[391] The following is one of the first letters written from Pignerol by Saint-Mars. It is one of the rare letters addressed to Colbert. Saint-Mars made some progress in orthography after this, and the later despatches which we have of his show a rather less imperfect knowledge of the French language:-- “At Pignerol, this 13 February, 1665. “MONSEIGNEUR--I have nothing fresh to tell you; everything is going on all right, in my humble opinion. I had been assured that there was a man of M. Fouquet’s here in the town. I had him sought for by the major, he has not been found; he has not shown himself before the prisoner’s windows, and I have taken care to say everywhere that I would not advise him to appear before the donjon, and that [if he did] it would not be a case of live and let live. I believe that this has frightened him. I thank you very humbly, Monseigneur, for the care and kindness that you have for me. I have received, by the last post, an account for the subsistence here for the present month which I am about to draw. My company arrived here on the 9th, and has already mounted guard. There is so much work to do here for the safety of a prisoner that I shall not be altogether settled for three weeks. M. Fouquet wishes to confess every month. I have given him a confessor who is of the household of one M. d’Amorclan, a man altogether devoted to Mgr. le Tèlier. For myself, I should approve of him; but as I have received orders to change him continually, I shall not allow him to confess until I receive your commands. I shall always await them with impatience, having no stronger desire than to please you, and to call myself all my life, Monseigneur, your very humble,” &c.--Manuscripts of the Imperial Library, Volumes in Green, C. [392] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, August 24, 1665. [393] _Ibid._, August 2, 1665. [394] _Ibid._, March 26, 1669. [395] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, September 25, 1669. [396] _Ibid._, December 25, 1665. [397] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, December 13, 1670. [398] _Ibid._, November 27, 1677. [399] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, February 14, 1667. [400] _Ibid._, February 24, 1665. See also letters of February 20 and April 24, 1665. [401] Letter of April 17, 1670. Moreover, the King from time to time granted him gratuities. See among others, in Delort, a letter of June 4, 1666. [402] Letter from Louvois to Saint-Mars, October 1, 1668. [403] Named Laforest. Five soldiers received money and were severely punished. Laforest was arrested, condemned to death, and executed on the spot. Despatches from Louvois to Saint-Mars, December 17, 1669, and January 1, 1670. [404] Letters of Louvois to Saint-Mars, November 21, 1667, October 9, 1668, January 2, 1670, April 15, 1675, and July 3, 1677. [405] Delort, _Histoire de la Détention des Philosophes_, vol. i. p. 33. [406] Despatches from Louvois to Saint-Mars, March 3, September 12, 1665, October 23, 1666, and April 8, 1678.