were affembled, in prefence of whom each of the parties, after a cordial embrace, folemnly promised, that he would never do any thing which might give the least offence to the other. Some days after this reconciliation Boutteville, who was probably fincere, having repaired to Nancy, received no less than eight different letters from Beuvron, in which he informed him that being too prudent to go and meet him in Lorraine, he begged he would be fo obliging as approach Paris. Des Chapelles wrote alfo to Beuvron, " you make a great deal of noise, Sir, giving out every where, that you intend to fight; but this I fhall never believe till I fee you in action."

The Archduchefs, in the mean time, had requefted letters of remiffion for Boutteville; but the King declared that he could not in confcience grant them, and that all he had in his power to do to oblige his aunt, was not to give orders for his being arrested, unless he returned to court or to Paris.

When Boutteville was informed of his refusal, he faid, he would fight in Paris, and even in the Place Royale, and having pofted thither with all fpeed, fent word to Beuvron, that he was ready to give him fatisfaction, at nine in the evening, they

repaired

repaired to the Place Royale where Beuvron faid to Boutteville, "Let us now fettle our quarrel, without putting our friends to pain."" By no means," replied Boutteville, "I with the fun to be witness to our actions. Befides I am under a particular engagement with two friends, who wifh to be of the party, and were I to fail I fhould be obliged to give them fatisfaction alfo: Des Chapelles is one of them and la Berthe the other. For this reafon, let us meet here to morrow about three in the afternoon, and do you, Sir, endeavour to bring with you two friends."

f

When Beuvron quitted his antagonist, he ran to St. Martin's in the Fields to Prefident de Mefines, in order to speak with the Marquis d' Amboife, fon-in-law of that magiftrate, whom he found ill, and very weak through lofs of blood. What a misfortune, "faid Beuvron! the opportunity you fo much wifhed for is now arrived. Boutteville expects me to-morrow with two friends. The Count des Chapelles, whom you are defirous of feeing with his fword in his hand, is one of them, but weakened as you are you must not think of it." "Not think of it," cried d' Amboife!" were I certain of expiring the next moment I would be of the party."

Next morning the combatants met and after each of them had been examined by a gentleman to fee that none of them had private armour, each took his adversary. Boutteville attacked Beuvron; des Chapelles, Buffy-d'Amboife; la Berthe, Buquet, and the combat began with fwords and poignards, Boutteville and Beuvron rushing forward and feizing one another by the collar, threw their fwords on the ground, and held their poignard's elevated without ftriking. At length, Boutteville, as they say, first proposed to put an end to the combat, and they reciprocally begged their lives from one another. Buffy-d'Amboife, however, was not fo fortunate; des Chapelles gave him a mortal wound in the breast, and la Berthe was also wounded dangerously by the fquire of Beuvron.

A duel fo public, and of which thousands had been spectators, having foon reached the ears of the king, Louis XIII. an order was fent to the Grand Prevot, to feize Boutteville and des Chapelles, but they had betaken themselves to flight, as well as Beuvron and Buquet, who retired to England.

The two former, lefs prudent, or lefs diligent, were arrested at Vitry-le Brude, conducted on foot as far as Vitry-le-Francois, and there put into an apartment

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apartment closely guarded, where they past seven days, during which they appeared to be very quiet, and amused themselves in playing at piquet.

When they arrived at Paris, and were fhut up in the Baftile, commiffaries were appointed to interrogate them. Boutteville confeffed every thing ingenuously, but des Chapelles did not fhew the fame candour.

Madam de Boutteville, alarmed for the fate of her husband, threw herfelf at the King's feet, in order to folicit for his pardon. The Prince and Princefs of Conde, the Duke and Dutchefs of Montmorency, the Duke and Dutchefs of Angouleme, Cardinal de la Valette, and the Count d'Alais, all endeavoured to fecond her petition, and to excite the Monarch's pity; but without effect. His Majefty remained inflexible, and the parliament received orders to bring the two criminals to trial.

The Bishop of Nantz, who had liberty to see them, attended them regularly, and prepared them for death. "Madam," faid the Count de Boutteville to the lady of the Prefident de Mesmes in a letter which he wrote to her, "Were I not truly fenfible of the crime I have committed

against

against God, and the wrong which I have done to you, I fhould not have taken the liberty to request you to do the greatest act of piety which can proceed from a generous and chriftian mind, which is, Madam, to forgive me, for having torn from you, your dear and only child, not by hatred, or a defire of revenge, having never had any cause but to esteem him, but through a vain and falfe idea of worldly honour, which I must confefs, is contrary to the law of God, and likewife natural reafon. Be satisfied with my blood, which I fhall shed for the expiation of my crime; I hope divine juftice will be fo, and that you will not call for the vengeance of Heaven against me, while by my prayers, I endeavour to repair the injury you have received from an unhappy wretch, who dies Madam, your's, &c."

At the fame time he fent the following letter to Madam de Boutteville.

"The Bishop of Nantz, will tell you my dear wife, in what difpofition of mind I am about to quit the world, and I flatter myself, that it will afford you fome confolation for the lofs which you must fuftain. You will confider with him, what may be beft for the fafety of my foul, and take care to pay whatever debts I may owe. Prayers may be of much fervice to me; but the princiHh 2

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