, Henriette Louise, was not
married to the Duc de St. Aignan till January 21st, 1671; and the
third, Marie Anne, to the Duc de Mortemart, February 14th, 1679.
Colbert himself was never made a duke. His highest title was
Marquis de Seignelay.--B.]

and ne'er a prince in France dare whisper against it, whereas here our
King cannot do any such thing, but everybody's mouth is open against him
for it, and the man that hath the favour also. That to several commanders
that had not money to set them out to the present campagne, he did of his
own accord--send them L1000 sterling a-piece, to equip themselves. But
then they did enlarge upon the slavery of the people--that they are taxed
more than the real estates they have; nay, it is an ordinary thing for
people to desire to give the King all their land that they have, and
themselves become only his tenants, and pay him rent to the full value of
it: so they may have but their earnings, But this will not be granted; but
he shall give the value of his rent, and part of his labour too. That
there is not a petty governor of a province--nay, of a town, but he will
take the daughter from the richest man in the town under him, that hath
got anything, and give her to his footman for a wife if he pleases, and
the King of France will do the like to the best man in his kingdom--take
his daughter from him, and give her to his footman, or whom he pleases.
It is said that he do make a sport of us now; and says, that he knows no
reason why his cozen, the King of England, should not be as willing to let
him have his kingdom, as that the Dutch should take it from him, which is
a most wretched thing that ever we should live to be in this most
contemptible condition. After dinner Sir G. Carteret come in, and I to
him and my Lady, and there he did tell me that the business was done
between him and my Lord Anglesey; that himself is to have the other's
place of Deputy Treasurer of Ireland, which is a place of honour and great
profit, being far better, I know not for what reason, but a reason there
is, than the Treasurer's, my Lord of Corke's, and to give the other his,
of Treasurer of the Navy; that the King, at his earnest entreaty, did,
with much unwillingness, but with owning of great obligations to him, for
his faithfulness and long service to him and his father, and therefore was
willing to grant his desire. That the Duke of York hath given him the
same kind words, so tha