a at an end with you and I. And that being so, and so publick, he did not see why you should be offended at my loving any body. This it was a thing so common now-a-days to have a gallantry, that he did not wonder at any thing of this nature. And when he saw the king take the thing thus, he told him if he would not be severe with the chevalier de Chatilion upon your account he supposed he would be so upon his own; for that in the letters he had discovered, he found that the chevalier had proposed to me the engaging of you in the marriage of the Dauphin and Madamoiselle a: and that was my greatest business into England ". That before I went over I had spoke to him of the thing, and would have engaged him in it; but that he refused it: for that he knew very well the indifference you had whether it was so or no, and how little you cared how Madamoiselle was married: that since I went into England it was possible I might engage somebody or other in this matter to press it to you; but that he knew very well, that in your heart you cared not whether it was or no, that this business setting on foot by the chevalier. Upon which the king told him, that if he would shew him any letters of the chevalier de Chatilion to that purpose, he should then know what he had to say to him; but that till he saw those letters, he would not punish him without a proof for what he did. Upon which the ambassador shewed a letter, which he pretended one part of it was a double entendre. The king said he could not see that there was any thing relating to it, and so left him, and said to a person there, sure the ambas a Madamoiselle was the daughter of Philip duke of Orleans, and Henrietta sister of king Charles II. b This was Mountague's own proposal, made to the king in his letter to him of Jan. 10th, 1677-8, preserved in the Danby Papers, p. 48. me. sador was the worst man that ever was; for because my lady Cleveland will not love him, he strives to ruin her the basest in the world; and would have me to sacrifice the chevalier de Chatilion to his revenge; which I shall not do till I see better proofs of his having meddled in the marriage of the Dauphin and Madamoiselle than any yet the ambassador has shewed This methinks is what you cannot but be offend- ́ ed at, and I hope you will be offended with him for his holle proceeding to me, and let the world see you will never countenance the actions of so base and ill a man. I had forgot to tell you that he told the king of France, that many people had reported, that he had made love to me; but that there was nothing of it; for that he had too much respect for you to think of any such thing. As for my lady Sussex, I hope you will think fit to send for her over, for she is now mightily discoursed of for the ambassador. If you will not believe me in this, make enquiry into the thing, and you will find it to be true. I have desired Mr. Kemble to give you this letter, and to discourse with you at large upon this matter, to know your resolution, and whether I may expect that justice and goodness from you which all the world does. I promise you that for my conduct, it shall be such, as that you nor nobody shall have occasion to blame me. And I hope you will be which was at my house just to what you said to me, when you told me you had letters of mine; you said, Madam, all that I ask of you for your own sake is, live so for the future as to make the least noise you can, and I care not who you love. Oh! this noise that is had never been, had it not been for the ambassadors malice. I cannot forbear once again saying, I hope you will not gratify his malice in my ruin. (N. B. Ann Palmer, natural daughter by adoption of King Charles II. by Barbara duchess of Cleveland, was married to Thomas Lennard lord Dacres, created earl of Suffolk by king Charles II. History of the Royal Family, p. 256. 8vo. London, 1713;-and Wood's Fasti, vol. II. c. 154.) END OF VOL. V. G. WOODFALL, Printer, Angel Court, Skinner Street, London. |