hat
Charles II (whilst in exile) and other princes of royal blood sought her
hand. She married, however, 28 February, 1661, Armand-Charles de la
Meilleraye, said to be 'the richest subject in Europe'. The union was
unhappy, and in 1666 she demanded a judicial separation. Fearful,
however, lest this should be refused, she fled from Paris 13 June, 1668,
and, after several years of wandering, in 1675 came to London at the
invitation of Charles II, who assigned her a pension. Her gallantries,
her friendship with Saint-Evremond, her lavish patronage of the fine
arts and literature are well known. She died at her Chelsea house in the
summer of 1699. Her end is said to have been hastened by intemperance.
Evelyn dubs her 'the famous beauty and errant lady.'

* * * * *
* * * *

THE NUN: or, The Perjur'd Beauty.

A TRUE NOVEL.

Don _Henrique_ was a Person of great Birth, of a great Estate, of a
Bravery equal to either, of a most generous Education, but of more
Passion than Reason: He was besides of an opener and freer Temper than
generally his Countrymen are (I mean, the _Spaniards_) and always
engag'd in some Love-Intrigue or other.

One Night as he was retreating from one of those Engagements, Don
_Sebastian_, whose Sister he had abus'd with a Promise of Marriage, set
upon him at the Corner of a Street, in _Madrid_, and by the Help of
three of his Friends, design'd to have dispatch'd him on a doubtful
Embassy to the Almighty Monarch: But he receiv'd their first
Instructions with better Address than they expected, and dismiss'd his
Envoy first, killing one of Don _Sebastian's_ Friends. Which so enrag'd
the injur'd Brother, that his Strength and Resolution seem'd to be
redoubled, and so animated his two surviving Companions, that
(doubtless) they had gain'd a dishonourable Victory, had not Don
_Antonio_ accidentally come in to the Rescue; who after a short Dispute,
kill'd one of the two who attack'd him only; whilst Don _Henrique_, with
the greatest Difficulty, defended his Life, for some Moments, against
_Sebastian_, whose Rage depriv'd him of Strength, and gave his Adversary
the unwish'd Advantage of his seeming Death, tho' not without
bequeathing some bloody Legacies to Don _Henrique_. _Antonio_ had
receiv'd but one slight Wound in the left Arm, and his surviving
Antagonist none; who however thought it not adviseable to begin a fresh
Dispute against two,