SVCH dispositions , as haue but once contracted with Gods enemy , can very hardly euer be clean freed out of his fowle clowches : For we haue an euident example hereof in Conchini , and his Wife , who being both of them so many times admonished by Gods wrath poured vpon them , yet would they not retyre , nor giue ouer their wicked life : no , not when they euidently saw , how both God and all the people were incensed against them ; being afflicted by sicknesse , and the death of one of their children ; as also one of their houses rifled and pillaged by the iust rage of the people ; two of their domesticall friends hanged , and a thousand other manifest tokens , intimating to them , how all the Princes bare them a most worthy and deserued hatred . Oh , what inexplicable miseries doth affectation of power and greatnesse bring vnto men ! O how our disordinate appetites , to amasse , and purchase worldly honours , doth heape and augment our misfortunes ! Thou now feelest it , now that a sodaine death hath violently carryed thee out of the world , ( and as may be inferred by all pregnant probabilities ) in the height of thy sinnes and transgressions . Now thou feelest it ; thou , who after so many worldly delights , so many flatteries of honours , of contentments , art now more miserable peraduenture then the most wretched creature in all France : Thou I say , who in stead of a Royall Palace stately adorned , hast for thy habitation an obscure and hideous dungeon : Thou art hee who now findest it ; for in stead of a thousand Gentlemen well borne , that were wont to doe thee all kinde of honour , stand before thee vncouered , adoring thee , and making shew , as if they breath'd and liued for no other end but to offer thee their humblest seruices ; thou hast now it may be , some rigorous Iaylor , that contemnes thee , and in stead of any consolation , flowts and laughes at thy precipice and downefall : Thou I say , who wert wont to giue life and death to all those whom thou wouldest thy selfe , hast now need to implore and cry out for mercy of all the world : Thy greatnesse and riches wherin thou didst put such confidence , what auaile they ? Where is now that same troope of Nobilitie which were accustomed to follow and attend thee ? Questionlesse thou wert but deceiued : for these people followed not thy selfe , but meerely thy present fortunes and high fauours . And now thou truely knowest how vnhappy all they are , who relying vpon Fortune , thinke that she can make them masters of the whole world , whereas shee makes them but slaues and infamous vassals , not only to her selfe , but to their owne disordinate appetites & desires . Thou , I say againe , Conchini , now feelest it , thou that wert sprung from a base Sire , and yet wouldest haue exalted thy selfe not onely aboue the French Nobilitie , but euen aboue all Princes of the French stocke and race . Thou I say , that most insatiable Seianus , whose furious rage could neuer be appeased by the massacre of so many good French-men , by the imprisonment , not onely of many of the Nobilitie , but euen of the Princes of the bloud ; whose wrath and reuenge could not be fully satisfied with the dolefull banishment of so many Princes , and whose auarice was neuer contented with so many millions of gold and siluer : Now thou hast a bitter experience , thou which gouernedst all France at thine owne pleasure ; who after thine own miserable death wert not onely preuented from being the food and nourishment of wormes , but moreouer , thou wert the Butt whereat all the arrowes of the peoples rage and fury were shot . Thou that hadst so many houses , Palaces and Castles , and could not be suffered to repose within the earth in peace , for the space onely of foure and twenty houres ? and whom the Earth her selfe indeed disgorged , impatient to retaine such a letiferous poyson within her wombe : the Ayre could not endure thy infections : the Water thy putrifaction : neyther would the Fire consume thy body , reseruing it for a prey to Sea-monsters : And now thou knowest apparantly what difference there is betwixt the beginnings and ends of Fortune , how variable and mutable shee is ; who being huffed vp to such eminent place , didst foolishly giue credit to a prediction and prophesie made of thee ; and that when thou didst passe along the streetes , euery one should put off his hat , and cry out , Viue le Roy. But now thou seest , that Fortune inuerting quite this prediction , it yet comes to be most true , but thankes be to God , cleane contrary to thine owne expectation : for in stead of thy beds of state , of Gold , siluer , and silke , thou wert laid within a stinking puddle of a foule and vncleane water , and for trapped and rich harnished horses , thou wert trailed along the streetes by rascally and contemptible people .

Oh , whosoeuer thou art , on whom Fortune at this present , peraduenture may smile , learne to be wise by other mens harmes , and remember Gods Iustice , which neuer failes to punish the wicked soone or late ; Behold here one , that was called the Marshallesse of France , who was possessed of the Queenes greatest fauours , and disposed wholy of her will , that now foaming with fury and madnesse , and being inclosed within a prison , spits for anger , cryes and howles out like a shee-wolfe that had beene robbed of her whelps . I saw her by chance the other day in the Bastille , shee lookes most hideously , and stroke feare into all those that did behold her ; and her staring eyes , gastly countenance , with her feareful visage and distracted speech , plainely shew that shee is conducted by some other spirit besides her owne : her hayre all full of skirfe and filth , hanging loose and confused vpon her shoulders , tearing her owne face and bosome , so as I neuer was touched with such an affrightment before . Wherefore I went and hid my selfe in a corner , to see the issue and further euent of this businesse , when incontinently I heard her vomit and belch out these or the like words :

When she had finished this discourse , I saw a Spirit of strange shape and forme to appeare , with staring eyes , a huge mouth , or rather indeed a gulfe , without a nose , but hauing a body like a Caterpiller , and wings , but without legs or armes , and I beleeue it was one of those that are called watry Spirits .

So shee drew neare to this Spirit , and then they had this communication together . Gall. Well sir , where 's now the performance of all your friuolous promises ? that you should haue preserued and protected my husband for so long time ? that you would confound , spoyle , and ruine all his enemies ? Misoquin . Why I pray , did I deceiue him ? Did I not tell both him and you oftentimes , that the Prince of Conde was his fatall opposite , and how he must endeuour to extirpate the Princes of the bloud . Gall. T' is true : but on the other side it was foretold vs , that our greatnes depended on a warre ; but if they were once dead , against whom should we haue made warre ? Misoq . Why , against the Flyes : a good workman neuer wants matter nor tooles . But to speake truely thy husband was but a cowardly coistrell , for had hee beene in the Army , hee had neuer beene slaine at Paris . Alas , hee neuer had no valour in his life , and further hee spent his time in pleasures and luxuries : but thinke you if it had lyen in my power , I would not haue preuented it ? What tribute doe you imagine paid he to Pluto euery yeare ? I assure you more then a million of soules . Gall. Well I called thee not now to checke thee for any misfortune past , but to take order with thee for some thing that is to come ; for I am inwardly enraged , and reduced in a manner to vtter despaire : my Iugineere and plotting Spirit , and who hast ayded mee in many things , canst thou not for my sake , conferre some miserable disaster vpon the French ? Remaines there no Art , nor no policie , to compasse and atchieue our wicked enterprises ? Misoquin . Your words are but meere winde : There 's other matters in hand , woman , thy husband contary to all other men , makes his repentance in another world : for hee is now turn'd Moncke . Gall. And how so I pray ? Misoq . Why , had hee not good cause to doe so , when all his virile parts were so shamefully cut away . Gall. Why thou wretched impe , wilt thou euer be mocking vs ? Well , couldst thou but be sensible of the miseries which ouer-whelme me , thou wouldest not thus laugh , and make thy selfe merry . Misoquin . You are in the right : I pray doe Diuels vse to weepe ? But there 's other newes besides this . Gall. Euen from the Cocke to the Bull : But what I pray ? Misoquin . Why yesterday I met with your neighbours Genius . Gall. Why , who was that ? Misoquin The Angell of the grand Master , and wee had almost gone together by the eares about my comming hither . Gall. How came that to passe ? Misoquin . I was no sooner come in , but he knew mee , by reason I was somewhat of a different forme : and thus hee said ; I coniure thee to tell mee whither thou goest . Then I went still onward , and he began againe to say ; In the name of God tell mee who thou art , and whither thou goest : vpon this iniunction I was enforc'd to answere . I am , then replyed I , Misoquin , sometimes his Demon or euill Angell , that was called Marshall d' Ancre : and you sir , Who may you be ? When in great choler , hee returned me this answere ; It concernes not you to be herein very inquisitiue : But come you hither to seduce or corrupt any body ? No , said I , for shee I come to , is corrupt enough already . Accursed wretch as thou art ; for , said hee , thou alwayes delightest in doing euill : Come hither , said hee , thou cursed Caytife ; Art not thou hee , that didst aduise this silly woman to practise such mischiefe against France ? Art not thou the cause , this Prince hath endur'd so much disgrace ? But all thy time and labour is herein but lost : for the good , and Almighty God hath made him take all his misfortunes patiently : and herein hee hath highly deserued . And the same God will deliuer him from the imprisonment hee suffers , confounding all the enemies of truth ; and vnhappinesse shall befall them that persecute him : for God himselfe is prouoked , and stirred vp against them . Tush , replyed I , these be goodly reasons you alledge ; but at conclusion I preuaile in my cause , for you could not preserue your Prince so well as I did my Marquesse : for thine endur'd more miserie since he came in here , then mine did in all his life : And so on the other side , thou knowest not how hee shall dye , but I know well enough how mine did : and howsoeuer , hee dyed like a braue man , with his sword in his hand , swearing like a gallant Captaine , and blaspheming God thy Master . And be assured that they who killed him , augmented greatly herein his renowne : for had hee not beene surprized there , hee might peraduenture haue dyed in the chimney corner . Then growing into great choler , See this miscreant villaine , said hee , how after hee hath betrayed them , how hee derides and laughes at men . This is hee ( meaning it by mee ) said hee , that was the cause of all his disaster , by tickling him daily in the head with ambitions and extrauagant desires of Rule and Gouernment : God in him hath expresly manifested , how hee euer abandons those that leaue and forsake him , for he dyed miserably , giuing them cause who iustly hated him , to mocke and laugh both at him and his designes . But as for you sir , I command you to retyre : Beleeue mee , if wee then had had any bodies , I thinke wee should haue deuoured one another ; but so I left him , and came straight to you : and therefore suppose you whether hee was not deepely moued and angry or no. Gall. I finde that soundly , poore wretch as I am . Misoquin . What , doe you repent your selfe ? You shall see your Husband presently , and if possible , you shall enioy your liberty . Gall. How know you that ? Misoquin . I was very lately with two speciall Gentlemen of Paris that spake of you . Gall. And what said they ? Misoquin . Faith no great matter : for they wisht you at the Diuell , with whom you are already : they said you should be made so great , as you should be all cut , shauen , and trimde , without costing you one penny . Gall. But what shall I doe to those wicked fellowes that clapt me vp here ? Misoquin . Wotst thou what , why for their greater despight , eyther let them alone , or goe hang thy selfe , and so thou maist preuent them of the honour of putting thee to death : for beleeue it , if they of Paris euer lay hold on thee , they 'll handle yee in your true kinde . And a certaine woman , hath already sould your nose to one of her neighbours , to roost her Chickens vpon : others haue bought your eyes , that so they may haue foure to see you withall , when you are led to hanging : another your eares , the better to heare your tryall and sentence : others say , your skinne will serue them fitly to make gloues of , by reason they will cost nothing the perfuming , it being of it selfe so ordurous , and stinking , that no perfume can be cast vpon it . Gall. Imagine when thou hast said what thou wilt , wee will talke somewhat of our businesse . Misoquin . And why of them ? Thou hast nothing nearer to thee then thy Husband : matters are so plainely reported and diuulged of him , as they are openly cryed vp and downe through the streetes of Paris ; but they are but fooles that buy them , because they are but meere fopperies to that which will come out . Gall. And what can they say of him ? Misoquin . Marry , all kinde of reproachfull and ignominious matters , but onely that they tearme him not a Cuckold , by reason that ( for thus these wicked fellowes alledge ) his wife is so ougly and odious , as none but the Diuell himselfe would be his Cuckold-maker . They expresse him making of his last Will and Testament : they say he hath left thee his beauty , because thou wert thereof so ill furnished ; his vnderstanding hee gaue to his brother , because hee had not enough to discharge a Cardinals place : for the parts inferiour of his body , hee hath now neyther feete , nor hands ; his feete commended ouer to his brother Gouernour of the Bastile , to further his flight , and his hands to those that after him shall haue the managing of the Kings treasure . And to enrich you , he hath himselfe forsaken the world , but hee was so long a time in passing Acharon , by reason of a tempest , that hee is growne all scaly ouer like a fish . And there below , which is the best least of all , hee laughes at them which made him giue so much money for his release when hee should be in Purgatorie ; for in passing along hee had not so much as a sight of it . Gall. Well , well , I see now a dayes you can doe nothing but cogge and flout : I pray let vs talke of reuenging my husbands death . Misoquin . What telst thou mee of thy husband ? Behold , Conchini , by the power which thou hast giuen me ouer thy selfe , I command thee to appeare here presently .

Conchini . Wilt thou neuer leaue tormenting of my soule , which hath beene miserably afflicted for so long time ? Ah , forlorne and wretched caytife that I am ! Misoquin . What aylst thou ? doest thou repent thee ? nothing worse can come to thee . Conchini . Ah most accursed creature , art not thou shee who wert the cause of all my misfortunes ? Gall. Who I ? Conch . I you : for otherwise we might haue liued contentedly vpon some poore humble calling , exempted from all ambition and auarice . Gall. But come hither a little : why are you in this garbe and fashion ? Conch . I performe penance . Gall. Why haue you no hands ? Conch . Pluto tooke them from mee , for prodigally wasting and consuming his riches and wealth . Gall. And why no feete ? Conch . Because I vsed to imploy them in base flight when my Regiment was discomfited . Gall. Why me thinkes yee are in the habite of a strange Moncke . Canch . Oh would I had beene so all dayes of my life , and had perpetually obserued chastitie . Gall. Wee neuer dreamt of thy death . Conch . No , but wee shall dreame fairely when wee are both together once : wherefore vnderstand and vse meanes to preserue thine owne life ; for mee thinkes I see how thou art rent and torne a pieces by the cruell and inhumane multitude . And what doe our creatures and fauourites now ? Gall. Some are like to be burnt , others sent backe againe from whence they came , others haue turned their proud coats into penitentiall roabes , like Bell-founders . Conch . Why , are they not yet satisfied with the disgrace and opprobry they laid vpon mee ? Gall. No , they say , wee deserued much more . Misoquin . Well , you haue leasure enough to rip vp all your miseries and calamities together , 't is time now for mee to returne , dinner is almost past .

As soone as this little Diuell had thus spoken , a thicke vaporous cloud obscur'd and darkned all the chamber : this was it wherewith the season was so chang'd , and so amidst this darknesse , I escaped away well and safe , but not without some feare .

It is further reported that vpon Wednesday , the last of Aprill , 1617. Stila Anglia , at foure a clocke in the after-noone , the generall cessation of Armes was proclaymed at Deepe in Normandy , and all the Souldiers whatsoeuer to depart vpon paine of death : particularly the 5500. Strangers , that the Marquesse d' Ancre had caused to be leuied for his seruice in Normandy in the Wallone Countries , and the Land of Lake , alias , Les Liege●yr , et Wallons .