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the country； and went aboard a ship for Belle Isle； whence； after a very short stay there； we escaped to San Sebastian。
Upon my arrival there I sent a letter to the King of Spain requesting leave to pass through his dominions to Rome。 The messenger was received at Court with civilities beyond expression； and sent back next day with the present of a gold chain worth 800 crowns。 I had also one of the King's litters sent me； and an invitation to go to Madrid； but I desired to be excused； and though I also refused immense offers if I would but go to Flanders and treat with the Prince de Conde； etc。； for the service of Spain； yet I had a velvet coffer sent me with 40；000 crowns in it； which I likewise thought fit to refuse。 As I had neither linen nor apparel； either for myself or servants； and as the 400 crowns which we got by the sale of pilchards on board the barque in which we came from Belle Isle were almost all spent； I borrowed 400 crowns of the Baron de Vateville； who commanded for the King of Spain in Guipuzcoa； and faithfully repaid him。
From San Sebastian I travelled incognito to Tudela； where I was met by the King's mule drivers and waited on by the alcade； who left his wand at my chamber door and at his； entrance knelt and kissed the hem of my garment。 From thence I was conducted to Comes by fifty musketeers riding upon asses； who were sent me by the Governor of Navarre。 At Saragossa I was taken for the King of England； and a large number of ladies； in over two hundred carriages； came to pay me their respects。 Thence I proceeded to Vivaros； where I had rich presents from the Governor of Valencia。 And thence I sailed to Majorca； whose Governor met me with above one hundred coaches of the Spanish nobility； and carried me to mass at the Cathedral； where I saw thirty or forty ladies of quality of more than common charms； and； to speak the truth； the women there in general are of rare beauty； having a graceful tincture both of the lily and the rose； and wear a head…dress which is exceedingly pretty。 The Governor； after having treated me with a magnificent dinner under a tent of gold brocade near the seaside； carried me to a concert of music in a convent； where I found the nuns not inferior in beauty to the ladies of the town。 The Governor carried me to see his lady； who was as ugly as a witch； and was seated under a great canopy sparkling with precious stones； which gave a wonderful lustre to about sixty ladies with her； who were the handsomest in the whole town。 I was reconducted on board my galley with music and a discharge of the artillery； and sailed to Port Mahon； and thence through the Gulf of Lyons to the canal between Corsica and Sardinia； where our ship was very nearly cast away upon a sandbank； but with great difficulty we got her off and reached Porto Longone。 There we quitted the galley； and went by land to Piombino。
BOOB V。
I travelled from Piombino to Florence； where I had great honours and vast offers from the Grand Duke； though Mazarin had threatened him； in the King's name； with a rupture if he granted me passage through his dominions； but the Grand Duke sent to desire the Cardinal to let him know whether there was any possibility of refusing it without disobliging the Pope and the Sacred College。 As I was travelling through the Duke's country； my mules； being frightened by a clap of thunder； ran with my litter into a brook； where I narrowly escaped being drowned。
As soon as I arrived at Rome the Pope sent me 4；000 crowns in gold。 I was immediately informed that a strong faction was formed there against me by the Court of France； that the Cardinal d'Est； representative of that nation； had terrible orders from the King； and that they were resolved to send me packing from Rome； cost what it would。 I had my old scruples upon me； and said I would die a thousand deaths rather than make resistance； but I thought it would be too disrespectful in a cardinal to come so near the Pope and to go away without kissing his feet； and I resolved to leave the rest to the providence of God。
The Pope having ordered his guards to be ready； in case the French faction should offer to rise； the Cardinal d'Est was so good as to let me alone。 His Holiness gave me an audience of four hours； condescended to beg my forgiveness for not having acted with more vigour for my liberty； and said； with tears in his eyes： 〃God forgive those who delayed to give me timely notice of your imprisonment； and who made us believe that you had been guilty； of an attempt upon the King's person。 The Sacred College took fire at the news； but the French Ambassador being at liberty； to give out what he chose； because nobody； appeared here on your part to contradict him； Mazarin extinguished it； and half the Sacred College thought you were abandoned by the whole kingdom。〃 In short； the Pope was so well disposed to me that he thought of adopting me as his nephew； but he sickened soon after and died。
The conclave chose Cardinal Chigi （who was called Alexander VIII for his successor； in whose election I had such a share that when it came to my turn； at the adoration of the cardinals； to kiss his feet； he embraced me； saying； 〃Signor Cardinal de Retz； 'ecce opus manuum tuarum'〃 （〃Behold the work of your own hands〃）。 I went home accompanied with one hundred and twenty coaches of gentlemen； who did not doubt that I should govern the Pontificate。
My friends in France； who commonly judge of other nations by their own； imagined that a persecuted cardinal might； nay； ought to live like a private man even at Rome； and advised me not to spend much money； because my revenues in France were all seized； and said that such exemplary modesty would have an admirable effect upon the clergy of Paris。 But Cardinal Chigi talked after another manner： 〃When you are reestablished in your see you may live as you please； because you will be in a country where everybody will know what you are or are not able to do。 You are now at Rome； where your enemies say every day that you have lost your credit in France； and you are under a necessity to make it appear that what they say is false。 You are not a hermit； but a cardinal； and a cardinal； too； of the better rank。 At Rome there are many people who love to tread upon men when they are down。 Dear sir； take care you do not fall； and do but consider what a figure you will make in the streets with six vergers attending you； otherwise every pitiful citizen of Paris that meets you will be apt to jostle you； in order to make his court to the Cardinal d'Est。 You ought not to have come to Rome if you had not had resolution and the means to support your dignity。 I presume you do not make it a point of Christian humility to debase yourself。 And let me tell you that I； the poor Cardinal Chigi； who have but 5；000 crowns revenue； and am one of the poorest in the College； and though I am sure to meet nobody in the streets who will be wanting in the respect due to the purple； yet I cannot go to my functions without four coaches in livery to attend me。〃
Therefore I hired a palace； kept a great table； and entertained fourscore persons in liveries。 The Cardinal d'Est； the very day after the creation of t