Nature alone triumphs over all those Artificies and Helps, which our painted Ladies make use of, to recommend themselves, and their borrowed Graces to the doting World, and to the silly Adulations of their Conceited Adorers.  
The Colour of her Eyes has no name; it is neither Blue, nor Grace, nor altogether Black; but a mixture of all three, which participates of all the Excellence that is found in them; they have the sweetness of the Blue, the Briskness of the Grey, and above all, the Fire of the Black; and what is more wonderful, you never saw more Lovely, and generally more Pleasant, and more apt to inflame, and yet nothing more serious, more severe and steady, when her Thoughts are taken up with any Grave Subject. They are so lively, and so quick, that when she looks steadfastly upon any one, which she rarely does, they think she pierces their very Souls, and sees into the very bottom of their Hearts. They are large, well slit, and decently rolling; full of sprightly Life and Fire; and yet, with all these Beauties, they have nothing of Languishing nor Passionate; as if Nature maliciously had contrived them, only to give Love and Veneration, and be susceptible of none.  
Her Mouth is neither wide, nor very little; but the motion of her Lips are very Graceful, and Charming; and the strangest Mouths and Grimasses wonderfully becomes her, when she imitates those that make them. Her Smiles would soften the hardest Hearts, and ease the heaviest Sadness of mind: They do almost quite change the Air of her Face, which Naturally is Sublime and Grave, and spreads over it a certain Tincture of Sweetness, and Mildness, that re-assures those Hearts, which her Charms had Alarmed, and inspires them with that kind of unquiet Gladness, which is next of kin to a tender Inclination.  
So much for her Mouth and Eyes, which are the two chief Parts of her Face, most expressive, and principally important, to kindle a Flame and create Love; But the rest are nothing less to be admired and adored.  
Her Nose, which without doubt, is Incomparably well turned, and of a just Bigness, gives the rest of her Countenance, a Curious, Noble, and Lofty Air, which is infinitely taking. The Tone of her Voice is so Harmonious and agreeable, that none can hear her speak, without being sensibly moved. The Hue or Colour of her Skin, is Naturally most lively, and so delicately clear, that I cannot believe, any man that views it with Curiosity, can justly deny it to be whiter than the Driven Snow. The Colour of her Hair is shineing Black, but has nothing of Harsh; to see how Naturally they Curl, and into what fine Buckles they twine themselves, as soon as they are let lose, would make us think without much help of Poetry, that they swelled with Pride; and, as it were, took a Glory in the Honour they have to shade so lovely a Head: She has the finest turned Face, that ever Limner fancied, or drew with Pencil.  
The proportion of her Body, though strait a d well framed, is nothing comparable to what it has been in delicacy of shape, before her cares made her neglect it, and wear lose Garments. And for all that, many would fancy themselves slender enough that were no grosser than she still is. This makes her appear lower than she is, though in Truth she is of as becoming a height, as any Woman can well be without being Ridiculous.  
You shall see her for fifteen days together, in as many several Head-dresses, without being able to distinguish which of them suits with her Face the best; and those Dresses, which would make other Women look, like Witches, wonderfully become her; so that no k●●d of C●iffing, or Head-geere, is unbecoming when she wears it: the same thing is remarkable in her , and Attire, you must see her lapped in a Night-Goun to Judge with more exactness of her. And it is in this person alone that one truly may say, that Art, though never so cunningly used, and skilfully laid, can never equal Nature.  
Though she loves Perfumes, Essences, and Aromatic Scents, she never carries any about her, which shows undeniably, that that sweetness is natural to her, which costs other Ladies so much pains and Charges.  
I had almost forgot to speak of her Neck, her Arms and Hands; but let it suffice, that they appear to have been made and fitted for the Face. And if we may Judge by what we see, of what we do not see, we may certainly conclude that her Husband after having been the happiest man, is now the unhappiest in the World. Thus she is made as to her Body; and of the Mind, you may Judge, by what I am going to say.  
Being some time since at Rome, it was my chance to be speaking of her after the manner I heard her talked of at Paris, that she was a fine young Lady, extreme handsome, but giddy, inconsiderate, and extravagantly Headstrong, and good-natured even to Folly. An Italian that knew her, hearing me give her such a Character, Laughed in my Face after such a manner that I was much surprised at it; but would never let me know why, though I had very earnestly urged him to tell me his Reason. As these people dive further into men's Natures to find their true and proper Character than we do in France, so this adventure gave me a great Curiosity to see her as I passed in my return from Rome by Chambery; though I had never much spoken to her in Paris, yet she knew me by sight, and by name.  
I was at first surprised, not to perceive in her at my coming, that eagerness and excessive Desire to hear News, which is ordinary to those that live at a distance from Court, when they see any that comes from thence. She received me as unconcerned, as the most indifferent Woman of the Country could do. And instead of breaking my Head with Questions about the People and Affairs, which concerned herself, she entertained me only upon the account of my Journey, and other like things, wherein none but myself was concerned: I thought myself bound in Civility, to put her upon the Discourse of her Friends and Relations, in Rome and Paris, since she of herself would not start the Question. I found that Subject was not unpleasing, by the Attention she gave to what I said up n it; she spoke civilly of all People, and with a great deal of Respect of her Husband; but this Discourse held no longer than I continued it. She rarely asked any Questions, and those only which civility seemed to oblige her to.  
Neither could I mark in her either Curiosity or Inquisitiveness. Wondering at her cold Indifference, I had a mind to put her upon the Discourse of the things I thought most sensible to her, but with the Respect that was convenient, touching her Fame, and her Fortune: But I could never hear from her the least Complaint. Me thought I read something of Sadness in her Countenance, when her Reputation was in Debate. But for all other Matters, she seemed to think that blind Goddess, Fortune, a fit Object of her Contempt, than Anger. Several Persons of Quality, of both Sexes came in while I was there; and among others, two or three Gentlemen that were of good Wit and ●arts.  
The Ladies began to talk of the News of the Town; though the Duchess took neither sides part, she discoursed with the same Heat as others did; the Subject of their Conversation was a Dispute that was betwixt two eminent men, whose Interest was equally Great, and who shared most part of that Country betwixt them: She entered upon the Particularities, which were told her of the Causes of their Division, weighed every little Circumstance with such nicety and insight, as if she had not had two Millions for her Portion.  
The Gentlemen, whom I before mentioned, altered the Discourse, and turned her, whether she would or no, to talk of State-Affairs, as most worthy of her Attention and Contemplation. After every Body had passed their Verdict, she was obliged in Complaisance to speak hers: those that differed in Opinion from her, Vigorously urged their Reasons: the Dispute grew hot. She never defended her Opinion, but with Reasons, of which she made those, that had not declared themselves against her, her Judges. And I assure you I never heard any speak so well, and with so much Submission. This is what I remarked in this my first Visit; and what I have observed since is as followeth.  
It is not to be discerned of what Humour she is; and to speak properly, she has none at all; for every individual Person that converses with her, has cause to believe she is of his. She is not Obstinately bend upon any thing; and it is astonishing to see her quit even those Divertisements, she seems the most pleased with, as freely as if she were weary of them; Whence it clearly appears, that she is impetuously carried to no one thing, and shows that this easiness of her Temper, and Manners, does not proceed from Levity or Fickleness, but rather from a profound Indifference for all those various Fancies, which troubles and disquiets the minds of most People.  
Her sweetness and Humanity, which above all, adorn and grace her Sex, appear even in her most Robust Pass-times: she is as much Mistress of her Temper upon the Road, or a Hunting. as in her Closet. The Calmness and Equality of her Soul, is proof against all those Occasions which do unsettle and transports all others. She laughs at all those Fidle-faddle fooling Amusements to which others abandon themselves. Some other Women have done the same things that she she does: But she does them another way.  
All People converse in her House with a familiarity, full of Zeal and Respect; the which nevertheless would be to her very incommode, and troublesome, if she were less good, or less obliging. Though she be naturally very reserved, and loves to be retired, yet generally all the Hours of the Day, are public hours with her. The most private Recesses of her House are as open to those that come into it, as the most common, and therefore it often happens that people come even to her very Closet Dore when she lest expects any. Her Domestics, that see none come that are not as much devoted to her as themselves, have insensibly used themselves to let all come in, and go out, with this kind of frankness and Liberty.  
It is credible she would have it so since they permit it; for she is the Life and the Soul of her Family, and her Understanding, her Civility, and her obliging ways are infused, unto those that compose it, proportionably as each one's Capacity is fitted to imitate them. There is no Convent where they lead a more regular Life then in her women's Apartment, whither a Page dares not approach upon pain of my Lady's Displeasures, which is something more Terrible than the Rod. And for the Men, they live together with that Peace and Union so much the more Commendable, as it is most rare, and seldom to be found in great men's Houses.  
She alone of all Women, can play with her Servants without lessening herself, Her Presence doth banish their presumption without taking away their freedom, and it is not to be Comprehended how she can give them so much Awe, using them with so much Familiarity, unless it be because she has so much of Grandeur in her Carriage and all her ways. There are they, that think it strange, that she should delight in these kind of pastimes; but who ever will take the pains to look a little nearer, he will soon find that they are not the delight of Heart, and that those she uses, are but so many several ways of dispelling those afflicting Thoughts which the present state of Her Fortune Croud's upon her.  
There is no private Gentleman's house more orderly, and regular than hers▪ and as her pensions is very inconsiderable to make her subsist with that honour she does, she must needs be admirably skilled in oeconomy, and her Acts of liberality, and Magnificence, show that her good management proceeds (from an extraordinary strength of Reason. She neither much admires nor despises any thing. She never shown the least disgust against the Country, nor any thing that is in it; she loves the Recreations, Customs, and Ceremonies that are there in use, as much as if she had been born and bred there; others would assist at them, with marks of Complaisance, Constraint, and Distraction, which would easily distinguish them from the rest of the Company; but she comes to them with that Familiarity, with that Presence, and freedom of mind so unconstrained, so constant, and so agreeable, that a stranger that should chance to see her there, without knowing who she was, would esteem Savoy most happy in the product of so charming a Creature. She avoids speaking of her own Greatness and Riches, with the same care and industry, as others seek out occasions to make people sensible of theirs.  
It depends not of her way of living, amongst them; but that the Women of that Country, that see her, may think themselves as great Ladies as she; and may think Chambery as Noble and as Pleasant to live in as Rome or Paris: and her Conversation there, as edifying, and as agreeable, as ever she enjoyed elsewhere.  
Never did great Lady take less care to make her Inferiors see the Difference that is betwixt her and them; and if they do not forget it, she is the more beholding to their Discretion, and Respect: for she takes little pains to put them in mind of it.  
She judges of herself, according to the Idea, or Opinion, she has conceived of her own Merit, even in the most rious Applications of those that speak to her, and she as often takes just and due Commendations, for gross Flatteri s, as other Women take Apparent and Hypocritical Adulations, for true and deserved Praises.  
It is a great sign, that her Moderation is sincere, because she is Obstinate in nothing; and being urged, will acknowledge truly whats●ev●r is good, or fair in her. She is in nothing more unjust, than in not allowing what she has of Admirable and Excellent, to be more than passable and ordinary. Though by sad Experience she has found, that there is very little Truth, Honesty, or Probity in the World; & that she has just cause to think ill of all mankind, yet such is her Natural goodness, that she never applies this her bad Opinion to any one in particular; she first excepts from the General Rule, all those in whom she perceives any Appearance of Virtue; but is much surprised when she has reason to believe, they did not deserve that Exception.  
When she is obliged to say something she thinks may displease, a little to sweeten and take away the sharpness of the Sense, she speaks it so, as if she had let it fall by chance; but she thinks herself no way wronged, to believe that she says nothing, but what she would say; it is more natural to her to be secret, than to other Women not to be so. Moreover she is equally skilled both in well speaking, and holding her Tongue. Though it be a great Truth, that those that know how to speak well, know not how to hold their Tongues; and those that can be silent, can seldom speak very well.  
A Gentleman of very good parts and understanding, that had seen her, and known her a great while, assured me that she is very much altered from what she has been formerly, in so much that you would hardly know her again; but it is not to be comprehended, that she should be so much changed, without allowing that she must always have had a prodigious stock, of the Choicest, richest, and most lasting Natural Beauty that ever Woman had. If her misfortunes have contributed any thing to her Merit, never bad Cause produced so good an Effect.  
I am Sir, etc.  
FINIS.