ng at the
trouble of putting any constraint upon herself.

"The King did not long survive the Prince his son; he died two years
after; he recommended to the Dauphin to make use of the Cardinal de
Tournon and the Admiral d'Annebault, but said nothing at all of the
Constable, who was then in banishment at Chantilli. Nevertheless the
first thing the King his son did was to recall him, and make him his
Prime Minister.

"Madam d'Etampes was discarded, and received all the ill treatment she
could possibly expect from an enemy so very powerful; the Duchess of
Valentinois amply revenged herself both of that lady, and all those who
had disobliged her; she seemed to reign more absolute in the King's
heart than she did even when he was Dauphin. During the twelve years'
reign of this Prince she has been absolute in everything; she disposes
of all governments and offices of trust and power; she has disgraced
the Cardinal de Tournon, the Chancellor, and Villeroy; those who have
endeavoured to open the King's mind with respect to her conduct, have
been undone in the attempt; the Count de Taix, great Master of the
Ordnance, who had no kindness for her, could not forbear speaking of
her gallantries, and particularly of that with the Count de Brissac, of
whom the King was already very jealous. Nevertheless she contrived
things so well, that the Count de Taix was disgraced, and his
employment taken from him; and what is almost incredible, she procured
it to be given to the Count de Brissac, and afterwards made him a
Mareschal of France. Notwithstanding, the King's jealousy increased to
such a height, that lie could no longer suffer him to continue at
Court: this passion of jealousy, which is fierce and violent in other
men, is gentle and moderate in him through the great respect he has for
his mistress, and therefore he did not go about to remove his rival,
but under the pretext of giving him the Government of Piemont. He has
lived there several years; last winter he returned to Paris, under
pretence of demanding troops and other necessaries for the Army he
commands; the desire of seeing the Duchess of Valentinois again, and
the fear of being forgotten by her, was perhaps the principal motive of
this journey. The King received him very coldly; Messieurs de Guise,
who have no kindness for him, but dare not show it on account of the
Duchess, made use of Monsieur the Viscount, her declared enemy, to
prevent his obtaining what he came