INTRIGUES OF LOVE: OR, THE AMOURS AND GALLANTRIES OF THE FRENCH Court, During the Reign of that Amorous and Warlike Prince HENRY iv (Surnamed the Great.) Being a true and pleasant History.  
Newly made English from the French, By Sir Edwine Sadleyr Baronet.  
London, Printed for R. G. and sold by Benj. Crayle at the Peacock and Bible, at the West end of St. Paul's. 1689.   

To his Beloved Consort THE LADY, S—In return for the Original from Her received.  
THE first Fruits of my Pen (My Dear) are at thy Feet, The History of the Amours of King HENRY the Fourth, (Surnamed the Great) of France, as in an English dress, (so far they being properly and genuinely my own) and I hope not unfaithfully rendered from their native French, wherein it is pity (though so Elegant a Language) that the Beauties they contain should have so long lain hid; (from such at lest who are unseen in that Tongue.) Whether now I have performed with an equivalent success, and made my Author speak English with the same advantage as he doth his French, I must leave Thee and my Readers to judge. I know, I have endeavoured to do him Justice, and so to Copy from the fair Original, as not to leave so much as one good Lineament behind; and if I have failed in this Attempt, I shall yet have this honour, to fall a Sacrifice to Thyself, and the better Sex, (for whom the following Leaves are principally intended) and it shall be my Boast that I am such a Sacrifice. But may Thyself and those Created Dèities, but smile upon this first Essay, and the Encouragement may produce some better Services from Thine and Theirs eternally obsequious.  
E. S.   

The Author's Address to the Reader.  

REader, 'tis not the Epidemic itch,  
That oft so many does bewitch,  
That odd fantastic strange Disease,  
That makes men lust so much for Praise;  
No such Capricio prompt me on  
To undertake what here is done.  
Let then the Learned contest the Bays,  
Whilst I 〈…〉  
Although the free commodity of Wit,  
Was ne'er Monopolised yet,  
Unveiled th'ensuing History lies,  
Seeking alone the ambitioned Prize,  
The blessing of the Lady's Eyes;  
Before whose Altars 'tis a Sacrifice.    

A l'Autheur sur son Ingeniuse Traduction Epigramme.  

AUtantque dureront les Intrigues d'Amour,  
Tandisque sur des Coeurs Cupid aura l'Empire,  
Les Hommes si long temps, & les Dames de Cour,  
Cette Traduction prendront plaisir à lire.  
Elle est douce, elle est mâle, elle est pleine d'attrais,  
certainement elle est fidelle;  
Si le Francois est bon, meilleur en est l'Anglois,  
 
Si l'Autheur ne paroist, c est, qu il vole fort haut  
Parmy les Traducteurs il vole, comme l'Aigle  
Au dessus des autres cyseaux  
Lors qu'elle prend l'Essort, & vole à tire d'ailes  
P. B.    

To the Author on his Ingenious Translation.  

AS the skilled Gardener doth, by kind remove  
The growth and beauty of rich Plants improve  
With no less my stick skill, kind Sir, you here  
Transplant, and better from the  Air;  
Lo here an instance, of its choicest Fruit,  
Whilst richer Juices feed th'impoverished Root.  
'Twould please (methinks) Great HENRY's Shade to see  
This noble Task so well performed by thee.  
Smiling, the Story of his Loves he'd read,  
And bless the Hand that raised him from the Dead;  
That Hand that gives him hopes to live as long  
And great inth'' English as the  Tongue.  
France then no more thy nobler Climate boast,  
Since we perform as well, and with less cost:  
The naked Matter, true, we do receive,  
Yet Life and Spirit to that Matter give,  
Th'unpolished Lump invests itself anew,  
Casts off its old, and takes a nobler Hue.  
Even as the Snake its tattered skin lays by,  
And through that means grows fairer to the eye.  
Since then, Dear Sir, here in few vacant hours,  
With such success you can Transplant these Flowers,  
Let some fresh Subject flow from your soft Pen.  
Charm the fair Sex, and gain the praise of Men.  
B. C.    

THE AMOURS OF King HENRY the Fourth, etc.  
KIng Henry the Great arriving in histurn to his Succession, in the Kingdom of his Ancestors; found no little difficulty in putting himself into Possession, for as much as he was of the new Religion, and for the Rencounters which he upon that account met with from many of the Greatest of his Subjects, that would not acknowledge him, (the most part also of the principal Cities and walled Towns holding of their Party) it behoved him in good earnest to labour for so brave, and honourable an interest.  
The first Arms that he took up was Normandy: But that which there pass' (both at Arques and at deep) being Recorded by most Historians of th● Times, I shall here praetermit, and content myself with the Relation only 〈◊〉 what I have both learned and seen in his Court.  
In the time of the Royal Henry th● Third, there was a countess i● Guienne of whom he was very much enamoured the Countese o● Guise, who appeared to be the sole and unrivalled Monarch of his Will 〈◊〉 those being the only Favourites whom she recommended, and amongst the rest the Marquis of Parabere, whose Sister was at that time with this Lady. But he meets another Lady in his passage towards the Frontiers of Normandy 〈◊〉 to whose new Conquest the firs● must resign. 
* Widow of Philibert Earl of Gramont, who died at the Siege of La Fere, in the Year, 1580.  A Widow young and of so amiable an appearance in the Eyes of this Great Prince, that with ease he forgot her to whom he had made so many contrary Protestations. And in truth, she had those Charms that were not to be found in the first. Both being of equal Quality, and the 
* The Marchioness of Guercheville was Anthoinette of Pons, first Wife to Henry of Silly Earl of Rocheguion; and second to Charles du Plessis, Lord of Lyancourt, first Esquire of France, and Governor of Paris.  Marchioness of Guercheville (such was the Name of the latter) being Educated in the fairest and best governed Court of those times, that I mean of the deceased King Henry the Third, a Prince, than whom none knew better to play the King and rule his Honours, and all things that belonged to Majesty.  
To her therefore this new Captive Prince gave himself wholly up; and In such sort forgot the Countess of Guise, as that nothing remained of her in his memory but her very Name. And the Marquis of Parabere, who had been the Confident of that Amour, could do no less than tell him, that he ought at least to conserve a Friendship that he had all his Life-time professed▪ Tho transported by his new Amour no other thoughts could possess him, but those of motioning a Marriage to the Marchioness of Guercheville, whom he knew would not hearken to him upon any other terms.  
His Love-affair being in this posture, he advances towards his Enemies, whom the main concern, the prosecution of his Imperial Right, which so unjustly they would extort from him, doth necessitate him to attend; and is by so many good Successes encouraged, that he undertakes the Siege of Paris. Sed cedant iterum arma Cupidini, But Love, an unseasonable God, must revel again, though in the midst of Arms; A young and Beautiful 
* The Abess of Montmartre was called, Marry of Beauvilliers, Daughter to the Earl of St. Aignan.  Abess of Montmartre of the House of Clairemont, strikes him at this siege, and so infatuates the Royal Lover, that the Siege being yet dubious, he takes her away from Montmartre, and causing her to be conducted to Senlis (a Town under his Obedience,) she reigns the Mistress of his heart for some little time.  
In the mean time, the Marchioness of Guercheville, that his Honour may not be too much blotted by her desertion) is to be some Eminent 
* The Lords of his Court is Monsieur de Lyancourt before mentioned.  Lord of his Court, and the King Mediates the Match, soliciting her as much now, in favour of her new Lover, as before he had done of himself. Hitherto therefore yielding a modest Ear to the King, she is periwaded to the Match; receiving the Royal Testimony (as shall afterwards be related) that she continued still in his Favour. After the accomplishment of this design, the King taking his rounds to confirm and establish his Authority, comes in the end to Nantes, whither the Ladies having resorted, had made some figure of a Court, so fair a concourse of Beauties, and particularly those of Quality, whose Brothers and Husbands heknew, and who had been so much at his Service, gave no small pleasure to the King. The rest, who in his younger age he had known in the Courts of his Predecessors, he treated likewise with all Civility, and received from them no less than an answerable respect.  
Some time before his arrival to this place, the Duke of Bellgard (an old Favourite of the deceased King Henry's) had Characterised to him the Beauty of a young Lady (a proper Entertainment for so amorous a Prince) with whom he was very much enamoured, and as she was to admiration Fair, so he could not forbear to Commend her; She was not at that time at Nantes, and the Relation of the Duke of Bellgard had excited in the King a Curiosity to see her; but his affairs would not suffer him for this time, though soon after when he departed thence for Senlis, he obtained the desire he had of seeing Madam D'Estree (such was the Name of Bellgard's Mistress) and at Senlis entertains her with all the possible Gallantries, that his time would give him leave to perform; which done, and departing from thence, after the seeing of many other places, he returns to Nantes, where the unfortunate Bellgard ask his leave to go see his Mistress, too late discovers that his own Tongue had betrayed him to the loss of her, and that the King had been too much taken with the sight of her at Senlis; thus proved the poor lover the Author of his own misfortune; and indeed we are all too often more obnoxious to hurt from ourselves than others. By this view doth he lose not only the permission of seeing of his Mistress, but hazard the Friendship of his Master and the good hour of his Fortune.  
Some time before, he had stayed long at Nantes, and had been extremely ill; the Ladies that was there, rendering Him all the conrtesie and assistance that they could, and amongst the rest the young and beauteous Madam de Humieres, who was resolved to approve herself to him by her Services, not only for the reputation that he had of being one of the greatest Gallants of the Age, but also for that particular esteem she had for his Person. This accident gave a fair opportunity to express her respects to the fair Madam d'Humieres, and to the afflicted Duke to receive them, who was so happy as by this to find an occasion, which he might otherways have long sought for and in vain. But not so great are the Lover's long, for Bellgard upon a visit to the 
* The Lord of Estree was John Antony of Estree, Marquis of Caeuvers who had married Francess Babou, of du Bourdaissere,  Lord of Estree, falls passionately in Love with his fair Daughter the aforesaid Madam d'Estree; Who though at first she with some reluctancy received, (Loving and being beloved of the Admiral d'Villars, a person, most amiable and deserving,) yet was she not long cruel; being also passionately in Love with her new Lover, to whom the Admiral (seeing clearly what was most for her interest) offers a thousand reproaches, which served only to advance his Rival in his Affairs, and so began to neglect her, that instead of reclaiming her from her other Lover, he threw her into an utter despondency of his Affection.  
It was now that the King became enamoured of Madam d'Estree the Mistress of Bell'gard, though through the importance of his Affairs inevitably diverting him another way, he could see her but once 〈◊〉 Voyage; however in his Heart 〈◊〉 the kindled Fires, and is of nothing more thoughtful during the Voyage than of her, which is long enough.  
In the mean time the 
* The Duke of Languille was Henry of Orleans, who afterwards Married Catherine of Gonzakes, Daughter of the Duke of Nevers,  Duke of Langueville (no more proof against the Arrows of the blind God than her other Lovers,) at Nantes commenceth Captive to the all-conquering Madam d'Estree, a Lady so universally effectual by her Charms upon all that beheld her, that to love and look upon her, was only Synonimous Terms, or terms expressive of the self same thing.  
This Prince had before loved Madam d'Humieres, the late beauteous Subject of our Pen, who having lost her first Lover, had now embarked herself a fresh. And indeed so little constant was he always to his choice, that he loved 〈◊〉 present best, whilst Madam● 〈◊〉 on the other side, who thought to too insufferable a detraction from her Excellences to be without an admirer, had likewise furnished herself afresh.  
This intrigue continued during the Voyage of the King; but he resents it so strongly at his return, that he becomes most furiously jealous, insomuch that he began to remit of his favour to Bellgard, giving him to understand that he would no more of a Companion in his Amours, than in that of his Kingdom, and that his passion was dearer to him than any thing else. Bellgard was troubled at this Language and more especially at the tone and action with which it was delivered, and promised the King all he desired; whilst Madamoisell d'Estree, who loved not the King, and had bestowed all her Affections upon another, was so inveterately enraged, that she protested she could not love him, and ceased not to reproach him with the hindrance of her Marriage to the Duke of Bellgared that made his Court to that end, and immediately departed Nantes, and retired herself to her Father's House.  
The King, to whom his Enemies never gave any astonishment, conceived so great an impression from this Action of his Mistress, that he knew not what to resolve upon. Sometimes he fancy's with himself that seeing her the next day might reduce her to her former clemency. But this pleased him not in Company, and to go alone was matter of the extreamist hazard, War being of all sides of him, and two Garrisons of his Enemies in his way which must lie through the great and waste Forest; so that he could not devise with himself what Counsel to take but his passion surmounting all, causeth him not withstanding, to undertake the Journey; four Leagues of which he rides on Horseback, accompanied by five of the most Trusty of his Servants; And being come within three leagues of the Lady's House, he Assumes the habit of a Peasant, puts a sack of Chaff upon his Back, and goes thither on foot, (having intelligence it seems the day before where he should see her) and find her in a Gallery, with only her Siste● with her, who was espoused to th● Marquis of Villar's  
She was so surprised to find the King 
* Madam of Estreé, the Person meant by She, was so surprised, etc. was Sister to Hippolyta Juliette of Estreé Daughter to the Lord of Estreé, and Wife he says to the Marquis of Villars or Cerisay being styled as well one as the other, and afterwards one of the King's Mistresses upon the decease of her Sister.  in such an Equipage, and so ill satisfied with a Change that appeared so ridiculous in him, that she gave him but an ill Reception, yet this rather for the  that he had on than for himself, and stayed but just long enough with him to let him know that they misbecomed him so much she could not look upon him, and so left him.  
Her Sister more civil, excuseth her coldness, and persuaded him that it was the fear only of her Father that caused her to retire, and did all that she could to qualify such a discontentment; which indeed was a thing not difficult for her to do, he being a Prince so effectually captivated that nothing could lose him from his chains. Now as this Voyage was not only perilous, but to very little purpose, so it put the people into an equal astonishment to think what should become of the King.  
He reduceth them to their former Temper at his return, and to the end, that he might no more be racked by so ungrateful a thing as a disappointment in this case, he invents this stratagem to remove the cause; the Father of this Lady to whom the hinted absence was imputed under colour therefore of his service, (the old Gentleman being under some Provincial Trust,) he causeth him to come and live at Nantes, (not a little pleased with the happy acquest of his desire,) the means of seeing his Mistress as often as he should have thought fit, if the necessity of his occasions had not determined him another way.  
In the interim, we must not pass for the adventure of the 
* The Marquis of Humieres was Giles of Conflans Armantiere Son to the Earl of Auchy.  Marquis d'Humieres, who at the Age of two and twenty years defended the Town of Senlis, during the rigour of a great Siege, running the very utmost hazard of his life, and sustaining two such great Assaults, that it was contrary to the opinion of all those that was with him in the Garrison and even of the Governor himself; not yielding the least to Capitulate, but bravely and stoutly maintaining it, till such time as he gave opportunity to the King's Servants to relieve the place, who hastened in their relief as soon as possible, the chiefest being related to the Marquis, not insensible of his danger and unwilling he should be lost where he also gained a 
* The Battle fought at Senlis, in the month of May, 1589.  most memorable Battle, and much advanced the affairs of the King on that side the River Loire.  
This young Warrior in so green an Age, had rendered a thousand Proofs of his Valour, and had thought of nothing hitherto but his Honour. But after this so brave and Masculine an Action, having not only raised the Siege and discomfited the Enemy, but also trailed in the greatest part of their Cannon into the Town, and nailed down the rest, he gins to bethink himself of some diversion. And at Nantes, whether he went for that purpose, the Hero that before had smiled at the reports of Cannon, and frustrated the improsperous aims of his adversaries at Senlis Siege, is by the resistless powers of Love and Beauty wounded and incaptived; the fair Object was Madam d'Simie, whom seeing there he fell most passionately in Love with. This Lady besides her beauty, was so agreeable, and had so many Charms, that she put him into such a condition that he had neither Eyes nor Thoughts but what was hers; this continued wholly unperceived for some time, and the Husband of this Lady was the last of those that discovered it, the Husband I mean of Madam d'Simie.  
But no sooner came it to his knowledge, but all over enraged, and in a jealous and brutish fury he conveys her away to a Castle more fit for Lions than for her, yet notwithstanding is careful neither to say nor do any thing that might enrage the Marquis d'Humieres, having no desire to grapple with so rude and potent an Enemy; but during this Treatment of the Lady, the Marquess however contrives with himself to relieve her, and to apply a remedy, with which the present state of Affairs doth furnish him; indeed he did not esteem it the best, yet it was such as served at the least to the main purpose, to redeem his Mistress from her Prison.  
Now the King being returned back from his Voyage to Nantes, Besieges and takes the Town of deep, commiting the Government of it to Simie who retired thither with his Wife. This fair and commodious place ministers an opportunity to the Marquis d'Humieres, of having some intelligence of his Mistress, who used all imaginable means to continue his amour. To this purpose therefore ho causeth a Christening to be made, to which Madam d'Simie and her Husband are invited; who could not fail to come since they were persons of such Quality that invited them, and their Company likewise so much solicited by their own Relations, but the Marquis d'Humiere and Madam d'Simie could not here be discreet enough, perhaps through a little too much rapture with the interview, to prevent the Jealousy of her Husband from breaking out, and almost expressing itself in the horrid Murder of his own Wife, whom he brings back to his own Habitation, takes away all her Servants and claps her up close in a Chamber.  
D'Humieres, informed of this ill usage, sought all possible means to redress it, but could not openly attempt it, lest it might justify the conceived ●ealousies of Simie, who would certainly upon this have killed his Wife. The next recourse therefore that he made, was the seeking some occasion to die, to which end he thoughtfully retires himself to one of his 
* The Castle of Ham in Piccardy.  Castles, where all the Nobility and Gentry coming to visit him, and observing so many of them together, he proposeth an Adventure of Storming an adjacent Castle of the Enemies in open day; which Motion, though all at the first resisted, (such an-Enterprize appearing to be too hazardous in the daytime,) yet in fine, overcome by his persuasions, they unanimously consent, taking therefore along with him some of his Infantry, he comes at so lucky an hour to the Castle, that applying his Petards he blew open one of the Gates, the Guards of the Castle being then gone off; but the Inhabitants recovering, let fly a Volley of Muskets, and so ruffly saluted the head of this young Generous Warrior, that at once it put an end to his growing Laurels and his Love; having scarce yet attained the Age of 22 Years. When the King heard this, he infinitely resented it, not only for those Services which he had already received from him, but also for those which he might very probably have expected from so much Virtue if he had lived. And I think I am obliged to give him the Character, of being one of the generousest of Men, and one of the Valiantest perhaps of the Age.  
Madam d'Simie, bore this Death very impatiently for a little while, but no sooner did she something recover herself, but she solaceth with the thoughts of a new Amour. Thus far Madam d'Humieres and her Lover.  
During all this interval, Madam d'Estree continueth her Affection to the Duke of Bellgard, notwithstanding her Amour with the King. And likewise gives encouragement to the Duke of Longueville, both writing to him and receiving Letters from him; But Bellgard resolves to desist, and not hazard his Good grace with the King, for the loss of a Mistress which he might so easily regain. And Longueville too, seeing his Prince return, Entreats back the Letters she had received from him, promising to do her the same Justice without discontinuing of his Affection to her. In brief, he managed the business so well, that the time and place are appointed this action, but in Contradiction to to his Promise, deceives her of the most Important part of what he had received from her, thinking to Influence her by this politic Reserve, and to awe and oblige her to his Will. But so mortally provoked is Madam d'Estree with this Gullery, that in the end it cost no less than the Life of this Prince.  
For ceasing not from this time to render him all the ill offices to the King; and the Duke not enduring the Displeasure which he received from the King upon it, becomes a Party against him, and at his entrance into the Town of Daurlens, finished his Life by the receipt of a Musket shot upon his Head. People generally believing that Madam d'Estree had now obtained her desire in his dispatch. Thus ended the Duke of Longueville for having been too politic.  
In the mean time the Lord of Estree the Father of this Lady, much troubled to see the Royal Amour each minute so much advancing, was willing to rid himself of this Tyranny. The most probable and equitable expedient for which, seemed to be to Marry her; And a 
* Nicholas Damerval, Lord of Lyancourt, which near to Nesteen in Piccardy.  Person of Quality in the Country offering himself ●o this end, of an Estate not incompetent for the alliance, (though of 〈◊〉 Body as much deformed as his Mind) Madam d'Estree consents, yet Swears ●he King not only to be present at the ●ay of her Nuptials, but that he ●hould so emphatically convey her ●way thence from the sight of ●er Husband, that she should never ●ee him again, or at least, not otherwise than by the King's permission, persuading him that she could never consent to any that should make her ●nfaithful to him.  
But the Day passing, and the King ●ot being there, (who was now engaged 〈◊〉 an enterprise of importance,) she swears a hundred Oaths to be revenged ●f the King, and yet that she would ●ot lie with her Husband who thinking his Authority over her, would be greater in his own House than in the Town he Married her in, over which the Lord of Estree was Governor, carries her away thither, who notwithstanding caused herself to be so well accompanied by the Ladies her Kinswomen that were at the Wedding, that he durst not attempt any thing upon her, but what was pleasing; and the King arriving in the interim at the next Town, commands back his Mistress who was thus conducted at least upon some hopes of advantage by it at the Court. And conveys her away with him, Accompanied by her Cousin, and her Sister, presently going on to Attaque the Town of Carthens, which Siege held so long that it gave time enough to an 
* Isabelle Babou Wife to the Marquis of Sourd●● Franciss of Escoubleau.  Aunt of Madammoise● d'Estree to bestow a Visit upon her Niece, a subtle and discreet Woman, by whom she was so well instructed that she wholly submitted the Royal Captive to her Devotion. And the Marquis of Sourdre, her Uncle was Created Governor of this Town as soon as taken by the King.  
The King thus in Love with Madam d'Estree, is now essaying to disannul his Marriage with the 
* The Queen of Nuvarr is Marguerite of Vallois of France, Sister to Henry the Third, first Wife to Henry the Fourth.  Queen of Navarr, a Princess not only of Extraction from, but Sister to a King, yet alas! to Crown whose other Virtues the valuable one of the Chaste Luoretia, was too much wanting, for which they had been long since separated, and the Royal Sinner betaken herself to one of her 
* The Queen's Castle, was that of usson in Auvergne.  Castles; a place not only by its Fortifications rendered Impregnable, but also by the advantages of its situation upon a high Mountain, and in a very cragged Country. This Queen gave out that she was willing to comply with the King upon Terms, upon which they had agreed had not this new Amour not only interrupted the Treaty, but put an utter bar to any further proceeding in it; the King fearing least the dissolution of this Marriage once effected, those of his Servants that affected him, might be urgent with him to Marry again, which he could by no means endure; Being one that neither could nor would love any thing but his Mistress, whom this would have much offended, herself being (as before was intimated,) contracted.  
During this, was depending the Match between 
* Catherine d'Bourbon, the King's Sister, was Wife to Henry of Lorraine Duke of Barr, who died at Nancy in the year 1604.  Catherine d'Bourbon the King's Sister and the Count of Soisons, to whom the King had proposed her, but changing his mind, he resolves to bestow her upon * the Duke of Monpensier, a Prince though young, yet in truth far submitting to the other in point of Amiableness, and so very disagreeable to the Humour and Fancy of the Princess, that she could not forbore upon the sight of him, to let him audibly understand, that she could not love him; the Duke is not discouraged with this, but perceiving the King of his side, ceaseth not to render her all the Endearments that he could; and o● the other side, the 
* The Duke of Montpensier and the Earl of Soisons both of the Family of the Bourbons, Princes of the Blood.  Duke of Soissons offended at this Suit, in which his Rival was Patronised and encouraged by the King, withdraws himself to his House.  
In the interim came Madam d'Bourbon to the Town of deep, wherein she finds Madam d'Gabrielle, (who is the late Madam d'Estree, thus styled after her Marriage,) and confesseth she Esteems her for the greatness of her Beauty not to be unworthy the Affection of her Brother; a thing for which she had so much detested her before, and envied her, that if she beheld her with a pleasant look, it was with a visible force put upon herself. And Madam d'Gabrielle on the other side, not being able to dispense with so insufferable a Grandeur in the Princess to whom she must always bare so profound a deference, often reproached the King with her coming. Whose only remedy was to be moving, (as his Affairs frequently called upon him to do) to another place, and to carry his Mistress along with him; who now began in good earnest to interest herself in all Affairs; which indeed was not difficult for her to do, by the  Instrument her Aunt, with whom the Chancellor 
* The Chancellor Chiverney, is Philip Hurault Earl of Chiverney.  Chiverney is in Love. See hence the efficacy of so Great a Master's example! how strange is it that so Sage and Eminent a Man as this, should not be able to resist his Passion! but so it is, and the King willing that all the World should be as much in Love as himself, was glad to see him fettered in the common Lott. At this time died very Tragycally Madam d'Estree, Mother to Madam d'Gabrielle, who as she had Infamously lived, so was she justly inflicted with such a Punishment.  
Still continued the Love betwixt Bellgard and Madam d'Gabrielle; of which the King had some suspicion; but so slight as yet, that the least show of Kindness from her, made him condemn it as Criminal. But there happened an Accident, had like to have made it much more visible. For being at one of his Houses, in order to a certain Enterprise on that side, and being gone the space of three or four leagues to that effect, Madam d'Gabrielle stays by the way, pretending that she was ill, whilst Bellgard counterfeited a Journey to Nantes, which was not far off. But no sooner was the King gone, but Arphure, the chief Confident amongst the women of Madam d'Gabrielle, (being one  she entrusted upon all occasions) gave entrance to Bellgard into a little Closet of which she only had the Key, who had also admittance into the Chamber, as soon as her Mistress had disposed it into that order as she thought fit. As they were together, came back the King, who though he could not find what he had sought for, had like now to have found what he did not seek; All that could be done to prevent it, was to shut up Bellgard in the Closet of Arphure, which was at the Beds-head of Madam d'Gabrielle, a Window from which looked into the Garden; no sooner did the King come in (having possibly some item given him of this business) but he called for Arphure for some of those Sweetmeats, that she kept in this Closet. But was answered by Madam d'Gabrielle, that she was not at home, and that she had given her leave to go see some Relations of hers that was in the Town; notwithstanding the King still insisted that he resolved to eat some of them, and that if Arphure was not to be found, or some other Person to open it, he would break open the Door, and forthwith strikes it with his Feet. The surprise sure is inexpressible these two Lovers must be in, to find themselves so near a discovery! But Madam d'Gabrielle, if possible, will prevent it, and therefore feigns so great an illness in her Head, that noise would very much disturb her, which yet doth not at all dissuade the King from his resolution. And Bellgard seeing there was no other remedy, leaps out of the Window into the Garden, from whence though it was very high, he had the fortune to do himself little hurt by the fall.  
Now Arphure (who had only hid herself that she might not open the Door) came in very hot (as if upon some hasty Summons she had posted from her Friends out of the Town, whom Madam Gabrielle had pretended she had given her leave to go see) and satisfies the King with what he with so much impatiency demanded. Upon which Bellgard, (as before was hinted) having so fortunately made his escape, and the intrigue being undiscovered, the subtle Gabrielle a thousand times reproaches the King with the unkindness of his action which she tells him, she believes was only to find some plausible occasion to break with her, as (his Humour changing,) he had done with those that he had loved before, but that she would prevent him by returning again to her Husband, whom his Authority had caused her to abandon. I confess (saith she) through that extreme Passion which for you, I have entertained, I have forgot both my Honour and my Duty, whilst you have repaid me with most innumerable Inconsstancies under colour of Suspicion, for which I have not given you growned for so much as a Thought; and with this the Tears flowed down her Cheeks. Upon which, so great was the disorder of the Royal Lover, that he begged her Pardon not only for what he had done, but the false deluding Passion also proved so much the cure of his Jealousy, that it was long before he entertained it again.  
During all this, the Enemies of the King was in possession of the Town of Paris; In which so great and numerous was the Quality, that they composed a Court in which several things passed that are worthy of our notice.  
The 
* The Duchess of Montpensier, was Catherine of Lorraine, Daughter to Francis of Lorraine the Duke of Guise (and Ann d'Est his Wife) Father to Charles d'Lorrain, Duke of Mayenne.  Dutchese of Montpensier a Widow to one of the Princes of the Blood, and Sister to the Duke of Mayen (Chief of that party which held the first rank against the King) omitted nothing that might tend to the advancement of the affairs of her Brother, or rather of his eldest Son (her Nephew) of the same Party, of whom she had a very good opinion. This Lady loved a Gentleman of the King's Party, that was really as well, as in Repute, a gallant Man; yet showing him all the kindness that the best assurance (with any reserve of Modesty) could admit of, still he could not return it, having a Passion for her Niece (the Daughter of her eldest Brother) 
* Madamoiselle d'Guise, was Lovyse Marguerite of Lorraine, Daughter to the aforesaid Henry d'Lorrain, and Catherine of Cleves.  Mademoiselle d'Guise, a Lady under the Character of one of the Handsomest of those times. But being one to whom the King (as in the entrance of this History is signified) had given some hopes of Marriage as soon as he should be free, out of a prospect of thus preferring herself to the Royal Bed, she contemned all her other Lovers. Amongst whom 
* Lord of Guiry, who afterwards Married Mar●erette Hurault Daughter to the Chancellor d'Chi●rney.  Guiry (such was the aforenamed Gentleman) was the first that perceived it. For having done all that he could think of to oblige her, even so far as to supply them with Provisions in Paris, in the time of its greatest necessities, he received from her so angry and apparently disdainful a look, as gave an utter stop to his any-farther Vanity in aspiring.  
Indeed all the more brisk Gentlemen ●f the Army of the part of the Duke of ●ayen, as well as the King's, had no less than a Passion for this Lady. For though her Mother and herself had, as they thought, withdrawn themselves to a very private recess, yet so great a confluence of Admirers was there even to this place (through the attraction of this Beauty) that it might properly enough be styled the Court of that Party; yet after all, not so much was her Beauty, but her Envy was more at her Competiton Madam d'Gabrielle, not only because she really exceeded her in Beauty, but also in that her far more envied happiness, her favour with the King; and therefore sought all possible means to be revenged upon her.  
Now when the King (as befor● hinted, had laid such close siege t● Paris, where assaults were often mad● on both sides, with such frequent interchanges of Sallies and Repulses, Madam d'Guise appeared sometimes o● the Walls. At such times it was the su●tle Guiry always took his occasions 〈◊〉 insinuate something or other that should signify his Passion, though she as often with an assumed state, especially at this time, appeared not to understand him, the King having now sent for her Picture, (who was not yet so wholly embarked in Madam d'Estree,) and it was likewise believed that the Peace, and this Match would have been concluded together. So that (flushed with these hopes) she not only despised Guiry, but all her other Lovers.  
Excepting the happy Bellgard, for a Truce being made upon some Occasion for six hours, and the Ladies diverting themselves upon the Ramperts to which the Gentlemen of the Army came up to confer with their Acquaintance, and more particularly to contemplate the famed Beauties of Madam d'Guise, and Bellgard amongst the rest: The scornful Dame that before had made profession of defying all the World, perceived upon the sight of this Chevalier, that she could love something else besides a King. And Bellgard himself was so much ensnared and ravished by her Charms, that he forgot Madam d'Estree, and all the sacred Oaths he had made of loving nothing but her, and wholly devoted himself to the present Object; and from that time forth, they began to love one another. How strange are the effects of resistless Passions? Bellgard being (as it is said) only come hither to justify himself to Madammoiselle and the Duchess, concerning the imputation he was under of being guilty of the death of the Duke of Guise, (which the Duchess had believed him to have a share in, and had vowed him revenge for) the Mother falls in love with him, and he with the Daughter, who was not wholly obdurate to him, yet both kept their Fires secret enough, the one that she might not give cause of suspicion to her Mother; and the other that he might not offend Madam d'Gabrielle, who was too much the present prop and buttress of his Fortune, for him to be willing to lose. All that he could do in this little time, was by his Friends, to inform and satisfy the Duchess of his innocence in this Case; whose justification was so well received, that it convinced the Duchess (who could not but believe those his execrable Imprecations he made upon himself) and caused her to relinquish her former Opinion; and to command Madamoiselle d'Guise no more to accuse him, who was not difficult to be persuaded so to do; because, supposing him to be Guilty, yet not being now free to condemn him, she thought it more suitable to her present Circumstances to be credulous. Heu! Quid non possis amor? Omnipotent Love! What is it thou canst not do, even to the justifying of the greatest Crimes?  
Every one returned after the Truce was expired, and Bellgard amongst the rest, tossed with ten thousand various Cogitations; he could not nor would not quit Madam d'Gabrielle, and his new Passion gave him a most resistless Inquietude. In fine, he resolves to love them both, to conserve the one and not to relinquish the other, and from this time seeks out means to please the Duchess of Guise, who received his Letters and Messages so well, that there was soon a fair Intelligence betwixt them.  
At this time came the young Duke of Guise out of Prison, in which he had been ever since the death of his Father; and Bellgard knowing him, takes an occasion to send a Trumpet to visit him, with Letters for the Duchess; who was cunning enough privately to convey as much into the hands of the young Princess. His Letters was received by the Duchess herself very well; and the Princess, though she had not an opportunity of speaking to him now, yet intimated by Signs, that any thing of this nature was not Ungrateful to her from this Knight; with which the expecting Bellgard was not a little pleased.  
In the mean time the War continued, and the Duchess of Guise desirous of a Passport to one of her Houses, the King not only grants it, but likewise that she may pass through the same place where he himself was with all his Court; where the young Lady (pleased with this Voyage) hoped both that Bellgard might now find some means to speak to her, and that she might also have an opportunity to see whether the envied Beauty of her Rival, answered that Character that was given of it: And Bellgard (a Convoy for them to the Court; being but a due Respect to Persons of this Quality) takes occasion to beg one of the King, (who was himself of too courteous a disposition not to grant it) and of which, (by virtue of that Rank which he held in the Court) he had the Commission himself.  
Arrived, both the Duchess and the young Princess, received a thousand Caresses from the King, of which the former, could not refrain from commending the Beauty of Madam d'Gabrielle, who yet thought she found Mademoiselle d'Guise too handsome for her liking, and Madamoiselle d'Guise on the other side was surprised with the Beauty of her Rival; yet both concealing the opinion which they mutual had of each other, received one another with all the coldness that was consistent with a due civility; and Madamoiselle d'Guise, as soon as she had seen Madam d'Gabrielle, turned herself towards Bellgard, and said, Truly I thought she had been more handsome, to which Bellgard answered nothing, being too much taken with this Lady. Now the King, who knew well all Passions, and likewise those of the Duchess of Guise (not unpractised in the affairs of Love) did not doubt but that this Chevalier, (as indeed it was true enough) only amuzed and blinded the Duchess, and used his pretended Addresses to her, only to facilitate his Access to the young Princess, with whom he judged he was in Love: This Opinion had these two effects; It repressed the King's suspicion that he had entertained of his being in Love with Madam d'Gabrielle, and caused him to put an end to all farther designs upon Madam d'Guise.  
But Madam d'Gabrielle, who above all her little Interests, esteemed the affection of her Lover the Duke of Bellgard, took so narrow a scrutiny of his actions, that she knew that he loved Mademoiselle d'Guise, and that he also was not hated by her; at which she conceived so strong a jealousy of Madam d'Guise, that she was under no small pain to suppress it. With which the Princess (still pushing her on) was (not ill pleased) proposing to herself this Advantage by it, That if upon her departure from the Court, she could not boast herself of gaining any thing upon the King, yet she might at least triumph over his Mistress.  
The next day they departed, the Duchess having obtained of the King a Neutrality for the House she was to go to, to which Bellgard, (so much inflamed by the attractions of the fair Madamoiselle d'Guise) did not a little contribute; the King making no scruple to grant him all that in this nature he could desire, as a Bait to lure him from his Mistress Madam d'Gabrielle, who was so excessively enraged by her jealousy of Madamoiselle d'Guise, that she would not so much as bid adieu to either the Mother or the Daughter, feigning herself ill, and not suffering herself to be seen all that day by any Person whatsoever.  
Bellgard and all the Court conducted these Ladies on their way so far as that they returned not till the next day, when the incensed Gabrielle beheld her Lover with so much fury in her Eyes, that it began to trouble him; And seeing the beloved Princess no more, the present Object retook him again, to whom (inclined by his Interest, as well as by losing the fair Ideas of the absent Beauty) he resettled himself; cursing his former inconstancy and indiscretion.  
In the mean time the Duchess of Guise, to whom her Life was of less value than her Love, and especially with this Knight, contrives a means to continue it by instating her Son in a Treaty with the King, (for which she might easily persuade herself, the Favourite Bellgard would not be left out of the Commission) and to make way for it, sends advice of it to the King. Who desirous that all his Subjects might return to their Allegiance particular a Prince that was one of the Chiefs of the Adverse Party, and of whom he had so great an Opinion, dispatched Bellgard immediately towards her.  
To which Madam d'Gabrielle opposed as much as possible, averring that Bellgard was not a Man of Business, and that the Mother (intimating the Passion that she had for Bellgard, and probably suspecting some contrivance now of the Duchess' in relation to it) might be more pleased with his Mediation than the Son; But in the end, the Duke of Neverrs, in kindness to Bellgard, (a Person then amongst the first of the King's Favourites) prevailed upon her (to do pleasure to Bellgard, whom he loved most extremely) no longer to oppose it; And did no small favour by this to the Duke of Guise; For this Treaty not quickly concluding, and Paris soon afterwards being surrendered into the King's hands, the Love of Bellgard to his Sister was of no small import, (this Surrender so much enfeebling the Enemy.) A kindness he had never received, unless from the Benevolent hands of the Duke of Nevers, who did all that this Knight desired, and with so great a zeal (and this seconded by the active and co-operating heat of the Duke himself) that he put an end to an Affair, that all the World stood astonished to see so soon and so advantageously accomplished.  
Behold how the Affairs of this Court are carried on, and directed to such ends as was the least thought of by all, by very few known to be certainly in pursuit, only there was some discourse of it indeed in the Court. The Duke upon his coming was very graciously received by the King, and likewise so well from his Sister, that he commenced Servant to her from this time.  
At this time it was (the King being now gone to besiege a Town that was yet on the Party of the Duke of Mayen) that Madam d'Gabrielle was brought to Bed of a 
* The Son borne by Madam d'Gabrielle, upon which she was made Marchioness of Beaufort, was afterwards the Duke Vendosme.  Son; At which the King conceives so great a Joy, that he causeth her to quit her Name, and assume the Title of Marchioness of Beaufort. And began not to love her more because his love was before so extreme it could receive no augmentation, but more to Esteem her, Honour, and Respect her.  
Seeing herself in this condition, she began to search out all means to hinder her Marriage, and to assume to herself higher Expectations; Her Counsellor, her Aunt, Madam d'Sourdis, insinuating into her, that she might arrive to better Fortunes. And her Gallant the old Chancellor of Chiverney, gave her likewise useful Counsels towards this end, which she began in good earnest to execute, making Friends for her support, and establishing, and preferring those that depended upon her, and endeavouring by her Friends to persuade the Queen to break a Marriage, from which she could expect nothing but much uneasiness and mistrust; But for this time could gain nothing upon her Spirits: In the mean time there is a Reconciliation twixt Bellgard and his Mistress, (who had so strong an inclination to Love him, and be Beloved of him, that she helped to deceive herself even when she knew he flattered her, for which cause he was the more industrious, seeing her now more Puissant than ever.  
The Sister of the King, and the Duke of Guise, hid now no more their Passion, and the Duke began to take ill Bellgard's often Visits to his Lodgings; (who notwithstanding his Service for the new Marchioness of Beaufort, could not wholly relinquish his Amour with Mademoiselle d'Guise his Sister) the Duke taking notice of his frequent Visits at his Lodgings, resents it, and began to examine the cause, in so much that Mademoiselle d'-Guise, who feared her Brother might make some Rumour of it abroad; gives Advertisement of it to Bellgard, who a little pausing upon it with himself, had recourse to the Duke of Nevers for Advice. The Duke informs him of the most proper Expedient that in his present Circumstances he could use; which was, That some distant Service might be allotted, in order to his remove from the King, to the Duke of Guise; which (he advises) may be the Government of Province; and engageth himself to employ his Interest towards the accomplishment of it, if it should not be opposed by the Marchioness of Beaufort. Bellgard therefore (assured of his Friend) speaketh of it to her, taking occasion from the Affection she bore to this Prince, to tell her it was now so publicly known, that it was even come to the King's Ear, to which it gave such offence, that in her own Justification she ought at least to solicit his remove to some distant Service, which his Courage rendered him so capable of for the King, and proposed the Government of Province. In short, he managed his Business with so good a Conduct, that the Duke of Guise was soon dispatched for Province. But for what happened there, I must refer you to the Historians.  
The King's Sister infested with this Accident, recurrs to another Object the Duke of Espernon, a Man brave, though in his Age, and had acquired the Favour of the last King, being by him preferred to great Honours and Dignities. This lasted till her Marriage with the Duke of Barr, to whom she was soon after actually married, and conducted into his own Country. The Marchioness of Beaufort remaining for this time the sole Mistress of the Court.  
Now the Duke of Bellgard fearing lest his love to the Duchess of Guise should occasion him to lose his first Mistress, resolves to introduce a good Correspondency betwixt them, and seeing he could do what he pleased with the Marchioness, he persuades her since she was likely to be Queen, it might advance him to a Station in which he might be more Serviceable to her, if he could espouse Madamoiselle d'Guise; However, if she could not approve of the Marriage itself, yet the pretext of it would be a plausible means to remove the King's Suspicion, which he had already entertained, and into which it was more than probable he might again relaspe; and farther told her, that the Suspicion of the King was a great stop to his Preferment, and that whatsoever in appearance he might do, yet she knew that his Heart was still with her. In brief, he knew so well how to Cajole her, that she resolved to give Countenance to Madamoiselle d'Guise, who Was glad to obtain a good Understanding with a Person of her Quality, and so Engagingly deported herself, that she endeared the Marchioness to so extraordinary a Kindness for her, that they not only dressed every day alike, but was as it were, knit like Joynt-Twins inseparably together.  
This blinded for a while the King, and diverted the Suspicion that he began to have. But one of his Vale d'Chambers having seen a Letter which Bellgard writ to the Marchioness, which he had found one morning when she was ill, upon her Twilight, where Arphure had left it, not believing that any one should have to do so early in the Room; he commanded him to have an Eye upon them; Which doing, (and believing like a good Servant, that his Master was espoused to this Lady,) and imagining that he saw Bellgard one night entering in with her, he gives advice immediately of it to the King, who presently sends Praslin, (the afterwards Marshal of France,) one of the Captains of his Guard, to Sacrifice him in the Chamber.  
Praslin was much surprised at this Command, and the Love he had for them both, made it very ungrateful; but however he must go; He takes with him such a number of the Guards as he thought fit that was walking in the Hall, takes so far a way about, and makes so much noise, that he found no body at his entrance into the Room, but Madam Beaufort alone, to whom he delivers his Message. Who seeing him so unwilling to surprise them, promises never to forget so great a Kindness; and the Duchess of Guise that was also privy to this action, conceived so good an Opinion of him for it, that she assisted him in his progress to those signal Preferments, which he afterwards enjoyed till his Death.  
Madam d'Beaufort in the interim, complains mightily of the Jealousies of the King; at which the King, seeming to be sensible of, and relent her wrong, promiseth her that it should be never the worse with her for it. But ceases not a little to Reproach her with Bellgard's Letter, which she swore she had not read, and justified herself (which was not very difficult to do) very well to the King. Though Bellgard himself found so ill a Treatment upon it, that he was forced to absent himself from the Court; and with no less a Condition, than that he should never presume to return again till he was Married, and brought his Wife with him to the Court. The Duke of Nevers, his supporting Friend, was dead, and Madam d Beaufort, found it too ill taken when she spoke for him, that his shortest and best course was to Obey what was Commanded, though it was with the greatest Regret.  
During this Voyage, a 
* The Wife to the Constable of Montmorancy, was Lovise of Budos, Viscount of Portes, and of Catherine d'Clermont.  Wife of the Constable of Montmorancy's, whom he had lately Married, came to the Court, a Lady who by the Excellency, or perhaps rather novelty of her Beauty, attracted the Eyes and Hearts of the Men, and by so doing the Envy of the Ladies, though (perhaps) through the natural height of her Temper, as well as of the exalted pre-eminency of her Place, regardless of both, she as much undervalued the hatred of the Ladies, as the addresses of the Men.  
The King also himself was a little touched, (for which I suppose the Marchioness will not pardon him) However it hinders him not from taking all the occasions of manifesting his Affection to this new Beauty. Sacred and Inviolable is the Prerogative of Kings, and Unlimited, (especially in that of Loving whom they please) and the Marchioness must not oppose it. Though Madam the Montmorancy suffers it more to excite Envy from the Ladies, than for any Pleasure that she could take in it, being not only loved, but adored by the Marquis of Byron, a Son of Mars, who had acquired the greatest Reputation for Arms of any one of his time. But oh Unhappy Fortune! the admired Beauty doth no sooner, (as it were) show herself to the World, but she goes out of it again in one of her Child-beds; yet leaving two such fair Copies of her Excellencies behind her, a 
* The Son brought into the World by her before her death, was Henry Duke of Montmorancy, the second of that Name, Peer and Marshal of France, and afterwards Beheaded at Thoulouse in October 1632. and her Daughter Charlotte Marguerete Montmorancy, Wife to Henry of Bourbon first Prince of the Blood, deceased 1646. who had Issue the Princes of Conde and Conty and the Duchess of Longueville.  Son and a Daughter, made the World some competent Amends for the loss of so incomparable a Person. But these I shall speak more of elsewhere, being desirous now to finish the History of the Marchioness of Beaufort.  
Who during this interval had a 
* Madam d'Beaufort her Daughter, was Catherine Henriette Legitimate of France, Married 1619. to Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Elbeuf, of whom she had divers Issue, and the Son she had soon after upon the disannulling of her Marriage, was Alexander Vendosme Grand Prior of France, who afterwards died Prisoner in the Castle of Vincennes.  Daughter, and not long after a Son, but the last of these, after the nullifying of her Marriage. Which so much elevated the Marchioness, that she left no stone unturned to bring to pass her Marriage with the King. Who now more Amorous than ever, upon the Birth of these two Sons, gratified her in all that she could desire, removing one of the Greatest of his Council, who endeavoured to thwart this design. Knowing that he could obtain the Consent of his Queen, and that there wanted nothing more but the Concurrence of the Pope to ratify the dissolution of his former Marriage, which was the only Obstacle of this. To which purpose Hilery is dispatched to Rome, the ablest Man of his Council, and desiring nothing more than to Oblige both the King and his Mistress.  
A little before this, the King had made her Duchess; in which Dignity and Place she so well behaved herself, that though she could not be by all belov'd, yet she was hated by none; and growing Big again, demeaned herself with so much Gravity, Circumspection, and so absolute a Chastity, that she consorted only with the Vestals, and in both Dress and Actions demonstrated so perfect a Modesty, that the King remembered with regret that ever he had suspected her; and was melted down into the most invincible resolution to make her his Wife.  
At this time Bussy Lamet, an old Courtier of no small Account and Esteem with the King, (both to Oblige the Marchioness, and to Incite the King by his Example) Marries a Mistress of his by whom he had had several Children; which was of no small moment to the Marchioness, for we are all not ill pleased with-parallel Instances, (to render them the less culpable) when our Actions are otherwise not so justifiable in themselves.  
Commands were now given to the Ambassador at Rome, to pursue the Dissolution of the Marriage, and to solicit the Consent of the Queen, which was rendered the more Urgent by the Marchioness, because being with Child, and near her production, she was very unwilling that the Birth she went with should be Illegitimate; Who to make public profession of her Faith, Celebrates her Easter at Paris, Lodging in the Cloister of St.  L'Auxerrois; On Holy Wednesday, she was at Service, at a Church in the end of the Town, called the Tenebris, which they performed very Harmoniously; she went herself in a Litter, attended by a Captain of the Guards, but the Princesses in Coaches; and lest she might be either too much crowded or observed, her Chapel was likewise cleared by the Captain of the Guards. Where during the time of the Office, she entertained herself, and Madamoiselle d'Guise, who was with her, with Letters from Rome, by which she was satisfied that her Desires should soon be accomplished, and also from the King himself, intimating him so impatient to see her Queen, that he had remanded du Frosne, one of his Secretaries of State (a Person who because related to her in Marriage, must needs be wholly devoted to her Interest) to Rome; to urge and press his Holiness to a permission of what he was so much resolved to do; and in such Prayers as these was the time of Devotion spent, But ended, the Marchioness, (who had gave Mademoiselle d'Guise to Understand that she was going to Bed, and had desired the diversion of her Company,) immediately betakes herself to her Litter; and Madamoiselle d'Guise to her Coach, causing herself to be set down at the Duchess'.  
Whom (arrived) she found not only undressed, but in great affliction with her Head; and soon after she falls into a strong Convulsion, yet out of which by strength of Remedies she was recovered; and upon this would have writ to the King, had she not been reattacked and prevented by a second Fit, after which receiving a Letter from the King, she attempted also to read it, and was again retaken by a third, so that in the end increasing mightily upon her, and overpowering the unequal strength of her Nature, they put too certain a period to her Life. On Wednesdey night this Illness first took her, and on Friday, delivered by the force of Medicine, she Died on Saturday in the Evening, devoid of all Sense, as far as any body could perceive.  
The King who was now at one of his Houses, was early enough advertised of this Sickness, but imagining it to be only the result and disorder of Breeding, was not much moved with it at the first. But the Thirdday-Messenger bringing him News both of its Danger and Continuance, he caused him to make towards Paris; who coming within six leagues of it. (where he found all the Lords of his Court) they gave him to understand by the sadness of their Countenances, that his Mistress was dead; who after he had read the too fatal certainty of it in their looks and gestures, was mightily Troubled, and required solitude, dismissing all his Attendance, excepting Bussy Lamet, (the Person before spoken of) and the Duke of Retz, who had the Character of being extreme good Company; the last of these (giving him first a little time to vent his Passion) told the King, almost smiling, that (in his Opinion) he was very happy, and that weighing of his present Circumstances, must needs induce him to believe it; and that the Gods had favoured him by her death: The Royal concern was too great at first to be laid by such Expressions, but the King a little reviving, and calling to mind the Important Business he was about, (which was intimated by the Duke) he confessed what he had said to be true, and lifting up, his Eyes to Heaven (not insensible both of this and all his other Mercies) makes suitable Returns to that Beneficent Hand from which he had received them, and so well contented himself, that within the space of seven weeks he became Enamoured of Madam 
* Madam d'Antragues, the afterwards Marchioness of Vernevil, was Henriette of Balsac d'Antragues, Sister to Charles of Vallois Earl of Auvergne, afterwards Duke of Angoulesme, Natural Son to Charles the Ninth King of France.  d'Antragues, (the afterwards Marchioness of Verneail) both very Young and Handsome, and of a good House, and if not equalling the other in Beauty, yet exceeding her in Gaiety, and so well supplying her absence, that she (at the least) struck out all his Melancholy Reflections upon her death.  
The Ministers of State now seeing the Ambitious Marchioness thus stopped and controwled by Fate in her pursuit after Majesty and the imminent danger that in this respect they was delivered from, by her death, was resolved to prevent the same danger from this new Beauty, (whose height of Spirit they knew not to be inferior to the others) and therefore expeditiously pushed on the King to Marriage, and he that was at Rome to mediate for it with the Marchioness of Beaufort, now mediates for it with the Princess of 
* The Princess of Florence was Marie d'Medicis Daughter to Francis d'Medicis, great Duke of Tuscany and Jane Arch Duchess of Austria by her Birth Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.  Florence. To whom the Pope not only gave all his necessary consent, but likewise the Queen Margaret all that Was desired from her; insomuch that the business was soon concluded that so it anticipated both the Imagination of the King, and knowledge of the Marchioness, who was now big, and conveyed in order to her lying down, to one of the Houses of the King, towards which he conducted her with very good hopes, but getting some hurt by the way she proved Abortive and was very ill; though through the assistance of the King, and the concurrence of all imaginable Remedies, she came again to her health. It was at this time that she heard that the Match was agreed upon betwixt the King and the Princess of Florence, upon which she so impetuously taunted at the Amorous Prince that he had much ado to reduce her to a good humour. And Bellgard (whom she suspected to be the cause of all this) for her not having given him that reception which he had formerly had with the Marchioness of Beaufort, (and would have had with her) she is resolved to be revenged upon by the Prince of Joinville, (the afterwards Duke of Cheureus) a Prince Handsome and Young, and of a good Grace, and one of her Admirers, whom she causeth to attempt his Life one night at his entrance into the House of one Sebastien Zamet (with whom the King then Supped) there encountering him with his Sword. Bellgard was wounded, and his Servants seeing it, pursued the Prince of Joinville, whom they had certainly killed had it not been for the interposing of Rambovillett, a young Chevalier of a good House, who was so much wounded in the Encounter, that it was believed he would have died.  
So overflowed the King with Choler at this Action, that he would not only have punished the Prince, but have permitted the other to die on his Wounds. Notwithstanding he was so well looked to by stealth, that he escaped, and the Duchess of Guise (Mother to the Prince) and his Sister; obtained his reconciliation with the King, though both (much offended at this action,) suspected that the Prince had no other cause to treat Belgard in this fashion but only for his love to the Marchioness of Vernucil; thus all was soon appeased, and a motion of War made upon the Duke of Savoy, on the account of the Marquisate of Salusses; which he had treacherously seized upon and taken during the diversion of the last King at Blois. For the King who by dint of Battle had recovered all the rest of his Kingdom, and instated himself in the hereditary seat of his Royal Ancestors, could not bear that the Duke of Savoy, in competition with him so petty a Prince, should pretend to exclude him from a Country that was his own due, and proper inheritance, which he had often demanded, and which the Duke of Savoy stood possessed of, by no other means but that of a most unneighbourly and unjust surprise and fraudulent usurpation. And the Duke of Savoy was now come, in order to some accommodation betwixt the King and himself, thinking possibly to render his designs more effectual, by being present in his own person. But indeed his chief dependence was upon the intelligence he had with the deceased Duchess, in whose life-time he had assured the King of his intention to wait upon him, and had so much engaged himself by both what he writ and what he said, that there was now no room for a retreat. At his coming there was nothing but feasting and gallantry in the Court, and such as was argumentative of a general satisfaction, he makes Presents to all the handsome and principal Ladies of the Court, and it may be a little more than was for the benefit of some of them; and now the Ladies (as upon such occasions) contesting for Precedency, and the King not determining the point, there occurred a most pleasant Diversion both to the King and the Marchioness.  
The Duke of Savoy returned without doing any thing, and the King resolved to make War upon him; which, as he goes to receive his Queen, the Princess of Florence Maria d'Medicis, (that Country lying in his way) he performed. Which (and which was soon) being subdued, the Pope intermediates for an Accommodation, and the King receives his Queen, whom he had before Espoused by his deputed Proxy, his Uncle (having before sent to him his Procuration by Bellgard, which much augmented the hatred of the Marchioness;) And thus his Majesty obtained his desire.  
In the mean time the Married Queen, was come as far as Marseille to meet the King, thither conducted by his Aunt the Duchess (of the House of the Vrsins,) and the Duchess of Mantove her Sister, and Eleonor d'Medicis her Cousin German, a Person much esteemed in the Court of France, (and who had been much enamoured of this Princess before she was Queen) and there ●●ceiv'd by two Cardinals, the Constable, Chancellor, and the Duke of Guise that was Governor of the Province. By the Princess' Dowagers of Nemours and Guise, and many other Ladies, the Marchioness of Guercheville amongst the rest, whom the King had loved, and (finding perhaps more Virtuous than he desired) had promised to make Maid of Honour to his Queen; keeping his Word with her after the end of ten Years, it being so long since he first loved her.  
The Queen was brought on with all sorts of Magnificence to the Town of Lions, where she was expected by the King; and the Nuptial Ceremonies performed: The two Daughters of the Constable, the Duchess of Vantadour, and the Countess of Auvergne, the afterwards Duchess of Angoulesme, being here; both very Handsom●●nd the first beloved of Eleonor d'Medicis, who (as before said) was under the Repute of such a Gallant Man; but his Love as volatile as he, stayed no longer with him than he at the Court.  
Though it is otherways with the Duke of Guise, and Espernon, betwixt whom the quarrel was so great, that it divided the whole Court; though at last reconciled by the King, and without doubt not without some intention himself upon the Duchess of Vantadour; yet notwithstanding he relinquisheth not his Amour with the Marchioness of Vernevile, commanding daily his Messengers to her; who now ceasetho not to treat the Queen even after her own inventions, and there wanted not those that made Report of it to the Queen, which made so great a broil, that it almost embarased in it the whole Court; some reporting things to the Queen; others to the Marchioness; the first, that they might insinuate themselves into the favour of the Queen; and the latter, that they might engage the Marchioness; and how many others there might be (He only knows that knows all things) that only to render the breach so much the more wide and incurable, might act on both sides.  
These Feuds did not presently appear, but during the Queen's Voyage to Paris, there was another Intrigue that amused the Court; the King having sent, with Mademoiselle, to the Queen, the Duchess of Nemours, as Governess of her Household, the Marchioness of Guercheville, as Maid of Honour, and Madam d'Ritchelieu as Lady of the Attire; the Queen refused the last, saying, that she had Leonora already in the Place, who had not only all along served her, but whom she had now brought Over on purpose for that Place; to which the King replied, that having given it to Madam d'Ritchelieu, she was desirous of that Office; in so much that this made an absolute Rupture betwixt the Marchioness and the Queen, and the whole Retinue that was sent her was remanded back again to the King. The Sagacious Madamoiselle d'Guise, soon knew what Profit she might reap from this occasion, and takes part incontinently with the Queen, gaining by it a particular account and favour with her: The same day she arrived at Paris, the King Commanded the Duchess of Nemours to fetch the Marchioness of Vernevil, and present her to the Queen, which the wary Princess declining, would fain have excused herself from, saying, That by so doing, she should lose all her Credit with her Mistress; but the King, contrary to his Custom, (which was always to be Courteous) Commanding her something ruffly to do it, she Obeyed. But the Queen astonished at such a surprise, received the Marchioness very coldly, who notwithstanding being of a Nature well assured, addressed her so familiarly, and with such freedom and talkativeness, that she compelled her in the end to entertain her. The Duchess in the interim that introduced her, received little satisfaction upon it from the King, and a very bad Countenance from the Queen, who was so much irritated by this action, as never after to forget it; and Leonora perceiving by this, that she was not secure in her Place, without the Approbation of the King, solicited the Marchioness to be her Friend, promising her, that if she could acquire the Royal Approbation, she would put her into a capacity of doing what she pleased with the Queen. Which the Marchioness undertaking, so well effected, that the smiles of Majesty attended it, it much mitigating the former displacency of the Queen, which the King observing, and being weary of his Stages to the Marchioness two or three times in the day, caused Lodgings to be prepared for her in the Lovure, and brings her thither, which after some little time rekind'led again the jealousy of the Queen, she being ever and anon entertained by several hands, with the discourses of the Marchioness, which favoured of so little respect, that it began to make a breach of that Intelligence that was betwixt them; Both these was Big together, and it was no small difficulty for the King so to accommodate himself to them both, that neither might be disobliged, the Queen he was to treat with all the respect due to her Quality, and he delighted more in the company of the Marchioness. Every one also that would not displease the King, resorted to her, which the Queen took very ill, and indeed, so near were their Lodgings, and so much within each others inspection, that it proved the cause of perpetual differences betwixt them. In the mean time Leonora, by Presents; kept her correspondence with the Marchioness, not questioning but it might consist with a good understanding with her Mistress, the Charm only of whose favour (it seems) having very few other Allurements, had procured her a Lover, a certain Gentleman of Florence, that came along with the Queen, who now made his court, and was so fortunate to be approved; His Name was Conchini, of good Extraction, and therefore Leonora, who herself proceeded from the scum of the People, thought him no ill Choice; but yet there was some difficulty before this Marriage could come to pass, for the King did not love him, and those of the House of the Queen hated him, and the Queen herself feared to speak of it, left it should be refused. In fine, consulting together, they made recourse to her Omnipotency the Marchioness of Beaufort, and succeeded so well in it, that he obtained the freedom of being with her as often as he pleased. With which the Marchioness herself was not ill satisfied, knowing that by this she obliged Leonora, and through her the Queen, whose favour, though she did not so much respect, yet she valued her Resent ments.  
After Conchini had had this access to Leonora, he makes his Applications, that he might Marry her. The Duchess makes some difficulty of it at the first, knowing the Aversion of the King to these two Persons, but in the end, through the Intercession likewise of Leonora, who engaged that the Queen should speak of it too, she took up a resolution of causing this Marriage to succeed; the Queen sends daily to her Lodgings, to know the News, makes her half the Presents she receives, and treats her better than either of the Princesses. But before this Match is accomplished, the Queen and Marchioness are to be in the Straw.  
The Queen is first, and presents the World with the most Illustrious and Happy Prince Lovis, Dauphin the Thirteenth; and a Month after the Marchioness brings to light Prince Henry of Bourbon, (afterwards Bishop of Matz) both of which are welcomed into the World with the greatest Joy, which continued all the Winter; and Perparations are made by the Queen, for the space of three months, for a Ball, in which the Marchioness had a part, which so pleased the King, that he consented to the Marriage of Conchini and Leonora; and that the Queen might not only bestow her in Marriage, but that she might also give her such fortune, as might comport with the quality of her place. The good intelligence lasted all the Winter and part of the next Summer, but the Court is impatient of too long a Calm, and every one promiseth himself some advantage from change and competitions.  
The King a little before, had taken notice of 
* Madam d'Villars the King's Mistress, after the Decease of her Sister the Duchess of Beaufort is the same was hinted before the Marchioness of Villars or Cerisay.  Madam d'Villars Sister to the Duchess of Beaufort, who indeed had no other Beauty but that of her Youth and her Hair. This Lady envied the Marchioness extremely, in that she had (as she thought) ravished from her the favour of the King, and as she was malicious, so she began to put her Malice into practice; revealing to the Queen her intentions, whom she knew to be grown weary of the audaciousness of the Marchioness, and not unlikely to favour her designs, which she did, and neither Leonora, nor Conchini, discovered any thing of the intrigue; the first of these being but seldom with the Queen, and the last sitting down by his present fortune was not inquisitive into the affair. I have otherwhere said, that the Prince of Joynville, was a long time in Love with the Marchioness of Vernuielle, and now he becomes enamoured of Madam d'Villers, who was so subtle and knew so well how to persuade him, that she got from him the Letters the Marchioness had writ to him, during that Amour, in which she had fawned officiously upon him, and contemptuously treated both the King and the Queen, who upon the sight of them, (though she beheld them with the disdain they deserved) could not refrain from letting her know she was pleased, and persuaded her to show them to the King, At first she could not consent knowing the great credit of the Marchioness with the King, and fearing her spirit, but in the end is prevailed upon by the persuasions of the Queen. Whilst Madamoiselle d'Guise that introduced her to the Queen (not withstanding the vivacity of her Wit) could not discover at the first what should be the eause that she should be in so particular a grace with the Queen that carried it so coldly to all the rest of the World; being a thing (she thought) too intricate to salve. And indeed they industriously hide the matter from her, because it tended so much towards the disadvantage of her Brother. After the Train had been laid for some days, and contrived so well, that the ill, malicious Work, might be done with some security, and the plotted mischief effectually accomplished; Fire is to be given, and the Marchioness, if possible, to be blown up, taking then the King at an advantage, Madam d'Villars shows him, perhaps, what he was not willing to see, the aforesaid Testimonies of the Marchionesses Infidelity and Despite, and thus the softmouthed Siren accosted him; Royal Sir, The Obligations I am under to Your ●●●nty, and the Affection I always entertained for so excellent a Personage as yourself, would not suffer me any longer to conceal the Indignities offered You: You, who are, or aught to be, the Master of others, and not sure, their Scorn and Contempt, and one of the most deserving Men in the World.  
This good Prince, who easily admitted himself to be flattered, and gave no unwilling Ear when they insisted, especially, upon his merit, (which I suppose) the subtle Parasite well enough understood, thanked her for her Intelligence she had given him, and so unutterably stomaches the unworthy usage he has had, that he sends immediately one of his Confidents to Reproach the Marchioness with her unfaithfulness, protesting that she should never see his Face again.  
She was not at this time at her Lodgings in the Lovure, but in the Town, where she was much surprised with this News; but in the midst of this Disorder so well commanded herself, and conserved so much respect for the Person that sent it, that she replied after this manner, with much temper. As I have never done any thing yet, (I am assured) to offend the King, so I cannot divine the Reasons for which he should thus use me, and I hope the Truth coming to light, will sufficiently revenge me of those that have made these false Impressions upon him. And with this retired into her Closer, where she gave that scope to the excessive trouble upon her Spirits, which she thought was not discreet to do before them.  
In the mean time Bellgard having learned this Intrigue, gives notice of it to Madamoiselle d'Guise, who though she did not love the Prince, yet he foresaw the displeasure it would give to his Sister, if it should not be remedied, and therefore contrives a way, which was this.  
A Secretary of the Duke of Guise's counterfeiting in perfection all sorts of Hands, it is resolved that the Prince of Joynville, (amorous of Madam d'Villars as before) should affirm that the Secretary by his Art having got some Writings of the Marchionesses, imitated them so well, that the Prince himself and Madam d'Villars, with whom he was in Love, and who mortally hated the Marchioness, combined together by his skill, to counterfeit those Letters on purpose to undermine her, which the Marchioness understanding seconded so well, that she reingratiated herself with the King, and rendered him such reasons for the Credibility of this Assertion, that she totally proselited him to its Belief; and though his Prejudice at the first was not so easy to allay, yet at last he yielded himself vanquished; as much possibly by his own inclination to think well her, as by the smooth coercion of her Tongue.  
But the Prince of Joinville however (not withstanding the Subtlety of this evasion) is commanded away into Hungary; where the Turk was making War; Madam d'Villars to her House, and the Secretary to Prison; see hence the consequence of intermeddling, Madam d'Villars meets the due reward of her Actions, and is dismissed with shame to her House, and hath created to herself a great and powerful Enemy.  
During these bicker and hurleburlies, the Queen's hatred to the Marchioness was more conspicuous, for thinking her now to be almost ruin'd she doth her utmost to ruin her quite, and is daily huing at what she thinks is already declining, her Fortune, to which the ill offices still daily rendered her by the Marchioness, do more exasperate her, who is always pecking at the Favourites of the Queen, and the Queen on the other side detesting those that are her Creatures; but behold another occurrence.  
The King is advised of the Marchionesses keeping a Correspondence with Spain, and it went so far that she was Arrested for it, and the Earl of Auvergne her Brother; but since you have a farther relation of these Things amongst the Historians, I shall say no more but that Madam Villars and her Lover was again recalled upon it.  
It happened now at this time that the King became enamoured of a fair Lady whom he Married quickly after, the Countess of Estanges, and a little after this, another far more beautiful, whom he also Married to draw her from the place in which she was, agreeing with her Consort that Married her, that he should abandon her the same Night after the Ceremony was performed.  
In the mean time the Marchioness obtained the Royal Grace, being remitted from her Prison, to her House at Vernueil, the King was pleased with his new Mistress, and it was very calm Wether with the Court; the King also at this time Married Mademoiselle d'Guise to a Prince of the Blood Royal, with whom the Queen gave, what was neither beneath her own Quality to give or the others to receive.  
The King seeing again the Marchioness of Vernueil, had a great Inclination to her, yet kept it so secretly, that it was long before it came to the Queen's knowledge, but as soon as she knew it she was strangely troubled, and absolutely forbid all such Persons any access to her, that should at any time visit the Marchioness, under the pain of being driven from her presence; which the King took ill, but yet was forced to bare with it, a little after the King (a never failing Gallant) becomes Enamoured of the Duchess of Nevers, a Princess of great Virtue, that very much honoured his person, but had no great esteem for his passion. This season happened commodiously for the King's designs, for the King intending to christian the young Princes his Sons, had invited the Duchess of Mantove to be Godmother to the Eldest.  
This Princess was Sister to the Queen, and her Husband a near Relation to the Duke of Neverrs, insomuch that he obliged the Duchess of Nevers to stay longer than usual at the Court, (to give opportunity to the King to pursue his Amour) the King seeking all occasions to speak to her, whilst she on the other hand avoided it as much as possible, waving it to the very utmost limits of a due respect; in the end the Ceremonies being performed, the Duke and Duchess of Nevers without so much as bidding adieu retired themselves from the Court, the latter resolving never again to return; the Duke, being soon after employed as Envoy to Rome, went herself along with him thither, and obliged the King to dispossess himself of a fancy, that not only proved fruitless, but very troublesome to him; being not accustomed to the difficulties he found in this Amour. This Voyage endured above a Year; and the Duchess at her return came to do reverence to the Queen, the King being then with her. Upon which the King beholding her with a bended brow, let her know aloud that he thought she was extremely changed; but the Duchess taking no notice at all of it, continued still to deport herself in the same manner, and to spend the rest of her life, in all the modesty that could become, or was requisite in an excellent and virtuous Woman.  
The King by this was again reconciled to the Marchioness, d'Vernueil, which the Queen so impatiently bore, that notwithstanding all the endeavours of the Council to prevent them, and to show how disagreeable they was to Majesty, it fomented most extreme differences betwixt them: And now there happened a very surprising accident, that made much noise, and indeed was very strange, the King and Queen going to a house of theirs near Paris, on the other side the River Sein, they was obliged to pass it in the 
* The Ferry spoken of in which the King and Queen passed the River Sien, overturning, was the cause of a Bridge being soon after built over that River.  Ferry, the Coach with these two in it, accompanied only with the Princess de Conty, and the Duke of Montpensier, by some accident or other, was overturned before it came to the Shore; the King and Duke escaping very well, leaping soon enough out of the Coach; but the Ladies ran some hazard, and drank a little more than they desired, or rather the ambitious Element squenched its thirst a little too much upon the Ladies. Some few days after the King going to Visit the Marchioness of Vernueil, she condoles him for the unhappy chance, and tells him she was in great pain for him, but if she had been present, and had seen the King leaping safe out of the Coach, she should have had the civility to have said let the Queen drink, (a saying it seems used upon the Ceremony of choosing King and Queen, which she wittily made use of upon this occasion) which when the Queen came to hear, she flew out into so great and implacable a rage, that she was fifteen days without changing so much as one word with the King, so that Persons of great Figure and Quality was forced to interpose to qualify her Resentments; in the end the accord was made, and there must be a Ball to attest it, wherein the Queen resolved to give herself the pleasure of having a part. But it is unhappily interrupted, for the King insisting upon the reception of the Countess of Morett also into it, and the Queen opposing and refusing it, it made such a rapture betwixt them, that it broke off the Ball; (This Countess of Morett is the Lady that I before said, was quitted of her Husband.)  
Who was now loved by the Prince d'Joinville, whom she did not ill entertain, but the unhappiness is, it comes to the King's ear, who immediately going to her, upbraids her with Perfidiousness; who having nothing else to say in her own vindication, tells him that the Prince intended to marry her. The King with this returns with all the speed that a Jealous Fury could supply, and causes the Mother of this Prince to come before him, to whom he Complains, and threatens that the Prince, (who he said was too often guilty of such faults to be pardoned) should be rigorously punished; Telling her, that he expected on the pain of his severest displeasure, that he should perform what he had promised to the Countess, which was to marry her; and that though he could suffer that his Mistresses should be espoused, yet not that they should other ways be enjoyed, and that it was for the alone sake of the Mother (her self) that he Pardoned the Son. The Princess being in a station, she thought, above such Treatments from the King, answered with so much Indignation, and raised the King into so high a Paroxysm, that he sent his Guards immediately to seize him, and all the favour that could be obtained for him by his Friends was that he should relinquish the Realm never to return to it again, and he was not recalled again till the death of the King.  
The Duke of Montpensier a little before these things was dead, and the King, whose unfixed and wandering Appetite induced him still to the pursuit of new Mistresses, and to gratify himself in all Varieties of his Inclination, resolved to make Love to his Widow, wisely pensitating, that it would more become his Quality to Love, and be beloved of a Princess, than such that was of a meaner Extraction, and indeed no better than fair Impostors that did only banter and deceive him.  
And resolved to serve himself upon this occasion, of a Lord of his Court, equipped with all the possible Accomplishments of his Quality, (his Name was Count de Craimail, making known this design to him. He judged it a difficult thing to bring to effect, but however promiseth the King to tell her the news.  
The Neighbourhood of his House to that of the Duchess', and the excellency of his Address was the reason of the King's employing of him in this affair, which he resolved to undertake, if the Duchess would hearken, which yet he could not believe. He acted so well in the business that he prevailed with the Duchess to come to the Court, where the King soon discovered the impregnableness of her Virtue, and resolved no more to attempt it.  
The Duke of Guise, was now so much in Love with the Marchioness of Vernueil, that he promiseth to Marry her; and the Marchioness willing to make use of his Passion, either to inflame the King that began to neglect her, to a greater observance, or to oblige the Duke irrevertibly to his Promise, causes in the name of some other Persons (reserving that due respect to their Quality, not to do it in their own) the Bains to be published betwixt them. Which the King hearing of, was greatly enraged with them both, and especially with the Duke of Guise; But his Relations knowing him to be innocent, grew so clamorous upon the Marchioness, as the only Author of this action, on purpose to render him odious to the King, that it went no farther, the Duke only retiring to his Government till the rumour was a little ceased.  
The Queen having again taken up her design of making the Ball before hinted; amongst the Ladies that was engaged in it, the incomparable Madam of Montmorency, was one; a Lady so young, that she had but just as it were left to be Child, and so Beautiful, that she was miraculous, and in her actions so agreeable, that she was a Marvel throughout, insomuch that the King seeing her dance with a Dart in her Hand, representing one of the Nymphs of Diana, found his Heart so throughly pierced with it, that the wound accompanied him to his Grave.  
It would fill a Volume should I recount all the Accidents of this Amour, from which at last the Royal Lover ravished by Death, left such Subjects behind him, as could not so properly be said to Love, as Adore him.  
FINIS.