EXAMPLE.

Margaret of Foixe Dutchess of Espernon.

IT is no new thing to hear me Discourse of the bad Intelligence which is between Friendship and Fortune It hath always been believed that Greatness was too much Interessed, and Propriatory, to love real∣ly; and that it had a certain Pride and Rigour, which left no room for Tenderness and soft Passions. It hath been said, that Love and Majesty never dwell together: That it rather affects a mean and quiet Condition, then an elevation exposed to Winds and Tempests. And they that have resembled it to a Bird, have not made it flie with Eagles, nor placed it up∣on the top of Cedars, and the summet of Mountains. They have rank∣ed it amongst Bees, which are Armed, and live like it, of the quintiscence of •owers, and of the pure Spirit of the Planets. They have lodgd it amongst Rose Trees, where there is Fire and Thorns like its own. But whatever hath hitherto been believed or said, Friendship and Vertue are not equally at variance with all great Fortunes: There are Grandeurs very Affectionate and wel-Natured, as well as Rude and Intractable. And if the Lizard, which walks only upon his hands, as Solomon saith, be so bold as to ascend even to the Palaces of Kings, and to dwell with them as their Domestique: We must not believe that Love, which is Nobly Descended, and to whom so excellent wings are given, is only born for Cottages. There are no Houses shut against it: And it shall appear by this Example, into what House soever Vertue introduceth it, there is no Greatness which gives not place to it, nor any Interest which obeys it not.

The Fort•ne of the deceased Duke of Esper•on hath been long admir'd throughout all France: It was likewise Extraordinary and Wonderful; and there was not only colour in the pieces which composed it, but also Force and Solidity; they were all great and Illustrious. In my Judgement nevertheless the decealed Lady his Wife, was the greatest and most Illustri∣ous of all those pieces; nay, the strongest and most solid, though it lasted not so long as the rest This great Lady possessed in an eminent degree all the Qualities which may conduce to the glory of a Family, and the happiness of a Husband. Her Nobility was of the first rank: And I know not whether in all Europe there were any Soveraign Title or Crown wherein she had not a share. But there is a Nobility which is proud and insolent; yet hers was Modest and Civil: The Titles of her House did not puff up her Mind And the Crowns of her Allies and Predecessors made her not receive others with scorn. To this Nobleness of Blood was added the Nobleness of her Countenance, and that Soveraignty of Natural Right and Ancient Descent, which begets Majesty in Beautiful Persons; but she was not of those fair Ones who erect their Soveraignty into Liberty and Tyran∣ny: Hers still remained within the limits of a lowly and exemplar So∣briety. Detraction, which is so bold in lying, and findes out stains in the most Beautiful Planets, had not one word to say against her.

Page  115 Nevertheless, her Vertue was no sullen Vertue; she was none of those curst ones, who have not a drop of good nature; who know onely how to scratch and bite: She was naturally milde, and cultivated by study▪ and the Graces had so well tempered what might perchance have been o∣ver tart in her, as she gave content even where she was severe.

But all these rare qualities do not concern the subject we now treat of: my Question is about Conjugal Love: and the deceased Dutchess of Espernon hath given an Example thereof, which equals the force of ancient Models There are even in these days Illustrious, and Remarkable witnes∣ses, which speak not of it but in terms of Praise. But what ever they say of her Esteem, and respects of her Obedience and Cares; of her good Of∣fices and Complacences; though they speak nothing thereof which is not Great and Exemplar, yet it leaves not so high an Idea of this Love, as the action of Angou••••.

In that General Revolution which happened at Court in the year 1588. The Heads of the Leag•t raised all their Engines against the Duke of Esper∣n••; and used both openly and privately, all sorts of endeavours to destroy him. However, he was not shaken; so that these Engines did onely as∣sault the favour and good will of his Prince. But as soon as Calumny took hold of his Fidelity, and that he was accused for holding intelligence with the King of N•varre, his good Master, who till then had defended his own benefits, and interpos'd between his Work and those envious Per∣sons who designed his ruin; withdrew his Protection, and consented to the Plot which was laid to seiz on him in Ango•leme.

The enemies which he had in the Cabinet Councel, entended the Kings consent even to his destruction: And Orders were sent from the Court to the Magistrates of Ango•leme, to bring him alive or dead: The execution of this dangerous Plot was defer'd till the tenth of August, and that day the Magistrate, who was not ignorant how hard a chase he had to follow pre∣sented himself with two hundred selected and armed men to seiz on the Duke at the hour he should go forth to hear Mass. I know not whether one ought to believe what is spoken of his good Fortune: but indeed I have heard say, That she was more diligent about him, then the most dili∣gent of his Guards: And that his enemies never laid any s•ares to catch him, which she did not break asunder; that they never prepared a Pitfall for him, over which she laid not a Plank. However it were, it is certain, there had been an end of him that day, if she had not caused dispatches to arrive to him, which busied him very happily all the morning, and divert∣ed him from going forth to expose himself to death, which was prepared for him.

The occasion passing over with the morning, the Conductors of the Enterprize resolved to begin by the seisure of a rich pawn; and to secure the Dukes Person, by laying hold on the good Lady, his Wife, who was at Mass. Mean while, one of the Magistrates, accompanied with twelve re∣solute and stout men, entered the Castle: Their Arms were hid under their Cloaks; but their bad Intention being easie to be discovered by their Page  116 ill looks, one of his Guards had some distrust of them, and ran to shut the Gate against those that followed to second them: the party began hotly to discharge their Pistols before the Dukes Chamber: some of his friends overpowred with number, were slain in the place: but his Domesticks and Guards hasting to the noise, and he himself appearing with a Sword in his hand, the end of the Pray proved as unhappy for the Assailants, as the beginning. The Magistrate, and one of the boldest amongst his Troop, made Payment for the attempt, with their persons; and the rest who were not resolved to lose so much, rendred up their Arms, and abandoned the party.

This first Troop being defeated, the Duke was not for all that out of danger. He was enforced to defend the two Gates of the Castle against fire and the Pe•ard; and then to repulse those who began to Scale it. His great∣est danger, nevertheless, was in the Church, where furiously entred an armed, and incensed multitude, which seized on the Dutchess. Her quality and Sex deserved at least some respect: but qualities are not distinguished in a Tumult; and no Sex is Priviledged against Fury. Of two Gentlemen that led her, one was killed at her feet, and the other being dangerously wounded, was in little better condition. This Barbarous Act did not af∣fright her: the bloud which sprinkled her Gown, and Death it self, which passed over her, wrought no change in her Countenance. Her soul was al∣waies Erect, and Elevated above danger; She conserved even the comliness of her gesture, and the dignity of her looks, even words of Authority, and tone of Command: and whereas another less Couragious Woman, might have submitted to Insolency, and have flattered Fury▪ She treated them with Command, like a Mistress, astonishing Audacity it self by her Constancy.

They advertise her that she was Arrested for her Husband; and that if she had a mind to live, and preserve Him, she must consider of disposing him to remit his Person and Cittadel into the hands of the Magistrate.

At this Declaration, which was made to her with threats, and a dagger at her throat, she answered,

She made large promises; she found her self also as well disposed to make good what she promised; and her Constancy being put to the Test, was found as great and vigorous as her words. I learned from an Illustri∣ous Person, and who hath narrowly looked into the affairs of that time, Page  117 that she was brought before the Castle; and that they might there take the Husband by the fear and danger of the Wife, the same Propositions were renewed to her, with the same Threats and Violencies.

The Couragious Woman reduced to this Extremity, considered nothing but the danger of her husband; and had no fear, but of his Affection and Tenderness. She was not ignorant that all his weakness lay on that side: and that there was no place so strong, which would not be hard for him to defend against her tears: She also cryed out unto him, the better to fortifie this weak part:

She pronounced these words with so Graceful a Confidence, and so Noble and Generous a Tone, as it clearly appeared, that at this instant her heart ascended to her mouth to express it self by its own Language. This e∣minent Vertue dazel'd the furious Souldiers, who environed her, and made their Weapons fall out of their hands. The Duke was relieved by his frinds, who came thither from Xaintes, and Ca•gnae: And the Capitulation being concluded between him and the Inhabitants, the Dutchess, impatient to see him again, could not expect till the Castle Gate was cleared, but com∣manded a Ladder whereby to enter at the window. Certainly after so Il∣lustrious and Glorious a Victory, it had been fit the Gate should have been thrown down before her, and that she should have entred the Castle in Triumph, and by a Breach.