Page:History of The man with the iron mask (1).pdf/9

Rh in which it is asserted that “the birth of the prisoner happened in the evening of the 5th September 1638, in presence of the chancellor, the bishop of Meaux, the author of the MS., a midwife named Peronete, and a sieur Honorat. This circumstance greatly disturbed the king's mind: he observed, that the Salique law had made no provision for such a case. By the advice of Cardinal Richlieu, it was therefore resolved to eoneeal his birth, but to preserve his life, in ease, by the death of his brother, it should be necessary to avow him. A deelaration was drawn up, and signed and sworn to by all present, in which every circumstance was mentioned, and several marks on his body described. This document, being sealed by the chancellor with the royal seal, was delivered to the king; and all took an oath never to speak on the subjeet, not even in private and among themselves. The child was delivered to the eare of Madame Peronete, to be under the direetion of Cardinal Riehlieu, at whose death the eharge devolved to Cardinal Mazarin. Mazarin appointed the author of the MS. his governor, and intrusted to him the eare of his education. But as the prisoner was extremely attached to Madame Peronete, and she equally so to him, she remained with him till her death. His governor earried him to his house in Burgundy, where he paid the greatest attention to his edueation. As the prisoner grew up, he became impatient to discover his birth, and often importuned his governor on that subject. His euriosity had been roused by observing that messengers from the eourt frequently arrived at the house; and a box, eontaining letters from the queen and the cardinal, having