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through the college. He is allwayes gratefully acknowledging your fatherly kindneffe to him; and very willing, to his poore power, to do all things which may continue it. I have no more to add, but only with the eldeft may alfo deferve fome part of your good opinion, for I believe him to be of vertuous and pious inclinations; and for both, I dare affure you, that they can promise to themselves no farther thare of my indulgence then while they carry themfelves with that reverence to you, and that honefty to all others, as becomes them. I am, honourd Sir, your most obedient fervant and fcholar, JOHN DRYDEN.

SIR,

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ing, I hope, will inable him to brush punishment, for that is, and ought to be, referved to any mafter, much more to you who have been his father's *. But your man was certainly to blame to name him onely; and 'tis onely my refpect to you that I do not take notice of it to him. My first rash refolutions were, to have brought things. paft any compofure, by immediately fending for my fonn's things out of the college; but upon recollection, I find I have a double tye upon me not to do it: one, my obligations to you for my education; another, my great tenderneffe of doeing any thing offenfive to my Lord Bishop of Rocheftert, as cheife governour of the college.. It does not confist with the honour I beare him and you to go fo precipitately to worke; no, not fo much as to have any difference with you, if it can poffibly be avoyded. Yet, as my foun ftands now, I cannot fee with what credit he can be elected; for, being but fixth, and (as you are pleafed to judge) not deferving that nei ther, I know not whether he may not: go immediately to Cambridge, as well as one of his own election went to Oxford this yeare by your confent. I will fay nothing of my fecond fonn but that, after you had been pleafed to advise me to waite on my Lord Bifhop for his favour, I found he might have had the first place if you had not oppofed it; and I likewise found at the election, that, by the pains you had taken with him, he in fome fort deferved it. I hope, Sir, when you have given yourselfe the trouble to read thus farr, you, who are a prudent man, will confider, that none complaine, but they defire to be reconciled at the fame time; there is no mild expoftulation at least, which does not intimate a kindness and refpect in him who makes it. Be plea

IF I could have found in myfelfe a I temper to up fitting temper to have waited up on you, I had done it the day you difmiffed my fonn from the college; for he did the meffage, and, by what I find from Mr Meredith, as it was delivered by you to him; namely, that you defired to fee me, and had fomewhat to fay to me concerning him. I obferved likewise fomewhat of kindneffe in it, that you fent him away that you might not have occafion to correct him. I examin'd the bufinefs, and found it concern'd his haveing been Cuftos foure or five dayes together. But if he admonished, and was not believed because other boyes combined to difcredit him with falfe witneffeing, and to fave themselves: perhaps his crime is not fo great. Another fault it feems he made, which was going into one Hawkes his house, with fome others; which you hapning to fee, fent your fervant to know who they were, and he only returned you my fonn's name: fo the reft efcaped. I have no fault to find with my fonn's

fed,

Our Poet, John, was elected from Weftminfter-school to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1650; his coufin, Jonathan, in 1656. Of the "two fons" mentioned in this letter, Charles, admitted to the fchool in 1630, went off to Chrift Church in 1683; John, admitted in 1682, to Trin. Coll. in 1685. J. N.

† Dr John Dolben.

fed, if there be no merit on my fide, to make it your own act of grace to be what you were formerly to my fonn. I have done fomething, fo farr to conquer my own spirit as to afk it: and, indeed, I know not with what face to go to my Lord Bishop, and to tell him I am taking away both my fonns; for though I fhall tell him no occafion, it will look like a difrespect to my old Mafter, of which I will not

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Marriage of the Duke

IT is unnecellary here to enter into the hiftory of the family of the Duke of Guife, the particulars of which are fo well known. Charles de Lorraine, the eldeft fon of Henry the celebrated Duke of Guife, who was affaffinated in the caftle of Blois, by the order of Henry the Third of France, was made prifoner on the fame day, and confined in the caftle of Tours; from whence he efcaped in Auguft 1591, and rejoined the faction called the League, whofe violence had fo long defolated France; and who, after the death of Henry the Third, opposed that excellent monarch and amiable man Henry the Fourth. When this league was broken, by his having become "the conqueror of his own," he generoufly for gave, and even took into his favour the Duke of Maine, who had been its leader; whofe nephew, the young Duke of Guife, was received at court at the fame time, and entruffed with the government of Provence. After the affaffination of Henry the Great, the Duke of Guife ftill held fome places of truft under his fon Louis the Thirteenth; but the houfe of Guife was fo much the object of envy and fufpicion, on account of its former power, and the illuftrious men it had produced, that care was taken not to ralfe it again too high by honours and emoluments: and at length, Cardinal Richelieu grew fo diflatisfied with the Duke of Guife, that he obliged him to quit France. He retired to Florence, and died in the Sienois in 1640, leaving feveral children by his wife Henrietta Catharine de Joyeufe, only daughter of Henry de Joycufe, Marechal of France, and widow of Henry de Bourbon, Duke de Montpenfier. His fon, Henry de Lorraine, born in 1514, became (by the death of his elVOL. VII. NO $9.

of Guise. A true Story..

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deft brother) Duke of Guife. He feemed to inherit the fpirit, as well as the perfonal perfections of his grandfather, the lebrated Duke of Guife. His figure and his exploits, which were thofe of an hero of romance, made him very acceptable to the ladies; while his inconftancy and perfidy punifhed many of them for their partiality. He had been originally defign➡ ed for the church, and poffeffed, by a fort of ecclefiaftical fucceffion peculiar to the houfe of Guife, the archbishopric of Rheims, and fome of the richest abbies in the kingdom; though he had never taken any degree or vow, to qualify himfelf for thofe dignities. His first attach ment was to Anne d'Mantoue, who was his relation, and who was afterwards married to the Palatine of the Rhine. Capdinal de Richelieu, who forefaw that a marriage between this lady and the Duke of Guife would be prejudicial to the interefts of France, divided them, by putting her into a convent, from whence, howe ver, the efcaped, and when the Duke of Guife joined the party of the Count de Soiffons (which party, under pretence of delivering the kingdom from the adminiftration of the Cardinal, covered more dangerous projects) the found means to follow him, in man's apparel, and overtook him at Cologne. But the Duke, either really apprehenfive for her fafety, or perhaps cured of his love by the rath fondness of his miftrefs, refused to let her continue with him, and infifted on her returning to Paris; under pretence that his tendernefs would not allow him to let her hazard her perfon among the da gers and inconveniences to which the fervice he was upon expofed him..

The Duke now entered with his ufual impetuofity into the confpiracy, which

took

took a very alarming form, and was fanc tioned by the fpecious name of "The League formed to preferve the peace of Christendom." As Archbishop of Rheims, he was the firft fpiritual peer, and as Duke of Guife, the moft ancient temporal peer of France; but these ties he broke through, and was declared General of the armies of the League.

The King profecuted him for rebellion; and by an arret he was declared guilty of treafon, fentenced to be beheaded, and his effects confiscated; which fentence was executed on him in effigy a few days afterwards, and all his property feized by the Crown.

The Duke went to Brussels, where he took upon him the command of the troops, which were fent thither by the Emperor and the King of Spain. There he found his aunt, the Dutchess of Chevreufe, who had been obliged to quit France for her intrigues againft Cardinal Richelieu; and at her houfe he became acquainted with the Countefs de Boffu, a young and beautiful widow, whofe vivacity and per Tonal attractions were more than fufficient to inflame a heart fo fufceptible of the power of beauty as was that of the Duke of Guife.

The anecdotes of that time give an account of their acquaintance and its confequence; which is perhaps fomewhat heightened by the lively imagination of the writers, who, to bring truth nearer 'to romance, have embellished it with their own colouring. However, as there are no other accounts of the commencement of this connection, it must be re'lated in their manner.

The Duke of Guife baving often feen the Countefs of Boffu at the house of the Dutchefs of Chevreufe, was equally charmed by her beauty, and amufed with her vivacity. The lady, on her part, thought fuch a conqueft as that of the handsomest and most accomplished man in Europe, deferved all her attention, and that he might forgive herself even fome unufual advances to fecure it. Thefe, however, the conducted with fo much art, that the Duke grew every day more in love; and when Madame de Beffu thought he was enough fo to refuse her nothing, the fpoke to him of marriage; to which the Duke anfwered, that he defired nothing fo much as to unite his deftiny with hers:but if Madame de Boffu had known more of his real character, she might have perceived, that he would not thus readily have entered into engagements, had he thought them

binding; and that he only wifhed to a mufe himself during his exile. She knew enough to doubt the performance of his promife; but, flattered by the hope of feeing in her fetters him for whom fo many vainly fighed, the pretended to be the dupe of his ready profeffion, while the in fact meditated how to make him hers. With this view, as it was now the fineft part of the year, the made a party to go to a beautiful feat she had, a league from Bruffels, where the contrived to amuse the Duke for fome days, with every thing the thought agreeable to him, The Duke, fiattered by her attention, fpoke to her more paffionately than he had yet done; to which the Countess anfwered, that if he was fmcere in his profeffions, if his love was as great as he pretended, he would haften the completion of their marriage. The Duke protefted that there was nothing he fo ardently defired as to be united for ever with fo amiable a perfon. Madame de Boffu, who was in hopes the fhould bring him to that declaration, then told him, he might immediately convince her of his veracity, and fecure the happiness he feemed fo much to defire, for that the had a prieft and a notary ready, who would inftantly perform the ceremonies. The Duke, who certainly did not believe a marriage under fuch circumftances would be binding to him, confented with as much apparent fatisfaction as if he had been fincere. Manfelle, the almoner of the army, was called in, who gave them a difpenfation, for want of the proper banns, and then the nuptial benediction. The next day the Duke returned to Bruffels, leaving the Countefs de Bollu extremely happy, at being, as the imagined, Dutchefs of Guife, and wife to the moft charming man of the age.

Whatever care had been taken to keep this transaction fecret, it became in a few weeks the converfation of Bruffels; the Duke d'Elbeuf, and the Dutchefs de Chevreufe, both spoke to the Duke upon it in a ftyle of feverity he was by o means difpofed to bear. His refpect for his aunt, Madame d'Chevreuse, made him liften to her reproaches with fome appearance of patience; but his fiery temper could ill brook the remonftrances of the Duke d'Elbeuf, whom he anfwered in terms fo full of rage and indignation, that a challenge paffed between them; and they were prevented fighting only by the interpofition of the Archduke..

Extremely irritated to think that any one should dare to pry into and blame

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had

his actions, he determined to fhew how little he confidered their disapprobation, by bringing Madame de Boffu home to his houfe, and owning her as his wife; which at firft he meant not to do, and had even prevailed on her to conceal their marriage, by reprefenting to her that it would be neceflary for him to try to reconcile his family to the match, before he acknowledged it. The author of the life of Sylvia de Moliere, relates the means by which the marriage first be came publickly known; but there feems to be much of fiction in the account, and it was probably fabricated by the romancewriters of the day. It afferts, that the Duke of Guife and the Countess of Bof fu felt towards each other that kind of fympathy, which informed each of the prefence or approach of the other, when they had no other means of knowing it; and that this fingular prefentiment betrayed their connection, on the following occafion. The Count de **** long been in love with Madame de Boffu, and pursued her wherever she went, with an ardour which her coldnefs and even rudeness to him could not diminish. The Duke of Guife, whofe fuperior merit did not preferve him from jealoufy, faw thefe affiduities continued towards his wife with uneafinefs; and he determined to know whether his abfence would make any change in the behaviour of Madame de Boffu towards her importunate admirer. Great rejoicings were about this time made at Bruffels, for the birth of a prince of Spain; and, among other entertainments, there was to be a grand ball at the Countefs of Santacroix's: feveral noblemen purposed to go thither masked, and dreffed in fantaftic habits; but the Duke of Guife, affecting great concern that he could not be of the party, took leave of his friends, and of Madame de Boffu, and went out of town, faying, he had affairs which would detain him three or four days. As foon, however, as night came he returned, and, having with great fecrecy provided himself with an Indian habit, he mingled, without being remarked, with the party in marks, and entered the ball-room; he there beheld Madame de Boffu, with the Count fitting by her, as ufual; but he had no time to make any remarks on her behaviour, for he had not been many minutes near her, before Madame de Boffu felt the emotion she always experienced on the approach of her husband, and trufting rather to a fenfation that had never deceived her, than to all he had told her

of his journey, the arose to seek him a mong the difguifed noblemen, and im mediately knew him, though he had taken the utmost pains to alter his appear ance: the tranfports they mutually dif covered, and which they found it impof fible to ftifle, divulged the fecret of their marriage. I have feen," fays the au thor of this narration," an original let ter of the Duke of Guife, upon this extraordinary inftance of the fympathy be tween him and his wife; it was one of the most charming and interefting letters I ever read: he even complained of the excefs of his happiness," foreseeing, per haps, that it was too great to laft. In fact, a very few months afterwards he made his peace with the King, and returned to France; and tho' he for fome time continued to write to Madame de Boffu, he engaged in other attachments and at length thought of her no more, unless it was to contrive means to break the ties which bound them to each other.

At first, the unfortunate Madame de Boffu flattered herself, from the frequency and tenor of the letters the received from the Duke, that she should share with him in his profperity, as he had done his adverfity; during which she had advanced many fums of money for him, and extremely distressed herself. The Dutchefs Dowager of Guife, who had other views for ber fon, used every artificè to prevent her being received in France. But Madame de Boffu, fearless of the danger the incurred, determined at all events to fee her husband, trufting that all his former tenderness would return when he beheld her: fhe was particularly induced to hope this from a letter fhe had received, in which he protefted to her, that he was incapable of infidelity; that his honour and his con fcience, as well as his inclination, attached him to her and he only lamented, that the contagion of his misfortunes had reached her, whom he loved more than life; but fhe might affure herself, death only fhould feparate them. Her courage was ftrengthened by a letter fo flattering to her hopes: fhe determined to difguife herfelf, and fet out for France; and, travelling with equal expedition and fecrecy, the threw herfelf into his arms, before he knew she was on her journey. He received her with kindness; but his mother was no fooner apprized of her arrival, than fhe went to the Queen, from whom the obtained an order for Madame de Boffu to quit the dominions of France inftantly. This order was fig Ffa

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nified to her, and enforced by the remonftrance of the Duke of Guife; who told her, that all his endeavours and intreaties would be ineffectual to prefervé her from infult, and even from perfonal danger, if he did not comply with it. Under fuch circumftances the unfortu nate Countess was obliged to fabinit, and returned broken-hearted to her mo ther. The Duke, giving himfelf up to intrigue, and to the warmth of his ungovernable temper, foon after got into a quarrel with the Count de Coligni: they fought in the midft of the Court, and the Duke of Guife dangerously wounded and difarmed his antagonist. His mother was perpetually apprehenfive for his fafety, which he continually hazarded; fie dreaded left the old animofity fhould be renewed between him and the houfe of Condé, with whom the house of Guife had long been at variance; a renewal of which, the forefaw, would be attended' with the most fatal events: fhe was, therefore, very defirous that the Duke fhould marry Mademoiselle de Longueville, niece to the great Condé. But the Duke had fallen in love with Mademoifelle de Pons; and as this new attachment was, if poffible, more violent than any he had yet felt, he positively refused to liften to any overtures in regard to Mademoifelle de Longueville. As he determined to marry Mademoiselle de Pons, it became neceffary for him to inquire how far his marriage with the Courtefs de Boffu might prevent the completion of his wishes; and he found, that it would raife fuch impediments to his defigns, as he fhould find it extremely difficult to obviate this confideration, and the trouble he received from the Attorney-general (who profecuted him for his offence againft law and order, by fighting publicly with the Count de Coligni), determined him to go himself to Rome; where he hoped to obtain the diffolution of his engagements with Madame de Beffu. At this time the civil war of Naples, occafioned by the heavy impofts laid on the people, broke out; Mazzienello, who was the leader of the tumult, being deftroyed, the rebels had recourfe to the Duke of Guife, who, by his defcent, had a fort of claim to the kingdom of Naples. The Duke no fooner received the propofal of becoming their General, than with his ufual impetuofity he accepted it; and, making his way through the fleet commanded by Den John of Auftria, he arrived at Naples, and became Generaliffimo of the rebel

army. It is unneceffary here to relate the various events that occurred while he continued on this command. The charms of Mademoiselle de Pons, which had induced him to go to Rome, in hopes of being allowed to marry her, were foon forgotten, amid the attractions of the Neapolitan beauties: but his generalgallantries among the loweft of the people, and his attachment to the daughter of a tailor in particular, disgusted those who had at first beheld him with admiration and refpect; and at length his ufual rashnets made him commit an indifcretion, which put the town into the hands of the Spaniards. He had then recourfe to flight; but was pursued, taken, and fent prifoner to Spain.

While this was paffing, the unfortunate Countefs of Boffu was fued by the Duke's creditors; and her effects, as well as the dower the poffefied from her first husband, feized to fatisfy their de mands. Notwithstanding which, and all his neglect and cruelty, the no fooner heard of his imprisonment, than the quitted the houfe of her mother, with whom the was obliged to refide, and went into France, meaning to pafs from thence into Spain, to folicit his release, or fhare his confinement. Her friends, however, reprefented to her, that her journey would be abfolutely fruitless; and prevailed upon her to return into Flanders. By the interpofition of the great Condé, who then ferved the King of Spain against his native country, the Duke was foon after released: the Spanifh court, indeed, gave him his liberty the more willingly, as they hoped that his turbulent and reftlefs fpirit would create new troubles in France. was no fooner at liberty, than he dif claimed all obligations to the Prince of Condé, and complained loudly of the treatment he had received at Madrid. The rafhnefs of his character feemed to have gained ftrength by his confinement; his politics and his love affumed a more violent caft; the paffion he had felt for Mademoifelle de Pons, feemed to return with more ardour than ever; and he determined to make her his, at whatever price. But when he learned, too certainly, that during his abfence the had received as a favoured lover Monfieur de Malicorne, a private gentleman, rage and indignation ftified all the emotions of tendernels he had felt for her; he treated her with rudeness and infult, and infifted on her returning a pair of earrings, valued at a thousand crowns, which he

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